Dietary Relationships among Feral Horses, Cattle, and Pronghorn in Southeastern Oregon

McInnis, Michael L.; Vávra, Martin

doi:10.2307/3899363

Cited by 66 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Consumption of sagebrush may also be influencing its recruitment as feral horses will consume small quantities of sagebrush, though they primarily consume grass (Krysl et al 1984, McInnis andVavra 1987). In contrast to our results, Beever et al (2008) did not find a difference in sagebrush frequency between horse grazed and horse removed areas.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 78%

Effects of feral free‐roaming horses on semi‐arid rangeland ecosystems: an example from the sagebrush steppe

2014

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Abstract. Feral horses (Equus caballus) are viewed as a symbol of freedom and power; however, they are also a relatively unmanaged, non-native grazer in North America, South America, and Australia. Information about their influence on vegetation and soil characteristics in semi-arid rangelands has been limited by confounding effects of cattle (Bos taurus) grazing and a lack of empirical manipulative studies. We compared vegetation and soil surface characteristics in feral horse grazed areas and ungrazed exclosures at five sagebrush (Artemisia) steppe sites in northern Nevada. Horse grazed areas had lower sagebrush density and plant diversity, greater soil penetration resistance, and lower soil aggregate stability than ungrazed areas. Herbaceous cover and density generally did not differ between grazed and ungrazed treatments, with the exception of heavily grazed sites in which perennial grass cover was reduced. The cumulative effect of feral horses on soil characteristics suggests that they may affect the ecological function of semi-arid rangelands by increasing the risk of soil erosion and potentially decreasing availability of water for plant growth. The two-fold increase in sagebrush density with horse exclusion suggests that feral horses may limit sagebrush recruitment and thereby negatively impact Greater Sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) and other sagebrush associated wildlife. The effects of feral horses on sagebrush and other semi-arid ecosystems should be considered when developing conservation plans for these ecosystems and associated wildlife.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 78%

Effects of feral free‐roaming horses on semi‐arid rangeland ecosystems: an example from the sagebrush steppe

2014

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“…In other words during our sampling period, available forage was CP deficient for about 32 days (mid Septemberearly October) in 1992 and 134 days (late July-November) in 1993. Large herbivores typically harvest diets of higher quality than hand-compounded rations or wholeplant samples (Kiesling et al 1969, McInnis and Vavra 1987, Cruz and Ganskopp 1998, so adequate CP concentrations probably extend for longer periods of time in applied situations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wallace et al (1961) described in vitro cellulose digestibility of 6 grasses from 30 May to 5 September, with values ranging from a high of 76% to a low of 37% late in the season. Raleigh (1970) and McInnis and Vavra (1987) monitored nutritional indices of grasses from late April to early September and noted that forage quality began deteriorating even before stems started elongating in the spring. Quality continues to decline until early August when forages mature and dry (Raleigh 1970, Murray et al 1978.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses

Ganskopp¹,

Bohnert²

2001

REM

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Land, livestock, and wildlife managers need to understand the nutritional dynamics of forages to sustain adequate growth and reproduction of their animals and/or assure equitable payment for forages. Despite a long history of livestock grazing in the northern Great Basin, seasonal and annual nutritional dynamics of many of the region's prominent grasses have not been described. We addressed this issue via monthly sampling of 7 cool-season grasses at 6 sites during 1992, a drier than average year having 86% of mean precipitation, and 1993, when above average precipitation (167% of average) occurred. With high yields predicted in 1993 (1,257 kg ha -1 ), the period of adequate forage quality [crude protein (CP) ≥ 7.5%] was 83 days. In addition grasses did not respond to 97 mm of July-August rain with renewed growth. During 1992, a growing season beginning with less than average moisture, grasses responded to midsummer (49 mm) and fall (69 mm) rains by maintaining greater than 7.5% CP for 185 days. A diversity of grasses expanded the period of adequate forage quality especially during the lower than average moisture year. Giant wildrye (Elymus cinereus Scribn. & Merr.), a deeply rooted grass, supported high quality forage until mid August, but did not respond to late-season moisture. In contrast, shallow rooted grasses like bottlebrush squirreltail (Sitanion hystrix (Nutt.) Smith), Sandberg's bluegrass (Poa sandbergii Vasey), and the winter-annual cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.) responded to summer or fall moisture with herbage ranging from 10 to 16% CP, thereby supplying high quality late-season forage. With most precipitation occurring in the northern Great Basin during colder months, livestock or habitat managers can, with a fair degree of certainty, predict yields from their pastures before turnout. With abundant moisture, managers will see the rapid deterioration of forage quality that occurs when grasses advance through their reproductive stages of phenology and generate a wealth of reproductive stems. The quandary arrives, however, when moisture accumulations are less than optimum. Fewer reproductive tillers develop, and our results show that timely precipitation may elevate desirable nutrient characteristics and expand the duration of adequate livestock/wildlife nutrition in the region. More long-term research is needed to decipher the mechanisms governing growth and development of rangeland grasses and to assess risks of various stocking alternatives when managers face uncertain yield and forage quality issues. ResumenLos manejadores de tierras, ganado y fauna silvestre necesitan entender las dinámicas nutricionales de los forrajes para mantener un crecimiento y una reproducción adecuados de sus animales y/o asegurar el pago equitativo de sus forrajes. A pesar del largo historial de apacentamiento de ganado en la Gran Cuenca del norte, las dinámicas nutricionales estacionales y anuales de muchos de los zacates prominentes de la región no se han sido descritas. Nosotros abordamos este problema a tra...

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“…Duncan (1992) showed that domestic horses in the French Camargue Park like eating grasses and Chenopodiaceae. McInnis and Vavra (1987) concluded that the North American mustang chooses mainly Poaceae and Chenopodiaceae brome saltbush and other plants for food. Meng (2007) and Chen (2008) showed that KNR Przewalski's horses preferred Gobi Stipa and Ceratoides.…”

Section: Clustering and Categorization Of Vegetation Patchesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Food patch particularity and forging strategy of reintroduced Przewalski’s horse in North Xinjiang, China

Zang¹,

Cao²,

Keremu³

et al. 2017

Turk J Zool

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In 2001, Przewalski's horse (Equus przewalskii) was reintroduced into a Eurasian desert-steppe transitional area in China. Recent studies of Przewalski's horse have not examined the relationship between food patches and the horse's feeding choice behavior. This study aimed to study the vegetation communities of the reintroduction area and combine this information with feeding time data to explore the foraging strategy of Przewalski's horse. A total of 588 vegetation patches were surveyed, which were divided into 27 vegetation clusters. All vegetation clusters could be divided into feeding clusters, which constituted 59.23% of the study area, and nonforaging clusters, which constituted 11.14%. The remaining 29.63% was bare ground. Based on the degree of use by Przewalski's horse, the vegetation clusters can be divided into high-, medium-, and poor-utilization groups. Among these, the average foraging time per unit area of the high-utilization group was 1.59 times that of the medium-utilization group and 23.68 times that of the poorutilization group. Based on the results, we can conclude that in desert grassland with low primary productivity, the feeding strategy of Przewalski's horse is first to satisfy its energy demands and then its demand for quality food.

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Dietary Relationships among Feral Horses, Cattle, and Pronghorn in Southeastern Oregon

Cited by 66 publications

References 34 publications

Effects of feral free‐roaming horses on semi‐arid rangeland ecosystems: an example from the sagebrush steppe

Effects of feral free‐roaming horses on semi‐arid rangeland ecosystems: an example from the sagebrush steppe

Nutritional dynamics of 7 northern Great Basin grasses

Food patch particularity and forging strategy of reintroduced Przewalski’s horse in North Xinjiang, China

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