Diets of Bison and Cattle on a Seeded Range in Southern Utah

Abstract

Diets of bison ( Bison bison) mnd cattle (Bos taurus) were evaluated on a southern Utah range seeded to crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Bison feces comprised 96% grasses and sedges, 4% forbs, and 1% shrubs. Cattle feces comprised 88% grasses and sedges, 4% forbs, and 8% shrubs. Diets were 91% similar, indicating a high potential for competition between bison and cattle.The Henry Mountains of southern Utah have been used as summer range by cattle (Bos taurus) since the late 1800's. In 1941, 18 bison (Bison bison) were introduced, and the population was about 250 in 1980. Summer distribution of bison and cattle overlap substantially, resulting in competition for forage (Nelson 1965). To increase carrying capacity for bison and cattle, several thousand hectares of pinyon pine (Pinus edulis) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodland were cleared in the late 1960's and seeded to crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Seeded areas currently account for a major portion of forage consumed by bison and cattle. Proper allocation of forage on seeded areas requires information on the diets of bison and cattle. Studies comparing bison and cattle diets are limited to shortgrass prairie (Peden et al. 1974) and shrub-steppe plant communities (Van Vuren 1979). Our objective was to evaluate diet composition and diet overlap of bison and cattle on a seeded area in the Henry Mountains. 12 I 3 T 4 'Trace (<O.S%). Xkcurred in different percentages (p<O.OS) in bison and cattle feces. 'Availability of shrubs was not determined. JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 3f3(4), July 1983 499

Wild bison as ecological indicators of the effectiveness of management practices to increase forage quality on open rangeland

“…Apart from bison, cattle are the only other large grazers in the region. The HM are host to a healthy herd of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), but their preference for forbs would suggest negligible levels of competition with the grazers (van Vuren and Bray, 1983). A small (∼20) herd of elk (Cervus canadensis) is also present on the HM, though the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources actively manages against elk in an attempt to eradicate the herd.…”

Bison-prairie dog-plant interactions in a North American mixed-grass prairie

“…Numerous studies have shown that bison preferentially graze grasses over other plants (Meagher 1973 ;Peden et al 1974 ;Schwartz and Ellis 1981 ;Van Vuren and Bray 1983 ;Plumb and Dodd 1993 ;Steuter et al 1995), creating distinct grazed patches within the landscape and altering competitive relationships among grazed and ungrazed plant species Knapp 1993, 1994 ;Catchpole 1996). Bison and other ungulate herbivores also significantly alter nutrient cycling through grazing and other activities (Floate 1981 ;Ruess 1987 ;McNaughton et al 1988 ;Frank et al 1994 ;Frank and Evans 1997).…”

Habitat Selection by Free-Ranging Bison in a Mixed Grazing System on Public Land

“…Competition, however, is difficult to manage, and so it is important to quantify bison habitat use before implementing management actions aimed at addressing perceived conflicts with cattle habitat needs. Early work in the HM discovered that bison and cattle have 91% dietary similarity (van Vuren & Bray, 1983), indicating a high potential for competition and leading to a local perception that bison are strong competitors with cattle for grazing resources. Dietary overlap alone might not, however, be an indicator of competition if habitat use by bison and cattle is differentiated in time and space.…”

“…Apart from bison, cattle are the only other large grazers in the region. Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are present on the HM, but their preference for forbs suggests negligible levels of competition with the grazers (van Vuren & Bray, 1983). A small herd (~20 animals) of elk (Cervus canadensis) is also present, though the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources actively manages against elk, using sport hunting in an attempt to eradicate the herd to prevent competition with the highly prized mule deer.…”