Effect of Breed on Botanical Composition of Cattle Diets on Chihuahuan Desert Range

Winder, John; Walker, D A; Bailey, Calvin C.

doi:10.2307/4002880

Cited by 31 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Vasey] Rydb.) than Hereford or Angus cows in the Chihuahuan Desert (Winder et al 1996). This difference in diet quality might be a result of the Brahman influence in Brangus cows that allowed them to locate and consume higher quality grasses more easily than Herefords or Angus cattle (Herbel and Nelson 1966).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing Distribution and Diet Quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman Cows in the Chihuahuan Desert

Russell

Bailey

Thomas

et al. 2012

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Grazing distribution can be improved by using adapted cattle breeds that travel to distant areas of extensive pastures. A 2-yr study was conducted to evaluate grazing distribution and diet quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman cows (seven cows per breed group) in the Chihuahuan Desert during three seasons (winter, early summer, and late summer) using three pastures. Two GPS collars were randomly assigned to each breed group and cow positions were logged every 10 min for 10-to 14-d periods in each pasture (3 periods Á season À1 ). In 2008, breed groups were evaluated in separate pastures and data were analyzed as a 333 Latin square design. In 2009, all breed groups were evaluated at the same time in the same pastures. Fecal samples were collected in 2008 and analyzed using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to estimate diet quality. If positions recorded when cows were resting were excluded, Brahman cows traveled greater distances per day than Angus cows throughout the study and greater (P 0.10) than Brangus cows in all but one season during 2009. No differences in average distance to water were detected (P . 0.10) among breed groups. During early summer in 2008 and early and late summer in 2009, Angus cows maintained a more linear grazing path (P 0.10) than Brangus or Brahman cows. Brahman cows displayed more sinuous grazing paths (P 0.10) than other breeds during early and late summer seasons in 2009. In 2008, no differences in crude protein content of diets were detected (P . 0.10) among breed groups during all seasons. Spatial movement patterns of Brahman cows appeared to differ from Angus and Brangus cows; however, there was no evidence to suggest that there was any advantage in use of areas far from water by any breed group. ResumenLa distribución del pastoreo puede ser mejorada usando razas de ganado que se adapten a caminar largas distancias en potreros grandes. Se realizó un estudio de dos años para evaluar la distribución del pastoreo y calidad de la dieta de vacas Angus, Brangus, y Brahman (siete vacas por grupo racial) en el Desierto Chihuahuense durante tres temporadas (invierno, inicio, y finales de verano) usando tres potreros. Dos collares con GPS fueron asignados aleatoriamente a cada grupo racial y la posición de las vacas fue anotada cada 10 minutos por periodos de 10 a 14 días en cada potrero (tres periodos por temporada). En 2008, los grupos raciales fueron evaluados en porteros separados y los datos fueron analizados en un diseño de cuadro latino de 333. En 2009, todos los grupos raciales fueron evaluados al mismo tiempo en los mismos potreros. En 2008 se recolectaron muestras fecales y se analizaron usando espectroscopia infrarroja (NIRS) para estimar la calidad de la dieta. Sí se excluye el tiempo registrado de cuando las vacas estuvieron descansando, las vacas Brahman recorrieron mayores distancias por día que las vacas Angus a través del estudio y mayor (P 0.10) que las vacas Brangus en todos pero una temporada durante el 2009. No se encontró diferencia (P . 0.10) en distancia a el agua e...

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grazing Distribution and Diet Quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman Cows in the Chihuahuan Desert

Russell

Bailey

Thomas

et al. 2012

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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“…At present, criollo animals survive with little human care or intervention primarily in remote areas of Mexico. Beginning in the early 1900s, cattle that originated in temperate climates of Europe have been widely used throughout the U.S. European breeds cannot survive in hot, dry environments without water and food supplementation during periods of low forage availability (Winder et al 1996, Obeidat et al 2002. In this study, we used GPS collars to characterize the foraging spatial distribution in a desert landscape, and we used logistic regression to evaluate the relationship between foraging patterns and environmental drivers of each breed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Foraging behavior of heritage versus recently introduced herbivores on desert landscapes of the American Southwest

et al. 2011

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Abstract. Since the 1800s managed grasslands and shrublands of the arid American Southwest have been grazed predominantly by cattle originally bred for temperate climates in northern Europe. A heritage breed, the criollo cattle, has survived in northern Mexico for more than 400 years under desert-like conditions of low and variable rainfall, hot temperatures in the growing season, and both spatially and temporally scarce levels of primary production. We tested the hypothesis that the heritage breed has a broader spatial foraging distribution under harsh environmental conditions, and that its distribution is driven by environmental variables which differ from those that control the distribution of the introduced European breed. Movements of individual criollo and Angus breed animals were monitored autonomously in the northern Chihuahuan desert of southern New Mexico, USA. Georeferenced foraging locations acquired at 5-minute intervals for each animal were fit to a logistic regression using environmental factors as predictors. In the spring, when forage availability was high and more uniformly distributed across the landscape, animal foraging patterns were similar for both breeds. In the fall when forage availability was low and non-uniformly distributed, the two breeds exhibited very different foraging patterns: heritage animals foraged across a much larger spatial extent whereas their domestic counterparts remained in close proximity to the permanent source of water. These differences in foraging behavior driven by environmental variables have important implications for sustainability of rangelands in spatially and temporally variable environments. Heritage breeds of animals that are generalist foragers during unfavorable conditions can reduce environmental impacts compared to more recently introduced breeds.Key words: Chihuahuan desert; criollo cattle; GPS monitoring; herbivory; landscape foraging patterns; resource selection functions. Ecosphere 2(5):art57.

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“…3). Breeds of livestock differ in their diet preferences ) and use of foraging areas of varying slope, roughness, or distances from water (Herbel and Nelson 1966;Winder et al 1996;Bailey et al 2001). Managers could select and breed animals with the desired diet or habitat-use characteristics to meet specific ecological livestock-production goals.…”

Section: Understanding Foraging Behavior To Meet Management Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding Landscape Use Patterns of Livestock as a Consequence of Foraging Behavior

Launchbaugh¹,

Howery²

2005

REM

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Many grazing-management challenges stem from poor livestock distribution resulting in overuse of some areas and low utilization of others. Managing livestock-distribution patterns requires knowledge of pasture characteristics and animal behavior patterns. Behavioral patterns result from recognizable processes that include inherited attributes, individual and social learning systems, cue-consequence specificity, predispositions toward novel stimuli, and spatial memory. Through these behavioral mechanisms, animals form and revise preferences and aversions for specific locations in their foraging landscape. To accomplish habitat selection, domestic herbivores use sight and sound cues to seek and return to high-quality foraging locations. Nested within habitat selection are learned diet preferences and aversions by which ungulate herbivores associate taste with positive or negative postingestive feedback. The deliberate and careful modification of animal attributes and habitat characteristics could yield options for adaptive rangeland management. In this article, we describe the basic principles that underlie how animals make decisions about where to forage and how long to stay in a particular habitat. We also suggest management practices designed to modify animal behavior and alter habitat-use patterns. ResumenMuchos de los retos en el manejo de apacentamiento tienen su origen en la pobre distribució n del ganado que resulta en la sobreutilizació n de algunas á reas y la subutilizació n de otras. El manejo de los patrones de distribució n del ganado requiere del conocimiento de las propiedades del potrero y los patrones de comportamiento del ganado. Los patrones de comportamiento resultan de procesos reconocibles que incluyen atributos heredados, sistemas de aprendizaje individuales y sociales, especificidad de consecuencias, predisposició n hacia un estímulo novedoso y la memoria espacial. A través de estos mecanismos de comportamiento, los animales forman y revisan las preferencias y aversiones para localidades especificas en el paisaje donde apacientan. Para lograr la selecció n del há bitat, los herbívoros domésticos usan señ ales visuales y de sonidos para buscar y regresar a localidades de apacentamiento de alta calidad. Incluidas dentro de la selecció n del há bitat está n las preferencias de la dieta y aversiones aprendidas, mediante las cuales los herbívoros ungulados asocian el sabor con una retroalimentació n post-ingestiva negativa o positiva. La modificació n deliberada y cuidadosa de los atributos animal y las características del hábitat pudiera producir opciones para el manejo adaptativo del pastizal. En este artículo describimos los principios bá sicos que determinan como los animales toman decisiones acerca de donde apacentar y cuanto permanecer en un há bitat particular. También sugerimos prá cticas de manejo diseñ adas para modificar el comportamiento animal y alterar los patrones de uso del há bitat.

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Effect of Breed on Botanical Composition of Cattle Diets on Chihuahuan Desert Range

Cited by 31 publications

References 15 publications

Grazing Distribution and Diet Quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman Cows in the Chihuahuan Desert

Grazing Distribution and Diet Quality of Angus, Brangus, and Brahman Cows in the Chihuahuan Desert

Foraging behavior of heritage versus recently introduced herbivores on desert landscapes of the American Southwest

Understanding Landscape Use Patterns of Livestock as a Consequence of Foraging Behavior

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