Relationship between terrain use and performance of beef cows grazing foothill rangeland.

Abstract

A study was conducted on foothills rangeland to determine whether grazing patterns differed among cow breeds and to determine whether there was a relationship between individual grazing patterns and performance of beef cows. Hereford (HH), Tarentaise (TT), 3/4 Hereford x 1/4 Tarentaise (3H1T), 1/2 Hereford x 1/2 Tarentaise (HT), and 1/4 Hereford x 3/4 Tarentaise (1H3T) cows were observed during the summers of 1997 (n = 183) and 1998 (n = 159). Locations of individual cows were recorded two to three times per week during 1.5- to 2.5-h periods in the morning by observers on horseback. Statistical models included cow breed, age, and nursing status. Data from each year were analyzed separately. During 1997 and 1998, nonlactating cows were located at greater (P < 0.05) vertical distances from water than lactating cows. In 1998, nonlactating cows used steeper (P < 0.05) slopes than lactating cows. However, nonlactating cows did not travel as far horizontally from water (P < 0.05) as lactating cows in 1997. Younger cows (3 yr) traveled further (P < 0.05) from water both vertically and horizontally than older cows (5+ yr) in 1997, but not during 1998. Tarentaise and 1H3T cows were observed at greater (P < 0.05) vertical distances from water than HH cows during both years of the study. During 1998, TT and 1H3T cows used steeper (P < 0.05) slopes than HH cows. Using residual correlations, there were no consistent relationships between topographic aspects of individual grazing locations and cow weight, height, and body condition score. In 1997, cows with earlier calving dates and correspondingly heavier calf weaning weights used areas that had greater vertical distances to water; however, in 1998 there were no relationships (P > 0.05) of calving date and weaning weight with cow location. During both years, pregnant and nonpregnant cows used terrain similarly (P > 0.05), which suggests that cow reproductive performance was not related to terrain use. Grazing patterns in foothills rangeland varied among cow breeds. Performance of cows that used more rugged topography was similar to cows using gentler terrain.

Spatial and Seasonal Patterns of Cattle Habitat use in a Mountain Wooded Pasture

“…In particular, a large amount of spatial structure in herbage removal remained unexplained. Little is known about cattle behaviour in highly heterogeneous ecosystems and further observations, taking into account differences among breeds (hill climbers and bottom dwellers), age and nursing status (Bailey et al 2001), as well as management practices, are needed.…”

Rangeland utilization in Mediterranean farming systems

“…The importance of water availability and topography may vary depending on the associated biotic factors. For example, Bailey et al (2001) compared the individual grazing patterns of beef cows differing in breed, age and nutritional status. They found that dry cows travelled further from water (115% vertical distance from water) than lactating ones, and that the breed originating from mountainous terrain (Tarentaise) used the whole area better than the breed developed in gentler topography (Hereford).…”

“…Recently, research has also investigated the potential of virtual fencing to control animal distribution in extensive grazing systems. Combining GPS with a collar delivering a message (stimulus) to the animal can be used to keep livestock within a restricted perimeter (cattle: Anderson, 2001;goats: Fay et al, 1989). The basic principle is to train animals to change direction when they receive (through a collar) an audio stimulus (warning), followed, if necessary, by an electric stimulation (punishment).…”

Individual Animal Selection Has the Potential to Improve Uniformity of Grazing on Foothill Rangeland

“…For each cow, all location data collected in a pasture during a grazing season were pooled and used to determine the average slope, horizontal distance to water (HDW), and vertical distance to water (VDW) of observed cow locations in a pasture (Bailey et al 2001). …”

“…Slope use and VDW of study cows were established during a 2-year period before the study (1997 and 1998) at the Thackeray Ranch following the methods described in Bailey et al (2001). These observations were ranked and then averaged to give one overall record of terrain use for each animal.…”