Social Cohesion of Steers and Sheep as a Possible Variable in Grazing Studies<sup>1</sup>

Bond, James; Carlson, G. E.; Jackson, C.; Curry, W. A.

doi:10.2134/agronj1967.00021962005900050032x

Cited by 10 publications

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“…Visual observations of animal grazing patterns and behavior indicated that during hot summer days, sheep spent more time resting during the day, whereas cattle grazed intermittently. In mixed-species grazing, where only one animal from each animal species was involved (one cow and one sheep), a very strong social relationship has been shown to develop, and time strengthened this relationship (Bond et al, 1967). However, when more than one animal from each species was used, as in our experiment, animals tended to stay within their own species group (Bond et al, 1967).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…In mixed-species grazing, where only one animal from each animal species was involved (one cow and one sheep), a very strong social relationship has been shown to develop, and time strengthened this relationship (Bond et al, 1967). However, when more than one animal from each species was used, as in our experiment, animals tended to stay within their own species group (Bond et al, 1967). In our experiment, in mixed-species pastures, cattle and sheep were separated, often a t opposite ends of the pasture.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Abaye

Allen

Fontenot

1994

Journal of Animal Science

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Cattle and sheep grazed together and separately from April to October during 3 yr. Initial forage composition was 29% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 11% white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and 60% weeds. There were six Angus cow-calf pairs or six ewes (1/2 Dorset x 1/4 Finn x 1/4 Rambouillet) with 11 lambs per each of three pasture replications for single animal species. Six cow-calf pairs plus six ewes and 11 lambs grazed in each of three replications of the mixed animal species treatment. There were approximately one cow and calf or five ewes with lambs per .44 ha. Lambs were weaned at 41 kg or by September 1. Calves were weaned approximately October 10. Lamb daily gain (.23 kg/d), total gain (23 kg), and weaning weights (43 kg) were greater (P < .01) and target weaning weights were reached 14 d earlier in the grazing season when both animal species grazed together than when lambs were in pastures with sheep alone (.18 kg/d, 19 and 38 kg, respectively). Calf gains were not influenced by treatment. Grazing pressure increased throughout the grazing season for cattle alone, peaked in midsummer, and then decreased by autumn for sheep alone, whereas grazing pressure initially increased then remained relatively constant with mixed-species grazing. Forage quality in pastures where sheep grazed alone was lower (P < .05) than in pastures where cattle grazed alone until lambs were weaned in late summer, whereas forage quality with mixed-species grazing was generally intermediate. Mixed grazing resulted in earlier weaning and increased lamb performance and BW of ewes, but not in increased animal production per hectare.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 58%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Abaye

Allen

Fontenot

1994

Journal of Animal Science

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“…Since at least 1962, it has been known that, under certain conditions, a social relationship could be formed between different species (Scott, 1962). Bond et al (1967) reported that cohesiveness appeared to develop between sheep and cattle as a result of their being stocked together on small paddocks. An initial study by Anderson et al (1987) established proof-of-concept that close confinement of sheep and cattle can create cohesiveness (termed a 'bond') between large and small ruminants, with the term 'flerd' (flock+herd) being used to denote the inter-specific association of small ruminant groups remaining with cattle under free-ranging conditions (Anderson et al, 1988).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Characterizing Foraging Patterns Among Cattle and Bonded and Non-Bonded Small Ruminants Using Spatial Point Process Techniques

Anderson¹,

Murray²,

Sun³

et al. 2010

Conference on Applied Statistics in Agriculture

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This paper uses the technique of spatial point processes to describe the spatial patterns of freeranging cattle and small ruminants. Two mixed-species livestock groups were monitored while foraging on 410 ha of brush-infested Southern New Mexico rangeland during July and August 1988. The groups consisted of crossbred Bos taurus and Bos indicus beef cattle with white-faced sheep (Ovis aries) and mohair goats (Capra hircus). The bonded group consisted of small ruminants that had their behaviours modified through socialization with cattle to form a 'flerd' in which small ruminants consistently remained near cattle. Small ruminants in the non-bonded group had not been socialized with cattle. A subset of animal location data measured during the morning and afternoon over five days for both the bonded and non-bonded groups was analyzed for spatial patterns. Only data for five morning periods (7:00-8:00 a.m.) are reported because morning and afternoon spatial patterns were similar. Observed nearest neighbor distances, mean number of small ruminant near an arbitrary cow, and point-to-animal distances were compared to Monte Carlo simulations of independently and uniformly distributed animal locations. Bonded and non-bonded groups were also compared. Results suggested bonded and non-bonded groups were similar in spatial patterns of intra-specific distances for both cattle and small ruminants. However, bonding changed the repulsive relationship observed between cattle and non-bonded small ruminants stocked together to one of inter-specific attraction. Bonded small ruminants remained close to and formed inter-specific clusters with cattle. In addition, the mean number of bonded small ruminants near an arbitrary cow was consistently higher than for non-bonded small ruminants. Finally, the spatial pattern of cattle across the paddock did not differ between bonded and non-bonded groups, while bonded small ruminants tended to disperse slightly more uniformly across the paddock than did non-bonded small ruminants. These findings indicate the usefulness of spatial point processes techniques to analyze such animal location data, substantiate on a larger scale conclusions of previous, replicated studies about the effect of bonding small ruminants to cattle, and suggest utilization of paddock landscapes may be positively influenced using flerds compared to flocks and herds.

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Bonding of young sheep to heifers

Anderson

Hulet

Smith

et al. 1987

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

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Social Cohesion of Steers and Sheep as a Possible Variable in Grazing Studies¹

Cited by 10 publications

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Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Characterizing Foraging Patterns Among Cattle and Bonded and Non-Bonded Small Ruminants Using Spatial Point Process Techniques

Bonding of young sheep to heifers

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Social Cohesion of Steers and Sheep as a Possible Variable in Grazing Studies1

Cited by 10 publications

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Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Influence of grazing cattle and sheep together and separately on animal performance and forage quality

Characterizing Foraging Patterns Among Cattle and Bonded and Non-Bonded Small Ruminants Using Spatial Point Process Techniques

Bonding of young sheep to heifers

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Social Cohesion of Steers and Sheep as a Possible Variable in Grazing Studies¹