Vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean forest pastures as affected by beef cattle grazing

Casasús, I.; Bernués, A.; Sanz, A.; Mata, Daniel Villalba; Riedel, José Luis; Revilla, R.

doi:10.1016/j.agee.2006.11.012

Cited by 94 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Clark et al [23] reported that grazing by domestic sheep during late spring increased protein content of blue bunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum) and improved winter forage for elk. Casasús et al [3] also showed that moderate cattle grazing elevated protein content of forage. However, the increase in vegetation quality and nitrogen content was temporary and was lost during winter due to vegetation senescence [24].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The introduction of cattle can have a major influence on grassland communities affecting both producers and consumers [1][2][3], yet little is known to fully evaluate the extent of these impacts. Competition between ungulates and domestic cattle remains an important concern [4].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Intensive grazing reduced vegetation biomass [13] and decreased hiding cover for mule deer [14]. Exclusion of cattle from an area decreased bare ground [15,16] and increased vegetation biomass and litter layer [3]. Furthermore, Yeo [17] reported that even with increased cattle management, health of sagebrush communities was still negatively affected by grazing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Differences in Vegetation and Native Ungulate use between Exclosures and Cattle Grazed Plots in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta

Brown¹,

Ruckstuhl²

2012

J Ecosys Ecograph

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Cattle grazing can cause significant changes in quality and quantity of forage available to the wildlife. The effects of livestock on native ungulates are still unclear, and range from positive to negative depending on the season. The objectives of our study were to determine the impact of cattle grazing on the vegetation biomass and quality by comparing twenty-four livestock exclosures and corresponding grazed plots. Use of exclosures by bighorn sheep and elk were evaluated. Furthermore, we compared proportion of live vegetation and forbs from 1994-95 to 2005-06 to investigate long-term changes in the vegetation quality and biomass. As predicted, higher vegetation biomass and lower quality was found inside the exclosures during some of the months. The proportion of live vegetation found within an area was negatively correlated with acid detergent fiber (ADF) and positively correlated with crude protein indicating higher net energy and nutritional value. More forbs were found in the lightly grazed areas. Number of fecal groups did not differ significantly between exclosures and grazed plots. The number of sheep groups sighted was higher in grazed plots than exclosures during the summer, but not during the winter. The proportion of live vegetation and biomass did not change between 1994-95 and 2005-06, but more forbs were found in 2005-06 than before. Overall, most of our results corresponded well with previous studies. Care must be taken to ensure that nutritional requirements of native ungulates are met during the winter, as a decrease in vegetation biomass due to cattle grazing was more pronounced than the increase in quality during this time.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Differences in Vegetation and Native Ungulate use between Exclosures and Cattle Grazed Plots in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta

Brown¹,

Ruckstuhl²

2012

J Ecosys Ecograph

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“…The flock was managed under a year-round grazing system involving Mediterranean grassland and forest-shrub pastures in the summer, autumn and winter (Casasús et al, 2007) et al (1991).…”

Section: Feeding and Handlingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of feeding and housing systems on rumen properties and plasma metabolite stress indicators in autochthonous Spanish Ojalada sheep

et al. 2015

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To rear lambs of the Ojalada breed, fed exclusively on mothers' milk until 5 weeks, three feeding systems were compared: a) ewes kept indoors and fed chopped straw plus concentrate (IND+CH+C), total mixed ration (TMR); b) ewes kept indoors and fed whole straw in the form of large bales plus concentrate (IND+W+C), TMR; and c) free-range grazing plus concentrate (GR+C; control group). Parameters related to ruminal fermentation (pH, NH 3 -N concentration and proportion of volatile fatty acids (VFAs)) in 40 sheep during a production cycle were monitored. The plasma concentrations of stressrelated metabolites (i.e., glucose, lactate, phosphate, creatine kinase (CK), cortisol and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs)) during a production cycle and in 10 sheep during lactation (5 weeks) were tested. The sheep fed a whole forage ration (IND+W+C and GR+C treatment group) had higher concentrations of NH 3 -N and total VFAs, but no differences were found in the acetate/propionate ratio in sheep in the IND+CH+C treatment group compared to the control group. When analyzing plasma metabolites, we found that during the entire production cycle, grazing sheep had higher concentrations of glucose and cortisol. The concentration of NEFAs was also higher for the GR+C treatment group when evaluated during lactation. Thus, we concluded that the ration particle size for sheep fed a TMR influences the concentration of NH 3 -N and VFAs in the rumen. Keeping the sheep indoors during the production cycle and during lactation did not increase the plasma levels of the evaluated stress indicators.

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“…Grazing is often considered to be a factor which contributes to vegetation stability. Moreover, it is regarded as a conservation method to protect a unique ecosystem, especially in regions, e.g., the Pyrenees, where animal grazing is a long-time tradition (Casasús et al, 2007;Sebastiá et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of Sheep Grazing on Small Mammals Diversity in Lower Mountain Coniferous Forest Glades

Ważna¹

2016

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. Sheep grazing has once been a traditional mode of exploitation of forest as well as alpine zones in the majority of European montane regions. Nowadays, in Tatra Mts, sheep grazing is limited to a number of glades of anthropogenic origin, primarily as a method of protection against overgrowing with trees. Results of the present study demonstrate that sheep grazing causes a decrease in species diversity of small mammals Micromammalia in forest zone glades. The values of biodiversity indicators in sheepgrazed glades are lower than those in the non-managed or mown ones. On sheep-grazed glades, a lower biodiversity of Soricomorpha and a domination of common vole Microtus arvalis have been found.

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Vegetation dynamics in Mediterranean forest pastures as affected by beef cattle grazing

Cited by 94 publications

References 18 publications

Differences in Vegetation and Native Ungulate use between Exclosures and Cattle Grazed Plots in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta

Differences in Vegetation and Native Ungulate use between Exclosures and Cattle Grazed Plots in Sheep River Provincial Park, Alberta

Effect of feeding and housing systems on rumen properties and plasma metabolite stress indicators in autochthonous Spanish Ojalada sheep

Impact of Sheep Grazing on Small Mammals Diversity in Lower Mountain Coniferous Forest Glades

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