1 Grazing Management is Grazing Management is Vegetation - PDF document

Grazing Management in Healthy Riparian Area Riparian Systems � Vegetation and roots protect and stabilize banks � Elevated saturated zone -- increased subsurface storage of water � Increased summer streamflow Increased summer streamflow � Cooler water in summer, reduced ice in winter � Improved habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms � High forage production and quality � High diversity of wildlife habitat Karen Launchbaugh Proper Functioning Condition Degraded Riparian Area of riparian areas PFC exists when adequate vegetation, landform, or � Little vegetation to protect and stabilize banks large woody debris is present to: � Lowered saturated zone � Dissipate stream energy associated with high � Little or no summer stream flow waterflows, thereby reducing erosion and , y g � Warm water in summer & icy water in winter � Warm water in summer & icy water in winter improving water quality � Poor habitat for fish and other aquatic organisms � Filter sediment, capture bedload, and aid floodplain � Low forage production & quality development � Low diversity of wildlife habitat � Improve floodwater retention and ground-water recharge Proper Functioning Condition Grazing Management is of riparian areas Vegetation Management PFC exists when adequate vegetation, landform, or � rest & regrowth produce vigorous, large woody debris is present to: productive riparian plants, � Develop root masses that stabilize streambanks � energy stored in roots will sustain against cutting action g g healthy riparian growth, healthy riparian growth, � Develop diverse ponding and channel � healthy plants build strong stream characteristics to provide the habitat and water banks, depth duration, and temperature necessary for fish � woody vegetation adds production, waterfowl breeding, and other uses reinforcement, � Support greater biodiversity � plant species diversity adds forage and shelter values. 1

Grazing Management is Grazing Management is Vegetation Management Vegetation Management � Protection During Vulnerable Stages � Enough Vegetation During High Flows • protect banks from trampling when fragile • dissipates stream energy • traps sediments & • protect brush species build stream banks during periods of dormancy • builds ground water reserves • maintain productive forage species • maintains stream channel shape Aspects of Managing Grazing Why do cattle use riparian areas? � Distribution problems often exist and � Water must be address � Cool temperatures/shade � Good quality forage in summer Good quality forage in summer � Stocking rate problems may exist, but St ki t bl i t b t � Flat terrain changes to stocking rate often do not � Cover from wind solve concerns � Proper season of use determines effect of grazing on plants and riparian systems Restricting livestock from Attracting livestock to uplands riparian areas � Upland water development � Drift fences � Careful salt placement & supplements � Exclosures � Create trails � Natural or constructed barriers Natural or constructed barriers � Supplement strategically � Dense vegetation � Fertilization - improve upland forage � Range riding & herding � Burning of brush control � Electric shock collars � Seed palatable upland species � Low quality vegetation � Reduce palatable riparian species Make the right thing easy and the wrong things hard. 2

Sustainable Grazing? Controlling livestock access � Yes, grazing can � Hard stream crossing cause damage � Fenced access “gaps” � Stream diversions Stream diversions � Pumped water slightly off stream Sustainable Grazing? Impacts of Passive Grazing Callum Creek 1996 Callum Creek 1980 � But, grazing can be managed Impacts of Passive Grazing Season Long Grazing Winter Grazing Spring/Fall Grazing 3

North Fork of Humboldt, 1989 North Fork of Humboldt, 1994 Season Long Grazing Riparian pasture with spring use by yearling bulls Goosey Lake Flat (NV), 1965 Goosey Lake Flat (NV), 1991 Gathering and turnout pasture Season Long Grazing Bear Creek (OR), 1976 Bear Creek (OR), 1996 Grazed April to Sept. Early Spring Use 4

Grazing Mgmt. Includes: Some situation are difficult � Herbivore species � Intensity (stocking rate) � Season of rest Season of rest � Season of grazing � Duration & frequency Higgins Creek After 10 years of managed grazing Herd Management Kind and class of animal? & Animal Husbandry � Culling Work: � Cow-calf vs Yearling Cattle • Traditional used to improve animal � Sheep – unherded vs herded performance � Sheep – herded Sheep herded • Can be applied to habitat use tendencies C b li d t h bit t t d i � Horses • Inherited & learned attributes can be culled � Bison out of herd. o Example = hill climbers & bottom dwellers • Terrain use can be modified by management & training when animals are young. Herd Management & Animal Husbandry Breed Affects Landscape Use � Breed of livestock Herford -- vs -- Tarentaise • Most people would not change breed just to improve distribution – but it can be affective • Braham crosses can be used for higher heat B h b d f hi h h t tolerance • Mountainous terrain can be more effectively used by animals that were bred in mountainous areas Bailey et al. 2001; J. Anim. Sci. 5

Breed Affects Landscape Use Stocking Rate Brangus…..traveled further from water � Even when pastures are understocked than…..Hereford or Angus …riparian areas can overgazed = A Distribution Problem � Stocking rate can be unimportant, yet needs to start with an appropriate rate � A temporary reduction may be necessary to allow recovery of highly utilized areas Brangus consumed different diets than Hereford or Angus Winder et al. 1996, J. Range Manage. Dormant Season (Winter) Use Early Season (spring) Use ++ PRO ++ - - CON - - ++ PRO ++ - - CON - - � Better livestock � Soil compaction � No opportunity for � Potential soil distribution minimal regrowth before compaction � Reduced use of spring run off � Limited bank � May affect plant vigor riparian vegetation riparian vegetation � Woody plants can trampling t li W d l t � Likely to adversely � Opportunity for sustain heavy use � Utilization of affect wildlife in area regrowth herbaceous plant not � Availability of detrimental palatable herbaceous plants reduce use of woody species Hot Season (summer) Use Late Season (fall) Grazing ++ PRO ++ - - CON - - ++ PRO ++ - - CON - - � Greater tendency of � Streambanks are � Plants have � Regrowth potential is cattle to use riparian stable completed growth low areas � Usually sufficient � Soils are dry � Limited ability to • Dormant upland veg. o a t up a d eg moisture for regrowth i t f th � Less impact to wildlife regrow before spring b f i • Green riparian veg. runoff � Nutritious riparian • Cool temp in riparian � Livestock more likely vegetation • Available water � Grazing occurs when to use woody species plants are most � Distribution problems sensitive 6

Monitoring Riparian Veg Wildife Considerations � Consider wildlife habitat requirements Utilization or Residual Levels: � Residual = stubble heights � In past, focused on competition between � Utilization needs to be appropriate for key livestock &wildlife � Targeted grazingto change wildlife species i T t d i t h ildlif � Utilization mapping is excellent tool to distribution � Proper livestock rotation can improve forage check livestock distribution � Annual measurements can vary for wildlife � Pastures can be rested if they are getting substantially… so a range of stubble height should be used. high use by wildlife Guidelines for grazing systems: Guidelines for grazing systems: � Maximize: � Continuous - Usually most damaging to • Time for post grazing growth riparian areas • Residual cover after grazing season in fall � Late-Season Deferment - Design systems g y so that pastures containing significant � Minimize: riparian areas are not grazed (deferred) • Length of grazing season during summer/fall months • Duration of summer grazing � Rest Rotation - Rotate a year of complete • Years of consecutive summer grazing rest between pastures in different years. Guidelines for grazing systems: Guidelines for grazing systems: � Management-Intensity Grazing: � Pasture Size: • Large herds of animals created by herding of • Riparian area in pastures difficult to fencing effectively managed without exclusion fencing • Grazing one area of land for just a day or two • In large pastures, include as much of stream as possible in pasture • Don’t graze twice in one year • Do not use stream as pasture boundaries • Provides sufficient rest (stream in middle of pasture) • Implement herd effect • Riparian Pastures = pastures where riparian goals are dominant consideration 7