@proceedings {50010, title = {Characterizing foraging patterns among cattle and bonded and non- bonded small ruminants using spatial point process techniques}, year = {2010}, month = {2010}, pages = {12-35}, publisher = {Kansas State University}, address = {Manhattan, Kansas}, abstract = {

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 over five days for both the bonded and non-bonded groups was analyzed for spatial patterns.\  Only data for five morning periods (0700-0800 h) are reported because morning and afternoon spatial patterns were similar.\  Distance measures and Monte Carlo simulations for spatial point processes were used to analyze the data.\  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 high.\  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 suggest paddock utilization may be positively influenced using flerds compared to flocks and herds.

}, keywords = {animal disribution, animal locations, cattle, flerds, goats, mixed-species stocking, sheep}, url = {/files/bibliography/10-046.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Murray, Leight M. and Sun, P. and E.L. Fredrickson and Richard E. Estell and V.B. Nakamatsu} } @conference {50529, title = {Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF{\texttrademark}) and flerds}, booktitle = {58th Annual Meeting Society for Range Management}, year = {2005}, month = {February 5, 2005}, address = {Fort Worth, Texas}, abstract = {Controlling free-ranging animals is among the most challenging jobs a producer faces when managing livestock. Combining a practical understanding of animal behavior with emerging technologies provides opportunities to autonomously control the temporal and spatial location of cattle and sheep on arid rangelands without conventional fencing. Flerd refers to a mixed species group of sheep (flock) and cattle (herd) in which sheep consistently remain within line-of-sight of cattle even when given the opportunity to remain only with peers. This atypical sheep behavior results from modifying sheep behavior, preferably at an early age, through a process called bonding. Using Directional Virtual Fencing (DVFTM), which delivers audio sound and/or electric shock cues to either the right or left side of a cow{\textquoteright}s head, it was possible to contain cattle behind an activated Virtual Boundary (VBTM) that defines the perimeter of a Virtual Paddock (VPTM) using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. Peer relationships among and between individual sheep affected flerd cohesiveness when combining bonded sheep with cows equipped with DVFTM devices. Preliminary results indicate three cows wearing DVFTM devices influenced the spatial location of 13 ewes and 1 wether.}, keywords = {cattle, Directional Virtual Fencing, flerds, free-ranging animals, sheep}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Nayak, P. and B. Nolen and E.L. Fredrickson and Richard E. Estell and C.S. Hale and Kris Havstad} } @article {51316, title = {Differences in ewe and wether behavior when bonded to cattle}, journal = {Applied Animal Behaviour Science}, volume = {47}, year = {1996}, note = {Reprinted with permission from Elsevier, {\textcopyright} 1996. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01681591}, month = {1996}, pages = {201-209}, abstract = {

Under mixed stocking, both intra- and inter-species associations exist. Sheep normally do not associate with cattle when the two species are grazed together. However, sheep can be made to consistently stay close to (bond) and follow cattle if forced in close association with cattle at an early age for a period of time. The cohesiveness of this inter-species association under free-ranging conditions varies due to many factors, including sheep gender. Bonded wethers stay nearer to cattle than do bonded ewes. However, the distance of separation between bonded sheep groups and cattle groups during grazing increases over time. Though the mechanism(s) for these phenomena are not presently understood, keeping a few bonded wethers with bonded ewes may enhance the establishment and maintenance of consistently coherent range flerds (flocks + herds).

}, keywords = {cattle, grazing, predation, sheep, social grouping}, doi = {10.1016/0168-1591(95)00676-1}, url = {/files/bibliography/465.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Richard E. Estell and Kris Havstad and Shupe, W. Larry and R. Libeau and L. W. Murray} } @article {51317, title = {The potential of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) spectra of sheep feces to determine diet botanical composition}, journal = {Small Ruminant Research}, volume = {21}, number = {1-2}, year = {1996}, note = {Reprinted with permission from Elsevier, Copyright {\textcopyright} 1996. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/09214488)}, month = {June 1, 1996}, pages = {1-10}, abstract = {

Laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) peaks near 470 nm ({\textquoteleft}blue{\textquoteright}) and 650 nm ({\textquoteleft}red{\textquoteright}) from sheep feces treated with chloroform (CHCl3) displayed spectral signatures that varied with diet. Fecal samples were obtained rectally over 3 days in a replicated study consisting of four diets (treatments) fed to 16 Polypay and Polypay {\texttimes} Rambouillet lambs (four lambs per treatment). Basal diet consisted of tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica Buckley [formally Hilaria mutica (Buckl.) Benth.] hay with 0\% (control), 10\%, 20\% or 30\% tarbush (Flourensia cernua D.C.) added on a dry matter basis. Feces were dried at 60 {\textdegree}C, treated with chloroform and the extract from both crushed and intact fecal material was then excited by laser input at 355 nm. Tarbush leaves gave LIF only in the blue region of the spectrum. However, tobosa hay and all fecal pellets produced a bimodal LIF spectral distribution with a lower, broader peak feature in the blue region and a narrower well defined taller feature in the red region of the spectrum. Chloroform did not exhibit fluorescence peaks between 400 nm and 800 nm. As tarbush in the diet increased, so did the magnitude of counts in the blue region of the spectrum. The LIF red/blue intensity ratios appear to be more reliable than actual counts in differentiating feces of sheep fed tobosa diets containing differing amounts of tarbush. red/blue ratios decreased (P\< 0.05) linearly (P\< 0.005) for both crushed and intact sheep fecal pellets as the tarbush/tobosa ratio in the diet increased. Inconsistencies in count amplitudes and wavelengths in either one or both regions (red or blue) of the spectrum and in red/blue ratios (especially on Day 3 for crushed fecal samples) are discussed in terms of sample preparation procedures and sampling days. Our results suggest that further testing of the LIF technique is warranted using diets consisting of several species.

}, keywords = {botanical composition, diets, fecal samples, laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), sheep}, doi = {10.1016/0921-4488(95)00817-9}, url = {/files/bibliography/466.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Nachman, P. and Richard E. Estell and Ruekgauer, T. and Kris Havstad and E.L. Fredrickson and L. W. Murray} } @conference {51808, title = {Cattle and sheep activities under simultaneous stocking of arid rangeland}, booktitle = {39th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management}, year = {1986}, month = {1986}, pages = {141}, abstract = {Within each of three seasons (i.e., dormancy, ephemeral and perennial growth) a series of observations were made on cattle and sheep between sunrise and sunset. Grazing, walking, standing, and lying events were recorded with an electronic, hand-held data logger that contained a real-time clock. Discussion of the data includes evaluating the locations within the paddock where the various activities took place and the implications this type of data has in developing mixed species grazing strategies.}, keywords = {activities, arid rangeland, cattle, sheep, simultaneous stocking}, author = {D.M. Anderson and J. N. Smith and Clarence V. Hulet} }