@article {JRN55428, title = {Landscape dynamics of a vector-borne disease in the western US: How vector{\textendash}habitat relationships inform disease hotspots}, year = {2022}, abstract = {Vesicular stomatitis (VS) is a vector-borne viral disease that causes lesions in livestock, premises, county and state quarantines, and important economic losses. We investigated vector{\textendash}habitat characteristics for vectors associated with VS in regions of recurrent disease within the western United States (US) that consistently lead to the environment where vector, host, and pathogen populations intersect to enable pathogen transmission. We analyzed the habitats of previously identified insect vectors, including black flies (BFs) (Simulium vittatum complex), biting midges (BMs) (Culicoides variipennis complex, which includes Culicoides sonorensis), and sand flies (SFs) (Lutzomyia shannoni) in six regions of interest (ROIs) containing hotspots of VS ranging from Texas (TX) to Wyoming. This analysis broadened the understanding of (1) how regions of reoccurring VS differ from the broader western US, (2) how geographically separated regions and hotspots are similar across time, and (3) how vector{\textendash}environment habitat a priori knowledge relates to observed hotspots. Analysis of watershed factors (livestock densities, land-cover proportions, stream and lake densities, and irrigation methods) indicated a complex system separating areas with high, recurring VS from the broader western US. Although no single characteristic separated the six ROIs from other areas, we found two distinct emerging groups (northern ROI and TX). Hotspots, estimated from monthly VS concentrations, evolved northward throughout the year and most hotspots were closer to flowing water and agricultural land than the broader ROI. All ROIs contained environmental conditions suitable for multiple vectors at some point in the year, but BFs had the highest suitability scores, whereas BM scores were lower and varied annually with higher suitability in summer. SFs had the lowest suitability score in all ROIs, consistent with their low likelihood of being vectors. BM habitat patches were often orders of magnitude smaller than BF patches, and hotspot patches reinforce the likelihood that BF may be the most critical vector in northern ROI, whereas both BM and BF have similar likelihood in southern ROI. Given limited existing vector data, this analysis provides an alternate pathway for using habitat information to associate likely vectors responsible for transmission. Results could support early warning and mitigation efforts to reduce the incidence of VS.}, keywords = {livestock, nidus, patch analysis, Vector-borne disease, vesicular stomatitis virus}, doi = {10.1002/ecs2.4267}, url = {files/bibliography/22-025.pdf}, author = {Emile H. Elias and Heather M. Savoy and Dustin A Swanson and Lee W. Cohnstaedt and Debra P. C. Peters and J. D. Derner and Angela Pelzel-McCluskey and Barbara Drolet and Luis Rodriguez} } @article {JRN55215, title = {Big data-model integration and AI for vector-borne disease predictor}, journal = {Ecosphere}, volume = {11}, year = {2020}, month = {06/2020}, pages = {1-20}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {Predicting the drivers of incursion and expansion of vector-borne diseases as part of early-warning strategies (EWS) is a major challenge for geographically extensive diseases where spread is mediated by spatial heterogeneity in climate and other environmental drivers. Geospatial data on these environmental drivers are increasingly available affording opportunities for application to a predictive disease ecology paradigm provided the data can be synthesized and harmonized with fine-scale, highly resolved data on vector and host responses to their environment. Here, we apply a multi-scale big data{\textendash}model integration approach using human-guided machine learning to objectively evaluate the importance of a large suite of spatially distributed environmental variables (>400) to develop EWS for vesicular stomatitis (VS), a common viral vectorborne vesicular disease affecting livestock throughout the Americas. Two temporally and phylogenetically distinct events were used to develop disease occurrence{\textendash}environment relationships in incursion (2004) and expansion years (2005), and then to test those relationships (2014, 2015) at two scales: (1) local and (2) landscape to regional. Our results show that VS occurrence at a local scale of individual landowners was related to conditions that can be monitored (rainfall, temperatures, streamflow) or modified (vegetation). On-site green vegetation during the month of occurrence and higher rainfall four months prior combined with either cool daytime (expansion) or nighttime (incursion) temperatures one month prior were indicators of VS occurrence. Distance to running water (incursion) and host density based on neighboring ranches (expansion) with infected animals were also important in individual years. At landscape-to-regional scales, conditions that favor specific VSV biological vectors were indicated, either black flies in incursion years or biting midges in expansion years. Changes in viral genetic lineage were less important to patterns in VS occurrence than factors affecting the host{\textendash}vector{\textendash}environment interactions. In combination with our onset map based on latitude, elevation, and long-term annual precipitation, this year- and scale-specific information can be used to develop strategies to minimize effects of future VS events. This big data approach coupled with expert knowledge and machine learning can be applied to other emerging diseases for improvement in understanding, prediction, and management of vector-borne diseases.}, keywords = {artificial intelligence, continental scale, expert knowledge, insect vectors, livestock, phylogeography, regional scale, RNA virus, vesicular stomatitis virus}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.3157}, url = {files/bibliography/20-024.pdf}, author = {Debra C. Peters and David McVey and Emile H. Elias and Angela Pelzel-McCluskey and J. D. Derner and N. Dylan Burruss and Scott T. Schrader and Jin Yao and Steven J. Pauszek and Lombard, Jason and Luis L Rodriguez} } @article {JRN55160, title = {Synthesis paper: Targeted livestock grazing: Prescription for healthy rangelands}, journal = {Rangeland Ecology and Management}, volume = {72}, year = {2019}, month = {11/01/2019}, abstract = {Targeted livestock grazing is a proven tool for manipulating rangeland vegetation, and current knowledge about targeted livestock grazing is extensive and expanding rapidly.\  Targeted grazing prescriptions optimize the timing, frequency, intensity, and selectivity of grazing (or browsing) in combinations that purposely exert grazing/browsing pressure on specific plant species or portions of the landscape.\  Targeted grazing differs from traditional grazing management in that the goal of targeted grazing is to apply defoliation or trampling to achieve specific vegetation management objectives, whereas the goal of traditional livestock grazing management is generally the production of livestock commodities.\  A shared aim of targeted livestock grazing and traditional grazing management is to sustain healthy soils, flora, fauna, and water resources that, in turn, can sustain natural ecological processes (e.g., nutrient cycle, water cycle, energy flow).\  Targeted grazing prescriptions integrate knowledge of plant ecology, livestock nutrition, and livestock foraging behavior. Livestock can be focused on target areas through fencing, herding, or supplement placement.\  Although practices can be developed to minimize the impact of toxins contained in target plants, the welfare of the animals used in targeted grazing must be a priority.\  Monitoring is needed to determine if targeted grazing is successful and to refine techniques to improve efficacy and efficiency.\  Examples of previous research studies and approaches are presented to highlight the ecological benefits that can be achieved when targeted grazing is applied properly. These cases include ways to suppress invasive plants and ways to enhance wildlife habitat and biodiversity.\  Future research should address the potential to select more adapted and effective livestock for targeted grazing and the associated animal welfare concerns with this practice.\  Targeted livestock grazing provides land managers a viable alternative to mechanical, chemical, and prescribed fire treatments to manipulate rangeland vegetation.}, keywords = {focused grazing, livestock, prescriptive grazing, rangelands, targeted grazing, vegetation manipulation}, doi = {10.1016/j.rama.2019.06.003}, url = {bibliography/19-024.pdf}, author = {C. Donovan Bailey and J. C. Mosley and Richard E. Estell and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils and M. Horney and John Hendrickson and J.W. Walker and Launchbaugh, K.L. and Burritt, E.A.} } @article {JRN54180, title = {Criollo cattle: Heritage genetics for arid landscapes}, journal = {Rangelands}, volume = {37}, year = {2015}, month = {04/2015}, pages = {62-67}, chapter = {62}, abstract = {

Thirty cows and three bulls from the Chinipas region in the state of Chihuahua, Mexico, were introduced onto the US Department of Agriculture {\textendash} Agricultural Research Service{\textquoteright}s Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in 2005.\  Since then behavioral research has revealed these cattle, most accurately referred to as Raramuri Criollo (RC) cattle, appear well adapted to the harsh and variable climate of the Chihuahuan Desert Ecosystem characterized by abundant woody vegetation and highly variable spatial and temporal precipitation. Observations to date indicate Criollo cattle are thrifty, docile, easy-to-manage, have a long and productive lifespan and require minimal management.\  Research from Arizona suggests Criollo beef is flavorful and equal in tenderness to that of European breeds managed under similar grass-fed production systems.\  The JER is maintaining the pure genetics of RC cattle that have undergone many years of natural selection in Mexico to study their nutritional and behavioral characteristics.\  If these cattle have traits that are desirable in these fragile ecosystems they could have a positive influence on crossbreeding programs for animals destined to dominate arid landscapes.

}, keywords = {dry lands, foraging, livestock, Mexican cattle}, doi = {10.1016/j.rala.2015.01.006}, url = {/files/bibliography/15-010.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Richard E. Estell and Amy L. Gonzalez and Andr{\'e}s F. Cibils} } @article {49869, title = {Characterising the spatial and temporal activities of free-ranging cows from GPS data}, journal = {The Rangeland Journal}, volume = {34}, year = {2012}, month = {06/2012}, pages = {149-161}, chapter = {149}, abstract = {

Electronic tracking provides a unique way to document animal behavior on a continuous basis.\  This manuscript describes how uncorrected 1 s GPS fixes can be used to characterize the rate of cow travel (m{\textperiodcentered}s-1) into stationary, foraging and walking activities.\  Cows instrumented with GPS devices were observed; and the beginning and ending times of the above activities were recorded.\  Data were collected across a number of days and among a number of cows in order to calculate a mean travel rate for each activity.\  GPS data were also collected when observers were absent from the paddock and these data were then characterized into the three activities based on rate of travel determined between consecutive GPS fixes.\  The activities were further characterized within a 24 h period based on the sun{\textquoteright}s angle with respect to the horizon.\  GPS data were analyzed from four cows (two in 2009 and two in 2011) and collected for four consecutive 24 h periods before weaning and seven similar time intervals following weaning.\  Weaning took place in March each year around mid-day when calves were between 223 and 234 days of age.\  These data suggest abrupt weaning caused cows to change their spatial and temporal behavior not only among but also within days.\  Overall cow travel increased (p = 0.0093) post-weaning with subtle within day behavioral changes.\  Further testing will be required to substantiate the biological implication of spatial and temporal cattle behavioral changes when developing optimum proactive husbandry practices for managing cow dominated landscapes.

}, keywords = {foraging, geospatial data, livestock, travel, weaning behaviour}, doi = {dx.doi.org/10.1071/RJ11062}, url = {/files/bibliography/12-013.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and Craig Winters and Richard E. Estell and E.L. Fredrickson and Marek Doniec and Detweiler, C. and D. Rus and D. K. James and B. Nolen} } @article {49870, title = {Managing livestock using animal behavior: Mixed-species stocking and flerds}, journal = {Animal}, year = {2012}, month = {02/2012}, pages = {1-11}, chapter = {1}, abstract = {Mixed-species stocking can foster sound landscape management while offering economic and ecological advantages compared to mono-species stocking.\  Producers contemplating a mixed-species enterprise should reflect on several considerations before implementing this animal management strategy.\  Factors applicable to a particular producer\’s landscape must be considered together with goals and economic constraints before implementing mixed-species stocking.\  A major consideration when using mixed-species stocking is how to deal with predation losses, especially among small ruminants.\  An approach being adopted in some commercial operations capitalizes on using innate animal behaviors to form cohesive groups of two or more livestock species that consistently remain together under free-ranging conditions.\  These groups are referred to as flerds.\  The mixing of a flock of sheep and/or goats with a herd of cattle into a flerd has been shown to protect sheep and goats from coyote predation as well as offering other husbandry advantages.\  Some of the added advantages include more efficient conversion of forage into animal protein.\  Creation of flerds, their maintenance and advantages are discussed.}, keywords = {animal behavior, bonding, livestock, predation}, doi = {10.1017/s175173111200016x}, url = {/files/bibliography/12-006.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson and E.L. Fredrickson and Richard E. Estell} } @proceedings {50087, title = {The cow-whisperer: Towards autonomous management of free-ranging cows}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, abstract = {Animal management in the 21st century presents many challenges. Free-ranging livestock are classically controlled by herders. Today, wire fences are used in most developed countries, although they are costly to build and maintain. Furthermore, conventional fences do not foster flexible management of foraging animals. Flexibility is the key to ecological management since both plants and animals are spatially and temporally dynamic resources. Besides logging GPS data, our sensor box allows us to play arbitrary aural cues ranging from irritating sounds to gathering commands. In our first experiment, we investigate how to stimulate a cow to move her in a specific direction by playing various sounds in either the left or right ear, however, none of the audio cues evaluated proved effective. Behavioral theory suggests that a cow will avoid novel cues, in this case sounds, by moving away from them. In earlier experiments using a number of different sounds the loudness and frequency of the sounds used did not have any noticeable detrimental affect on cows. It appears that if we want to control cows without excessive stress, we need to better understand individual as well as herd behavior. In a preliminary experiment to evaluate autonomous gathering, the cows were observed to be in the corral at approximately 7:15 AM drinking water. About mid-morning the cows were returned to the middle of the pasture with an ATV. Past research using these same animals would suggest the cows would not have done what was observed next. They returned to the corral a second time the same day. Forty-five minutes after leaving the cows in the middle of the pasture where they were observed to begin foraging. The preprogrammed instruments started administering audio sounds that the cows would have associated with previous manual gathering. However, instead of immediately walking back to the corral once the audio cues began playing, the cows continued walking south. They reached the southwest corner of the pasture where they stood for approximately 20 minutes. We then returned on the ATV and turned the cows north along the west fence line. Thereafter, the cows continued to walk north along the west fence line for about a mile without further human intervention. Returning to the corral, we observed the cows as they returned to the corral this second time on March 3, 2008. The aural gathering cues were administered equally in both ears to all four cows in 30s intervals throughout their walk to the corral. These 30 s on-off intervals appear to correspond to the stop-and-go behavior one can observe in the video. This experiment suggests that preprogrammed audio cuing involving sounds associated with manual gathering may be sufficient to gather animals autonomously. However, efficient gathering requires movement in the proper direction. Therefore, we believe that directional audio cues may be required in order to establish proper animal orientation. Our next step will be to provide directional audio cues to the animals using hard- and software currently under development at MIT. In addition, we plan to investigate how many animals in a herd we would need to instrument in order to control the entire group.}, keywords = {animal, free-ranging, GPS, livestock, management}, author = {Correll, N. and Marek Doniec and R. Libeau and D. Rus and D.M. Anderson} } @conference {50138, title = {Habitat use by Mexican criollo and British beef cattle breeds in arid-and semi-arid environments of New Mexico and Chihuahua}, booktitle = {94th Annual Ecological Society of America Meeting}, year = {2009}, note = {Abstract $\#$ 19351}, month = {08/2009}, pages = {COS 15-9}, address = {Alb., NM}, abstract = {

Livestock grazing is the primary activity on rangelands that encompass nearly half of the Earth\’s terrestrial surface and directly supports a quarter of the world\’s population. With one person in ten directly involved livestock production, development of ecologically appropriate techniques for managing livestock grazing are likely to have widespread impacts. In this study we test the hypothesis that ecologically adapted Mexican Criollo cattle use a greater diversity of arid and semi-arid landscape components than temperate British beef cattle breeds (Angus, Hereford). Two sites were used: the Jornada Experimental Range (JER) in south-central New Mexico and Rancho Experimental Teseachi (RET) in central Chihuahua. The JER pasture has 1,160 ha of undulating Chihuahuan Desert grasslands, with 245 mm of average annual precipitation. Elevation of the 2,552 ha RET pasture varies from 1,900 to 2,800 m, with annual precipitation averaging 580 mm. Vegetation ranges from Pinyon-Juniper-Bouteloua on the lower slopes to Pine-Oak-Muhlenbergia on the upper slopes. Four replicates were used during the spring and fall at each location. In each replicate, six different mature cows per breed were fitted with Lotek GPS collars, equipped with activity sensors, and allowed to graze each pasture with position acquired at 5-min intervals. Results/Conclusions In contrast to British breeds, criollo cattle grazed fewer hours per day (9.82 vs 10.6 h/d; P \< 0.0001) and walked greater distances (8.0 vs 6.8 km/d; P \< 0.0001). In addition, British breeds remained closer (P \< 0.05) to water and maintained smaller (P \< 0.05) home ranges when forage availability and quality tended to be limiting. Overall British breeds grazed more and used a smaller proportion of the environment than Mexican criollo cattle. This study was conducted when forage conditions at both sites were better than typically encountered; under poorer forage conditions, common to northern Mexico and southwestern United States, differences between breeds could be greater than observed. These data indicate that desert adapted criollo cattle, evolving in arid- and semi-arid regions of Spain and North Africa before their introduction to Mexico in 1521, distribute their impacts more evenly across fragile landscapes. This is likely due to their smaller size, though other arid land adaptations are likely. Use of desert adapted cattle appears to be a mechanism to lessen localized overgrazing common to these systems when using larger temperate breeds, and may be an appropriate breed for areas with sensitive riparian communities.

}, keywords = {Chihuahua, ESA, grazing, livestock, production}, author = {Roacho, E.J.O. and E.L. Fredrickson and G. Bezanilla and Amy L. Gonzalez and H. Raul Peinetti and A.F.A. Rodriguez} } @article {50222, title = {Mongolia{\textquoteright} s rangelands: Is livestock production the key to the future?}, journal = {Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment}, volume = {6}, year = {2008}, month = {September 2008}, pages = {386-391}, abstract = {Approximately half of the world{\textquoteright}s land areas is rangeland. Over 1.5 billion people live on or immediately adjacent to this land type. Common to these rangelands are over 1 billion domesticated animals, primarily cattle, sheep and goats that are managed by pastoralists. The ruminant digestive system common to these livestock species evolved over 20 million years ago and is a mutualistic digestive system that break cellulose bonds to free masses of metabolizable energy present it the nature and introduced forages of these rangelands. Approximately 10\% of eh world{\textquoteright}s population are pastoralists, and many of these people live at poverty levels. However, these landscapes can also provide additional goods and services other than food and fiber. This manuscript is a viewpoint article that debates the capacity of pastoralists, specifically those in Mongolia, to develop other goods and services in order to increase their standard of living while maintaining a sustained capacity to produce food and fiber A key need for managing a diverse set of goods and services form any landscape, including grasslands, of Mongolia, is knowledge of the values of alternative ecosystem services and their resulting economic opportunities. This knowledge is unavailable at this time except for a few services with market opportunities.}, keywords = {future, journal, livestock, Mongolia, rangeland}, url = {/files/bibliography/08-035.pdf}, author = {Kris Havstad and Jeffrey E. Herrick and Tseelei, E.A.} } @conference {50252, title = {Assessing the importance of landscape attributes for livestock distribution within a complex desert environment}, booktitle = {Ecological Society of America Abstracts}, year = {2008}, month = {August 4-8, 2008}, pages = {54-22}, address = {Milwaukee, WI}, abstract = {Predictive models of grazing distribution are used to explore livestock {\textendash} landscape interactions. However, conventional models based on local foraging rules or regression analyses have limited predictive value at larger scales commonly of interest to land managers. We developed a landscape scale model that matches the spatial scale of decision factors with the predicted distribution pattern. The model was used to infer how animals integrate landscape factors. Predictive models of grazing suitability were generated for different seasons (Spring and Fall) and cattle breeds (Angus and Criollo) in a 2,425 ha pasture on the Jornada Experimental Range located in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. Models generate raster maps of grazing suitability using an adapted version of the Multi-Criteria Evaluation method from decision theory. Four factors: vegetation, distance from water, shrub density, and elevation were represented by 10 m grid maps. Independent GPS collars grazing positions data acquired at 5-minute intervals were used to calculate decision functions, which describe animal preference for different landscape attributes, and to evaluate how well the model fit the data. Models with three predictors produced the best fit of the data. Distance to water was the most important factor in all models. Animals showed higher preferences for areas within 4 to 6 km of permanent water depend upon breeds. Other factors were included with lower relative importance. Animal preferences were greater for areas with low shrub density and for low elevation sites where Pleuraphis mutica, Schleropogon brevifolius, and Sporobulus spp. dominate heavier texture soils. Suitable areas delimited by the models realistically represent the observed spatial pattern of grazing. Between 70 to 90 \% of grazing positions occurred in cells classified by the model as suitable. Conversely, the number of suitable cells was 5 to 8 times larger than the observed grazed cells. These differences may have occurred because grazing positions correspond to a very low stocking rate (6 cows in a 2,425 ha pasture); under a realistic situation the number of grazed cells is expected to largely increase. According to the models the pasture is characterized by a single or few large grazing patches which includes about 80\% of all suitable cells for grazing. This modeling approach can contribute to an understanding of how large animals perceive landscape heterogeneity.}, keywords = {abstrace, landscape, landscape attributes, livestock}, author = {H. Raul Peinetti and E.L. Fredrickson and Debra C. Peters and Roacho-Estrada, J.O. and Andrea S. Laliberte} } @article {50392, title = {Cover pole design for easy transport, assembly and field use}, journal = {Journal of Wildlife Management}, volume = {72}, year = {2007}, month = {2008}, pages = {564-567}, abstract = {

Cover poles, also called Robel poles, are used to measure a variety of structural vegetation attributes commonly used in wildlife and livestock management. Although cover pole dimensions, measurement criteria, and interpretation of cover pole data vary depending on measurement objectives, the technical use of cover poles is fairly consistent. Practical use of cover poles requires that they are sturdy, lightweight, and easily transported. We describe a cover pole apparatus that can be easily constructed, transported, and assembled for use in remote locations. This self-supporting cover pole enables one person to take measurements, and can be modified for use in multiple habitats and soil types.

}, keywords = {cover pole, design, livestock, management, measure, Robel, transport, wildlife}, doi = {10.2193/2007-109}, url = {/files/bibliography/08-051.pdf}, author = {David P. Toledo and Laurie Abbott and Jeffrey E. Herrick} } @conference {50531, title = {Innovation and Opportunities in Livestock Control using Virtual Boundaries (VBS TM)}, booktitle = {Proceedings International Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology}, year = {2005}, month = {April 26-29, 200}, pages = {29-30}, address = {Venture, California}, abstract = {Control, in the context of managing free-ranging animals, most assuredly conjures up thoughts of conventional fencing. Substitute the term conventional fencing with Virtual Boundary (VB\™) and you are catapulted into the space age where electronic control of innate animal behaviors has been developed into a patented methodology termed Directional Virtual Fencing (DVF\™). DVF\™ provides a low stress, highly flexible, autonomous method of controlling free-ranging animals. The control of animals behind an invisible barrier originated in the mid 1970\’s with small area pet containment systems. However, during the late 1960\’s and early 1970\’s the Global Positioning System (GPS) of navigation satellites deployed by the US military resulted in a key piece of technology for DVF\™ animal control. On April 2, 2002, the first observation of a free-ranging beef cow controlled using DVF\™ was recorded. Since then the US Department of Agriculture research on the Jornada Experimental Range in New Mexico has established proof-of-concept that free-ranging beef cattle and sheep can be controlled behind a static VB\™. Also it was shown that animals could be moved over a landscape in much the same way rotational grazing systems currently move animals, but without the need for conventional fences. Current field trials are focused on optimizing the protocol to gather animals into a corral using a moving VB\™. Research continues on miniaturizing the physical size of the DVF\™ device worn by the animal and reducing power needed from batteries and solar energy. Once DVF\™ is commercialized, it is realistic to envision free-ranging animals as programmable harvesting tools capable of providing prescribed vegetation utilization based on ecological goals while simultaneously providing adequate nutrition for optimum animal production.}, keywords = {control, livestock, VBS, virtual boundaries}, author = {D.M. Anderson} } @conference {50612, title = {Livestock as land management tools: weed control using goats}, booktitle = {Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Quivira Coalition}, year = {2005}, month = {January 13, 2005}, abstract = {Livestock can have both desirable and undesirable impacts on vegetation and rangeland. Use of livestock to rehabilitate range and riparian ecosystems represents one aspect of the broader role of ranchers as land managers, rather than the more narrow role as livestock producers. Invasive species are a significant problem on western rangelands and salt cedar is a particularly damaging species that has infested riparian areas throughout the Southwest. Traditionally, chemical and mechanical methods are used to control salt cedar, but biological control methods are being developed and applied at several sites in New Mexico. The use of goats for the biocontrol of weeds is expanding rapidly, with new opportunities for commercial goatherders. This workshop will describe the effects of goats used to control salt cedar in an experimental project at San Acacia on the Rio Grande. This is the first study to quantify the damage done to salt cedar as well as the impact on other plant species. The details of managing goats for weed removal, including stocking rate, control of herd movements, timing of browsing and protection of desirable species will be presented. Management of livestock for commercial weed control and business aspects of ranchers contracting as land managers will be discussed by Sarah Harris of Western Weedeaters, a successful commercial operation. Guidelines and advice for initiating use of goats for weed control will assist both ranchers and land managers in deciding whether and how to use goats to control weeds in specific situations.}, keywords = {goats, land management tools, livestock, weed control}, author = {S. Tartowski and Harris, S.} } @booklet {50609, title = {Livestock as Tools for Ecological Restoration: Using Goats to Control Salt Cedar}, howpublished = {Jornada Trails}, volume = {9}, number = {2}, year = {2005}, month = {October 2005}, pages = {2}, address = {Las Cruces, NM}, abstract = {Salt Cedar (Tamarix spp.) has invaded riparian areas throughout the Western United States and has been reported to increase evapotranspiration, increase fire frequency, reduce habitat values, and replace native plant species. Herbicides and mechanical clearing are the main methods used to remove salt cedar. Goats readily browsed salt cedar, Russian olive and undesirable weeds in experimental plots along the Rio Grande, while maintaining weight and health. Nearly every salt cedar plant was damaged by browsing, but goats had an especially severe impact on resprouts, removing about half of the above ground vegetation. Goats had much less impact on large dense salt cedar, but cleared out the understory, reducing laddering fuels, improving access for recreation and reducing costs for subsequent mechanical or manual clearing. After two years of goat treatment, the width of salt cedars was reduced by about 35\%, but only about 4\% of the large salt cedars were killed. It may take several more years of goat browsing to deplete the root reserves of salt cedar sufficiently to increase tree mortality. Grass cover, especially native grama grasses (Bouteloua barbatus and B. aristoides), increased from less than 1\% before goat browsing to about 20\% after goat browsing.}, keywords = {ecological, goats, livestock, salt cedar}, author = {S. Tartowski} } @conference {50652, title = {Management effects on livestock use of landscapes: Protein supplementation}, booktitle = {89th Annual Meeting, Ecological Society of America}, year = {2004}, month = {August 1, 2004}, pages = {Abstract p. 166}, address = {Portland, OR}, abstract = {Over half of the Earth{\textquoteright}s land surface is grazed by livestock. The effects of livestock grazing on terrestrial ecosystems range from detrimental to beneficial depending on ecosystem attributes and livestock management. Understanding the ecological implications of livestock management decisions is central to successful human interactions with complex environments. For example, supplementing heifers with a 32\% protein supplement concentrated heifer movements in areas near water and supplementation points. Prior to supplementation, animal movements were dispersed throughout the pasture. While concentrated movements are at times desirable, they can also trigger undesirable ecosystem trajectories. As part of a larger goal to better understand the ecological impacts of livestock grazing, we designed a study to examine the effects of protein supplementation, a common management practice, on livestock use of landscapes. Thirty-six multiparous, lactating, Angus x Hereford cows were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: (1) control (CON), no supplementation, (2) supplementation each day at 0700 (AM) with 0.75 kg of a 32\% crude protein pellet, or (3) supplementation at 1300 (PM) each day with the same supplement. Fifteen days prior to the study, animals were allowed to become familiar with experimental procedures and the 2,425 ha study pasture described as Chihuahuan Desert grassland ecotype. Animals from each treatment were fitted with Lotek GPS collars and rotated into the study pasture for a period of 5 days for three rotations. Animal position was acquired every 5 minutes. Mean distance from water differed (P < .0001) across treatments (2.55, 2.09, and 1.53 km for CON, PM, and AM, respectively). Distance traveled per day also differed (P < .0001) across treatments (7.17, 7.20, and 7.96 km/day for CON, PM, and AM, respectively). The area encompassing daily activities (Jennrich-Turner estimate of home range) also differed (P < .0001; 4.3, 2.8, and 3.9 square km/day for CON, PM, and AM, respectively). Protein supplementation and timing of supplementation affect the spatial use of desert grasslands and is likely to have important ecological implications. Furthermore, research examining livestock impacts must do so with an understanding of the effects of management on livestock behavior.}, keywords = {ecological impacts, ecosystems, livestock, livestock behavior, livestock management, protein supplementation}, author = {E.L. Fredrickson and J. Koppa and Richard E. Estell and D.M. Anderson and Kris Havstad} } @proceedings {50767, title = {Rangeland research on the Jornada Experimental Range}, year = {2003}, month = {March 27-28, 200}, pages = {87-91}, address = {Farmington, NM}, abstract = {The mission of the Jornada Experimental Range is to develop new technologies for the management and remediation of desert rangelands. A few studies in progress that relate directly to this mission are summarized below. One major focus is to develop methodologies for controlling livestock distribution on rangelands. A study is in progress to evaluate the potential of virtual fencing as an alternative to conventional fencing for real-time control of animal movement. A small solar-powered unit worn by the animal uses signals from GPS satellites to determine animal location and a GIS database to define a virtual boundary. When an animal penetrates this boundary, a cue is applied to encourage the animal to move away from the virtual boundary. Preliminary data indicate this low-stress technology can be used to control animal movement. Protein supplementation during conditions of low quality forage is another practice that may be used to control animal movement. Preliminary data indicate that protein supplementation affects beef cow distribution patterns with non-supplemented animals exhibiting greater dispersal and supplemented cows remaining near supplementation areas. These studies have implications for improving forage utilization and livestock management, as well as excluding livestock from ecologically sensitive areas. A third study in progress involves quantification of carbon storage in plants and soils on arid rangelands. This research combines direct field measurement of CO2 fluxes, soil carbon analysis, and modeling. The project will examine how carbon storage might change naturally over time or be influenced by management practices. Initial results suggest rangelands may serve as a significant long-term repository for carbon when shrubs store large amounts of carbon belowground in their extensive woody root systems. Also, aerial photography is being examined as a tool to reconstruct the remediation treatment history of rangelands. Many treatments have been implemented during the last 100 years in an effort to slow shrub invasion, but over time, land management agencies have been disbanded or reorganized and paper records have been lost, resulting in poor documentation of type and extent of treatment, methods used, and evaluations of success. Nationwide aerial photography begun by USDA and other agencies as early as 1930 is a valuable source of information for establishing past management histories and vegetation response to treatments on rangelands. Treatments imposed on the Jornada during early research projects (e.g., root plowing during the 1970{\textquoteright}s, ponding dikes constructed in 1975, and manual shrub removal in 1936) are still evident in aerial photographs today. Combining aerial photography and remaining conventional records with present day field measurements greatly increases the total information available regarding the management history and most effective remediation approaches for use today.}, keywords = {cattle growers, course, livestock, rangeland, research, research notes}, url = {/files/bibliography/03-003.pdf}, author = {Richard E. Estell and D.M. Anderson and E.L. Fredrickson and Kris Havstad and K. A. Mitchell and A. Rango} } @proceedings {51066, title = {Rangeland research in the Chihuahuan Desert}, year = {2000}, month = {03/2000}, pages = {80-81}, abstract = {

The mission of the Jornada Experimental Range is to develop new technologies for the management and remediation of desert rangelands. We are developing a manual for monitoring rangeland health. Several indicators have been examined and a number of these indicators have proven useful for monitoring purposes, e.g., size of unvegetated patch, perennial grass cover rand soil surface stability. We have worked with individual ranchers in New Mexico to test these methods and have established pilot projects on state lands to demonstrate their application to management. We are also studying prescribed burning of arid rangeland as a tool to improve degraded rangelands. The fire treatment was applied to study sites in 1999 and initial responses to fire and grazing effects will be measured in 2000. We will evaluate effects of fire on ecological processes and post-fire grazing and identify post-fire guidelines for recovery of key species in grazed Chihuahuan Desert grassland. One of our major research objectives is to develop new technologies for controlling distribution of livestock grazing rangelands. Few options presently exist for monitoring animal location and controlling animal movement to a specific area at a particular time. A method and apparatus have been developed that may allow for management of grazing livestock without ground-based fencing. The device worn by an animal incorporates a global positioning system and a geographic information system database to determine and control individual animal movements. We are field testing the ability of a third generation prototype to contain an animal in an area using bilaterally applied sensory cues. This technology could allow producers to reduce management costs, improve utilization of forage and protect ecologically sensitive areas.

}, keywords = {cattle growers, Chihuahuan Desert, livestock, rangeland research, research notes}, url = {/files/bibliography/562.pdf}, author = {Richard E. Estell and D.M. Anderson and J.R. Barrow and E.L. Fredrickson and Kris Havstad and Jeffrey E. Herrick and Debra C. Peters} } @article {51088, title = {Impact of grazing and desertification in the Chihuahuan Desert: Plant communities, granivores and granivory}, journal = {American Midland Naturalist}, volume = {144}, number = {1}, year = {2000}, month = {July 1, 2000}, pages = {78-91}, abstract = {

Livestock effects on plant communities through overgrazing (desertification) should affect the structure and functioning of semiarid rangeland communities. We measured plant, granivorous ant and rodent communities and rates of seed removal by rodents and ants in grazed (by livestock) and ungrazed desert grasslands, as well as mesquite and creosotebush shrublands to test hypotheses on the effects of grazing and desertification on ecosystem structure and functioning. In desert grasslands, grazing reduced the cover of perennial grasses, particularly the dominant Bouteloua eriopoda, but the cover of forbs and shrubs did not differ between treatments. One species of perennial grass, Dasyochloa pulchellum, increased in grazed grasslands compared with grassland exclosures. Detrended correspondence analysis showed that grazing caused desert grasslands to shift in community structure towards the shrublands. There were more seed harvesting ant and rodent species in the creosotebush shrublands than in the grasslands and mesquite shrublands. Grazing had no effect on the diversity of ants or rodents within grasslands, and detrended correspondence analysis revealed no clear trends in granivorous ant community structure in the grazed and ungrazed grasslands or the mesquite and creosotebush shrublands. Ants removed more seeds than did rodents in the grassland sites, but rodents removed more seeds than did ants in the creosotebush sites; seed removal rates by rodents and ants were the same in the mesquite sites. Our data support the hypothesis that livestock grazing leads to a shift from grassland to shrubland in the Chihuahuan Desert with associated changes in the structure and functioning of faunal communities. Because grasslands support few species and low densities of rodents, seed harvesting ants are the most important granivores in these desert grasslands. On a larger scale, we therefore hypothesize that the observed dominance of rodents as seed harvesters in the Chihuahuan Desert is a function of the desertification of desert grasslands to shrublands by livestock and that associated feedback effects may complicate the regeneration of degraded communities.

}, keywords = {Chihuahuan Desert, desertification, granivores, granivory, grazing, livestock, overgrazing}, doi = {10.1674/0003-0031(2000)144[0078:IOGADI]2.0.CO;2}, url = {/files/bibliography/00-010.pdf}, author = {G. I. H. Kerley and Walter G. Whitford} } @conference {51109, title = {Development of techniques for the elucidation of plant-based diets of free-ranging herbivores using fluorescence spectroscopy}, booktitle = {Annual Meeting, Federation of Analytical Chemistry and Spectroscopy Societies}, year = {2000}, month = {2000}, pages = {p. 267}, abstract = {The determination of the dietary intake of domestic livestock is necessary for their effective management. This becomes more difficult when the animals are allowed to feed on native flora in open rangeland. Efforts in the past to provide information regarding a particular animal{\textquoteright}s dietary habits have used either highly invasive techniques or methods that are time eand labor intensive and very subjective. The development instrumentation to enable the interrogation of samples using multi-dimensional fluorescence measurements for rapid, objective identification of those plants eaten by a specific animal is the objective of the present study. Initial work has concentrated on the generation of a spectral database for each of six plants. These plants were selected because of their consumption by free-ranging sheep and cattle in the northern Chihuahuan Desert of the southwestern United States. The plants were collected from within the USDA AJornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. These plants include species of grasses (tobosa hay and mesa dropseed), forbs (spectacle pod and pale globemallow), and shrubs (tarbush and four-wing salt bush). The application of post-processing algorithms to these fluorescence emission spectra have also been pursued. Excitation of extract solutions from five plants of each species at 369 nm has yielded significant spectral signatures in the wavelength region of 400-600 nm.}, keywords = {dietary intake, livestock, measurements, multi-dimensional fluorescence}, author = {G.D. Rayson and T.L. Danielson and D.M. Anderson and Richard E. Estell and E.L. Fredrickson and Kris Havstad} } @article {51203, title = {Pro-active livestock management--Capitalizing on animal behavior}, journal = {Journal of Arid Land Studies}, volume = {7S}, year = {1998}, month = {1998}, pages = {113-116}, abstract = {This paper describes a technique for modifying sheep and or goat behavior to reduce canine predation, management time and fencing requirements under mixed-species stocking. Procedures to modify behavior of individual animals are outlined. The concept involves bonding small ruminants to cattle to produce a cohesive group termed a flerd. A flerd acts as a single interdependent cohesive livestock unit under free-ranging conditions rather than as distinct flocks and herds coexisting in the same area.}, keywords = {behavior, canine predation, herds, livestock}, url = {/files/bibliography/98-002.pdf}, author = {D.M. Anderson} } @article {51438, title = {Relationship of tarbush leaf surface secondary chemistry to livestock herbivory}, journal = {Journal of Range Management}, volume = {47}, year = {1994}, note = {Permission to post articles granted by the Society for Range Management; www.rangelands.org.}, month = {1994}, pages = {424-428}, abstract = {

Tarbush (Flourensia cernua DC.) is an abundant shrub native to the Chihuahuan desert. Limited use as a forage by ruminants has been observed. The objective of this studey was to eexamine the leaf surface chemistyr of tarbush inrelation to degree of use by ruminants. Mature tarbush leaves were collected on 2 sites during 2 periods approximately 2 weeks apart from plants exhibiting either high (\>45\%) or low (\<10\%) use when browsed by cattle, sheep, and goats confined to a small area (5 plants per use category for each site/period combination). A greater (P\<0.05) concentration of epicuticular wax was detected on the leaf surface of plants used to a lower degree. Epicuticular wax concentration was 8.2 and 10.3\% of the leaf dry matter for high and low used plants, repectively. Several leaf surface compounds were related to period, while site and degree of use were seldom related to individual mon- and sesquiterpenes measure in this study. Camphene and 10 unidentified compounds differed between periods (P 0.10). Two unidentified compounds were related to site (P \< 0.10) and 2 others were related to use (P\<.0.10). In summary, individual leaf surface compounds on tarbush do not appear to greatly affect degree of us of tarbush by livestock, but collectively ( based on epicuticular wax data), these compunds may influence the diet selected by browsing ruminants.

}, keywords = {Epicuticular wax, herbivores, Leaves, livestock, monoterpenes, Plant biochemistry, plants, shrubs, terpenes, terpenoids}, doi = {10.2307/4002991 }, url = {/files/bibliography/418.pdf}, author = {Richard E. Estell and E.L. Fredrickson and D.M. Anderson and W. Mueller and M.D. Remmenga} } @inbook {51569, title = {Grazing Management}, booktitle = {Semiarid Lands and Deserts: Soil Resource and Reclamation}, year = {1991}, month = {1991}, pages = {361-385}, publisher = {Marcel Dekker, Inc.}, organization = {Marcel Dekker, Inc.}, address = {New York, NY}, abstract = {A major use of semiarid and arid lands ("rangelands" in this chapter) is grazing or browsing by livestock and wild herbivores. Rangelands also provide habitat for wildlife, recreational opportunities, water, and aesthetic values. Animal production on rangelands reduces the requirements for nonrenewable fossil fuels and utilizes resources not readily usable by other means. Semiarid and arid rangelands are often fragile and subject to accelerated soil erosion if not managed appropriately. If rangelands are mismanaged so that plants fail to provide sufficient soil cover, the composition of the plant community changes, resulting in reduced productivity and increased erosion. Continued abuse of the rangeland system can result in severe soil degradation. This does not imply that proper grazing is destructive; some plants produce more biomass with moderate livestock grazing than with protection from livestock grazing. Some native plant communities evolved with grazing use by native animals, whereas other communities evolved with little or no utilization by herbivores. However, native plant communities are not always the most productive under intensive animal grazing (Herbel, 1982). Revegetation with introduced or improved plant species may dramatically increase the productivity of rangelands (Herbel, 1983). Grazing of livestock is controlled to some degree by range managers and pastoralists around the world. However, many important environmental factors are beyond control of the manager, but these factors need to be considered in planning grazing management and future research on the subject.}, keywords = {environmental factors, increased erosion, livestock, management, rangelands, reduced productivity}, url = {/files/bibliography/370.pdf}, author = {C.H. Herbel and Pieper, Rex D.}, editor = {Skujins, J.} } @conference {51604, title = {Alternative methods of seeding native lands}, booktitle = {Annual Meeting of the American Society of Agronomy}, year = {1990}, month = {October 21-26, 1}, pages = {163}, address = {San Antonio, TX}, abstract = {Mechanical reseeding of native and less productive lands is usually prohibitive. Native plants successfully utilize natural means, such as animals, water, or wind, to distribute their seeds. We are exploring the possibilities of using livestock, wildlife, and natural waterways for seed dispersal. Steers were bolused with gelatin capsules with known quantities of either a shrub, fourwing saltbush, or one of two grasses, blue panic grass or alkali sacaton. These species are adapted to arid range conditions. Up to 60\% of the seeds were recovered in steer feces within 72 hours after bolusing, and near normal germination resulted. Quail fed the grass seeds, passed over 95\% of the viable seed within 24 hours, and averaged 530 blue panic and 1,800 alkali sacaton seeds per bird. Observations were made of seed dispersed from seeded plots and from a flood activated seeder along natural drainage ways. The use of animals or water to disperse seeds of desirable forage species potentially could be an effective and economical means for establishing these species in areas where conventional methods are not practical.}, keywords = {alternative methods, livestock, native lands, natural waterways, seed dispersal, seeding, wildlife}, author = {J.R. Barrow and Kris Havstad and Gibbens, Robert P. and Donaldson, P.} } @conference {51809, title = {Effect of livestock exclusion on grass basal cover and shrub canopy cover on southern New Mexico mesa dropseed ranges}, booktitle = {39th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management}, year = {1986}, month = {1986}, pages = {111}, keywords = {basal cover, dropseed ranges, exclusion, grass, livestock, shrub canopy}, author = {T.L. Atwood and Gibbens, Robert P. and Reldon F. Beck} } @conference {51873, title = {Influence of long-term protection from livestock grazing on basal cover of perennial grasses and canopy cover of shrubs on black grama rangelands in southern New Mexico}, booktitle = {38th Annual Meeting, Society for Range Management}, year = {1985}, month = {1985}, pages = {No. 155}, keywords = {basal cover, black grama, grazing, livestock, perennial grasses, protection, rangelands}, author = {T.L. Atwood and Reldon F. Beck and Gibbens, Robert P.} } @article {52079, title = {From truck to well puller}, journal = {Rangelands}, volume = {2}, number = {2}, year = {1980}, month = {April 1, 1980}, pages = {51-52}, abstract = {In south-central New Mexico, as in many arid areas, water wells are the main source of water for livestock. On the Jornada Experimental Range, a 190,000-acre range and livestock research facility located north of Las Cruces, NM, a major maintenance problem is the replacement of pump leathers and cylinders of the 14 water wells that are 300 to 400 feet deep. In former years, the wells were repaired by using sheave assemblies and a cable attached to a vehicle that provided lifting power when driven away from the well. Although effective, this method was neither efficient nor safe. Jornada personnel decided to build a winching apparatus that would reduce the time needed to pull a well, the safety hazards, and the physical strain on workers. The result of this endeavor is a well-pulling unit that can be constructed at low cost, saves labor, and is far less hazardous to use. The well-pulling unit was made by modifying a 1-ton truck chassis with cab and engine. The basic concept was to use the engine and transmission to supply power to a double-drum winch made from the rear axle assembly. The first step was to remove the rear axle and bolt it on top of the frame behind the cab. The axle was placed so the front part of the two-part drive line could be connected to the differential using parts of the original universal joints. To make both sides of the axle assembly pull simultaneously, the spider gears in the differential were welded together. Wheel mounts and brake assemblies were left intact since the wheel mounts provided an easy means of attaching winch drums and the brake assemblies provided a ready-made, winch drum-braking system. A cable spool was made from a 1-ft length of 12-inch pipe and two 5-inch flanges made from 1/4-inch plate steel. This spool was welded to the outside of one 20-inch truck wheel which was attached to the wheel mounts on one side of the axle assembly. The 12-inch spool holds 150 ft of 34-inch cable and the lips of the wheel itself form a drum which will hold 150 ft of reserve cable. This winch drum is used as the pipe and sucker rod lifter. Using a crown sheave in the well tower and a single line direct pull (1-1 lifting ratio), 5,000 lb can be raised safely.}, keywords = {livestock, truck chassis, water wells, well repair, well-pulling unit}, url = {/files/bibliography/179.pdf}, author = {Coupland, J.W. and Yarbrough, C.C. and E.L. Garcia} } @article {52631, title = {The use of salt in range management}, year = {1926}, month = {July 1926}, pages = {32 }, publisher = {U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department Circular 379, U.S. Government Printing Office}, abstract = {

With an adequate quantity of salt, grazing animals develop better than they would otherwise, are more contented and are more easily handled (fig. 1). Also, proper quantity and distribution of salt on the range go a long way towards controlling livestock grazing and obtaining satisfactory use and maintenance of forage. On western grazing lands, salting is unusually important because the livestock graze under open-range conditions, and the problem of obtaining proper forage use is complicated by considerations of topography, accessibility, watering facilities and other factors affecting distribution of stock. The wide variation in conditions and the lack of well-defined rules have led to greater diversity in the way range salting is done than exists in almost any other practice connected with the range livestock industry. It is the object of this circular to bring together the results of experimental work, careful observations and studies of existing practices and to outline principles of adequate range salting of livestock in the West.

}, keywords = {forage maintenance, government publication, grazing, livestock, range management, salt}, url = {/files/bibliography/011_0.pdf}, author = {Chapline, W.R. and Talbot, M.W.} } @article {52633, title = {Saving livestock from starvation on Southwestern ranges}, year = {1924}, month = {1924}, pages = {22 }, publisher = {U.S. Department of Agriculture, Farmers{\textquoteright} Bulletin 1428}, keywords = {government publication, livestock, Southwestern ranges, starvation}, author = {Forsling, C.L.} }