Spatial behavior and diet selection of cattle and bonded and non-bonded small ruminants grazing arid rangeland

TitleSpatial behavior and diet selection of cattle and bonded and non-bonded small ruminants grazing arid rangeland
Publication TypeThesis
Year of Publication1989
AuthorsNakamatsu V.B.
Number of Pages112
Date Published1989
UniversityNew Mexico State University
CityLas Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis TypeM.S. Thesispp
Call Number00236
Keywordsbehavior,cattle, behavior,goat, behavior,sheep, cattle,diet, dissertation, dissertations, flerd,grazing behavior, goat,diet, grazing behavior, cattle, grazing behavior,flerd, grazing behavior,goat, grazing behavior,sheep, grazing management, ruminant, also SEE <CATTLE, GOAT, SHEEP>, ruminant,behavior, ruminant,diet, sheep,diet, theses, thesis
AbstractThis study investigated cattle, sheep and goat behavior, distribution, fecal botanical composition and liveweight change under multispecies grazing using bonded and non-bonded (control) livestock groups during the summer growing season. The study area was located on the Jornada Experimental Range, 37 km north of Las Cruces in southern New Mexico. Vegetation of the experimental paddock is classified as semidesert grassland. Precipitation during the study was 14% above the long-term average of 18.7 cm. Control and bonded animals were maintained as separate groups and rotated between two paddocks. Scan sampling of each animal's location and behavior was conducted at consecutive hourly intervals between sunrise and sunset. Fecal samples were collected following each 7 d period of grazing paddock 10B. Composition of standing crop was evaluated immediately after each treatment group was removed from the paddock. Sheep and goats were weighed immediately upon entering and leaving paddock, cattle were not weighed.