Management strategies for optimal grazing distribution and use of arid rangelands.
Management strategies for optimal grazing distribution and use of arid rangelands.
复制标题
干旱牧场最佳放牧分布和利用的管理策略。
DOI：
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发表时间：
2004
影响因子：
3.3
通讯作者：
Derek W. Bailey
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Derek W. Bailey
应用现有的和新的管理技术可以改变传统的牲畜放牧模式，显著提高干旱牧场的可持续性。牲畜经常聚集并大量吃河岸地区和其他敏感牧场，而其他地区仍有丰富的牧草。提高放牧的一致性有助于保护渔业、野生动物栖息地以及其他植被和流域资源。多年来，管理人员通过开发新的水源，改善了大片干旱牧场的放牧分布。此外，战略性补充安置可以用来引诱牛到通常很少使用的放牧地区。在远离水源的陡峭地区放置低水分糖蜜块，可使丘陵牧场距补充物600米处的牧草利用率增加14%。最近的研究已经检验了品种和个体动物选择改善放牧分布模式的潜力。在山区培育的品种比在平缓地带培育的品种更均匀地利用崎岖的牧场。在被确认为“爬山者”(以前在崎岖地形上观察到)放牧的牧场中，与被确认为“底层居民”(以前在靠近水的平缓地形上观察到的)放牧的牧场相比，在缓坡和更靠近水的地区留下了更多的残余植被。牛在断奶后以及在温度较适中和牧草更均匀的时期(春季、初夏和秋季)，可以更均匀地使用崎岖的牧场。放牧在保护敏感的牧场方面显示出巨大的希望。初步数据显示，放牧牲畜的牧场剩余的河岸牧草比对照牧场高出两倍。羊群和战略补充物配置的整合似乎比单独的羊群更有效。与干旱牧场放牧的可持续性有关的许多问题可以通过管理来控制牲畜的放牧行为来解决。
Application of existing and novel management techniques can alter traditional livestock grazing patterns and significantly improve the sustainability of arid rangelands. Livestock often congregate and heavily graze riparian areas and other sensitive rangeland, while abundant forage remains in other areas. Increasing the uniformity of grazing can help protect fisheries, wildlife habitat, and other vegetative and watershed resources. For years, managers have improved grazing distribution in extensive arid pastures by developing new water sources. In addition, strategic supplement placement can be used to lure cattle to graze areas that typically receive little use. Placement of low-moisture molasses blocks in steeper areas that were far from water increased forage use by 14% at distances up to 600 m from supplement in foothill rangeland. Recent research has examined the potential of breed and individual animal selection to improve grazing distribution patterns. Cattle breeds developed in mountainous terrain utilize rugged rangeland more uniformly than breeds developed in more gentle terrain. In pastures that were grazed by cattle identified as "hill climbers" (previously observed on rugged terrain), more residual vegetation was left on gentle slopes and areas closer to water than in pastures grazed by cattle identified as "bottom dwellers" (previously observed on gentle terrain near water). Cattle may use rugged rangeland more uniformly after weaning and during periods when temperatures are more moderate and the forage is more homogeneous (spring, early summer, and autumn). Herding shows great promise for protecting sensitive rangeland. Preliminary data show that residual riparian forage in pastures where livestock were herded was up to two times higher than in a control pasture. The integration of herding and strategic supplement placement seems to be more effective than herding alone. Many concerns associated with the sustainability of grazing on arid rangelands can be resolved by manipulating livestock grazing behavior through management.