Esophageal fistulation, stomach content analysis, fecal analysis,
and ocular-estimate-by-plot are four of the most publicized methods
of determining the diets of large herbivores. The principal objective
of this study was to compare the relative values of each of these
methods based upon information collected from bi-fistulated (esophageal
and rumen) sheep...
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of forest fuels reduction on the diet quality, botanical composition, relative preference, and foraging efficiency of beef cattle grazing at different stocking rates. A split plot factorial design was used, with the whole plots (3 ha) being fuel reduced or no treatment...
Managing cattle to disseminate seeds of desirable plants, or alternatively, to restrict weed seed contamination on rangelands is of interest to managers. Four experiments were conducted to determine effects of ruminant digestion on germination of ingested seeds. A number of plant species representing a variety of seed size and seed...
Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.) is an introduced Asteraceae that has become established on 10 million acres in the Pacific Northwest and California. This weed functions as an annual or short-lived perennial and depends on seeds for reproduction. Strategies of control that reduce plant fitness or lower seed production or...
Properly functioning riparian systems are vital to the health of watersheds and provide an important forage and habitat resource for livestock and wildlife. Riparian grazing management strategies that are economically feasible and achieve environmental goals are needed by resource managers and livestock producers. The objective of this thesis was to...
Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis L.) is a member of the knapweed
(Centaurea L.) complex. It is poor forage for all livestock and causes
“chewing disease,” a nervous disorder, in horses. Yellow starthistle infests
millions of acres in California and the Pacific Northwest. Infestations range
from scattered plants to dense stands...
Published May 1985. Facts and recommendations in this publication may no longer be valid. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog
Invasion by non-native plants into natural areas is an important component of global change that threatens biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function. Mountains are currently among the least invaded ecosystems, however, these biodiversity hotspots are increasingly under threat of exotic plant invasion. Evaluation of plant species distribution patterns in mountain...
Spring chinook salmon spawning occurs in late summer when it is common for cattle to be present in pastures that have streams where fish spawning occurs. This two-year study addressed three main objectives relative to behavioral interactions between cattle and spring chinook salmon during the spawning life history stage. These...