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ARS Home » Plains Area » Miles City, Montana » Livestock and Range Research Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #185035
Title: EFFECTS OF LIVESTOCK REMOVAL FROM NORTHERN PLAINS RANGELANDS

Author
item Vermeire, Lance
item Heitschmidt, Rodney
item Haferkamp, Marshall

Submitted to: Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory
Publication Type: Popular Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/30/2005
Publication Date: 7/15/2005
Citation: Vermeire, L.T., Heitschmidt, R.K., Haferkamp, M.R. 2005. Effects of livestock removal from norther plains rangelands. 2005 Research Update for Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory. p. 47-48.

Interpretive Summary: Livestock exclusion has been proposed to restore rangeland health. However, large grazers were abundant in the Northern Great Plains prior to livestock introduction and herbivory can be a key factor in maintaining the structure and function of many rangelands. We evaluated current-year biomass, species composition, and species richness on livestock-grazed and livestock-excluded sites over a 10-year period to determine potential effects of livestock exclusion in the semi-arid Northern Great Plains. Exclosures and grazed sites were largely similar. Although rest from grazing may be beneficial in some aspects, there was no indication that 10 years of livestock exclusion increased plant biomass or diversity. The presence of annual bromes and introduced species as a whole increased on non-grazed sites. Because of the potential for introduced species to alter rangeland structure and function, the greater abundance of introduced species in livestock excluded sites may over-ride possible benefits of rest from grazing.

Technical Abstract: Livestock exclusion has been proposed to restore rangeland health. However, large grazers were abundant in the Northern Great Plains prior to livestock introduction and herbivory can be a key factor in maintaining the structure and function of many rangelands. We evaluated current-year biomass, species composition, and species richness on livestock-grazed and livestock-excluded sites over a 10-year period to determine potential effects of livestock exclusion in the semi-arid Northern Great Plains. Exclosures and grazed sites were largely similar. Although rest from grazing may be beneficial in some aspects, there was no indication that 10 years of livestock exclusion increased plant biomass or diversity. The presence of annual bromes and introduced species as a whole increased on non-grazed sites. Because of the potential for introduced species to alter rangeland structure and function, the greater abundance of introduced species in livestock excluded sites may over-ride possible benefits of rest from grazing.