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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #334260
Title: Seasonal divergence landscape useby heritage and conventional cattle on desert rangeland

Author
item Spiegal, Sheri
item Estell, Richard
item CIBILS, ANDRES - New Mexico State University
item James, Darren
item PEINETTI, RAUL - University Of La Pampa
item Browning, Dawn
item Romig, Kirsten
item Gonzalez, Alfredo

Submitted to: Rangeland Ecology and Management
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2019
Publication Date: 6/20/2019
Citation: Spiegal, S.A., Estell, R.E., Cibils, A., James, D.K., Peinetti, R., Browning, D.M., Romig, K.B., Gonzalez, A.L. 2019. Seasonal divergence in foraging behavior of heritage and conventional cattle on a heterogeneous desert landscape. Rangeland Ecology and Management. 72(4):590-601. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.008.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rama.2019.02.008

Interpretive Summary: Livestock producers in the southwestern United States are faced with multiple persistent challenges including low and variable rainfall, spatial and temporal variability of forage production, and past ecological state changes that now limit forage availability. In addition, the cattle breeds in widespread use – typically Angus crossbreds – tend to use the landscape unevenly, with localized overuse of particular resources. This uneven landscape utilization can cause undesirable environmental effects, including long-term grass loss and water and wind erosion. Areas adjacent to watering points are particularly susceptible to damage. Preliminary data and anecdotal evidence suggest that Raramuri Criollo distribute themselves more widely across Chihuahuan Desert landscapes to access forage, and thus Criollo-based production systems may help bring forth the simultaneous achievement of agricultural production and natural resource conservation goals in the region. However, before widespread adoption can be recommended, the landscape use of Criollo must be understood over a wide range of conditions. We compared the behavior, distribution patterns, and resources used by Criollo and Angus x Hereford crossbreds during four seasons – Pre-greenup, Greenup, Peak green, and Drydown. Overall, results support the notion that Raramuri Criollo utilize the landscape more evenly than Angus x Hereford crossbreds, particularly during periods when forage quality is lower. More research, however, is needed to understand whether Criollo-based production systems are viable from economic and environmental standpoints.

Technical Abstract: Using livestock with heritage genetics may increase chances for simultaneously achieving conservation and agricultural production targets on heterogeneous rangelands. Past research suggests that compared with conventional Angus x Hereford crossbreds (AH, Bos taurus), small-framed heritage Raramuri Criollo cattle (B. taurus) distribute themselves more widely across Chihuahuan Desert landscapes to access forage. Accordingly, Criollo genetics may help overcome some of the problems associated with localized overgrazing in arid landscapes; however, evidence collected across a range of spatial and temporal conditions is required. We tracked movements of AH and Criollo, quantified their movement patterns, and identified environmental drivers of those movement patterns (i.e., resources selected) during six months in a 1535-ha pasture in the northern Chihuahuan Desert. We categorized eight sampling events into four seasonal forage stages – Pre-greenup (12-30 Jun), Greenup (4-29 Jul), Peak green (14 Aug-14 Sep), and Drydown (6-30 Nov) – and compared the breeds’ behavior and resource selection within each seasonal stage. On average, Criollo traveled 2.1±0.2 km and covered 43.5±2.9 ha more per day more than AH. When forage greenness was lowest across the pasture (Pre-greenup and Drydown), Criollo covered significantly greater distance and area than AH and traveled far to select ecological states in phenological stages of high forage quality. During Greenup and Peak green, the distance traveled, area covered, and selection of states by the two breeds converged. Criollo visited most of the seven artificial watering points during each seasonal stage but AH focused mainly on one, suggesting that Criollo spread their impact over the landscape to a greater degree. Overall, results support the notion that heritage Raramuri Criollo utilize the landscape more evenly than the conventional crossbreds, particularly during periods when forage quality is lower.