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(2) The Influence of Multi-Species Grazing on Continuous CRP
Van Vleet, S.M. - Washington State University, Colfax, Washington
Session: Poster
Whitman County has approximately 200,000 acres (20% of the county’s cropland) in CRP. Undesirable weeds in CRP lands have steadily worsened and are increasingly difficult to control. In 2005 through 2007, cattle and sheep were used to graze continuous CRP stands in Whitman County. A holistic management approach was used. Pastures of varying sizes were set up and permanent sampling points were placed in each pasture. A quarter meter square area around each sampling point was evaluated for weed control, weed shift and reestablishment of grasses. The livestock (cattle: black Angus, sheep: Suffolk) were evaluated for weight gain and maintenance of health. Spring in-flow temperatures were evaluated (20 foot sections) in an area infested with cattails and in an open area without cattails.
Differences were observed in the percent of grass and forb reestablishment. In all pastures, reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinaceae) increased 50% or more in sampling areas containing some canarygrass. Sampling areas containing primarily catchweed bedstraw (Galium aparine), lambsquarter (Chenopodium album), and fiddleneck (Amsinckia menziesii) in 2005 were repopulated after one grazing season with tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum) and downy brome (Bromus tectorum). Animal health was maintained and cattle weight gains ranged between 1.8 lb/day in 2005 to 1.6 lbs/day in 2006 to 1.2 lbs/day in 2007. Sheep remained at their maintenance weights because they did not lamb. Following grazing, in-stream flow temperatures decreased 2 degrees from an average of 66 degrees in the cattails to 64 degrees. The open water remained at the average 64 degrees throughout the study period.
Stephen Van Vleet
Washington State University
310 N. Main Room 209
Colfax, WA 99111, USA
Phone: 509-397-6290
Fax: 509-397-6256
svanvleet@wsu.edu