Findings in 2001 (Beaman Ranch)

Findings in 2001 (Beaman Ranch)
Seral State:
  • Currently, vegetation mix in the control pasture is classified as early mid seral (Probability = .75) and vegetation mix in the treatment pasture is classified as early seral (Probability = .94), based on cover-frequency index (CFI) for blue grama. [These probabilities state the certainty of correctly classifying the vegetation based on the cover-frequency index]
Production:
Numbers are reported as the mean � one standard deviation.

  • Peak standing crop of palatable plants was similar (P = .44) on and off prairie dog towns, i.e., 747 kg/ha � 329 kg/ha vs 852 kg/ha � 491 kg/ha, respectively. Peak standing crop of this years’ growth was measured on areas protected from either cattle or prairie dog grazing (caged). Palatable plants excluded annual forbs, red threeawn and galleta.
  • Total peak standing crop was also similar (P=.74) on vs off colonies, i.e., 840 kg/ha � 151 kg/ha vs 1154 kg/ha � 478 kg/ha, respectively.
  • Peak standing crop of blue grama on vs off colony was similar (P = .27), i.e., 377 � 377 kg/ha vs 622 � 163 kg/ha, respectively.
  • Peak standing crop of buffalograss on vs off colony was similar (P = .70), i.e., 292 kg/ha � 336 kg/ha vs 230 kg/ha � 387 kg/ha, respectively.
  • Peak standing crop of red threeawn was similar (P = .43) on vs off colony (P=.43), i.e., 35 kg/ha � 70 kg/ha (on caged) vs. 291 � 422 kg/ha, respectively.
Crude estimates of peak standing crop allocation

Off Colony
Total 305,852
Palatable plants 225,895 74%
Consumed by cows 30,128 10%, 13%
Residual Total 146,675 48%
Residual palatable 121,950 54%
Unaccounted Total 129,049 42%
Unaccounted palatable 103,945 46%

On Colony
Total 222,561
Palatable plants 197,976 89%
Consumed by cows 30,128 14%, 15%
Residual Total 96,289 43%
Residual palatable 82,118 41%
Consumed by prairie dogs 26,512 12%, 13%
[Assumed 55% of pasture colonized @ 17 active holes per ha and 3 prairie dogs per hole]
Unaccounted Total 69,632 31%
Unaccounted palatable 59,218 30%