Site Preference by Cattle Under Short Duration and Continuous Grazing Management

Abstract

Cattle locations were monitored by radio tracking on a South Texas study area to determine if site utilization was more uniform under short-duration versus continuous grazing management. Site variables compared with the distribution of cattle locations were vegetation type, soil series, and distance to water. Use of vegetation type was more uniform under short duration grazing. However, cattle showed more selection for soil series and distance to water under short duration as compared to continuous grazing. Thus the bulk of the evidence did not support a hypothesis of more uniform site utilization by cattle under short duration grazing management