http://hdl.handle.net/10150/635871 2026-04-19T17:53:03Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/640053 History of Rangeland Management in California Larson-Praplan, Stephanie On the Ground • Spanish colonists brought cattle to California when they landed in San Diego in 1769, with two hundred head of cattle arriving by overland routes. • Mexico, achieving independence, established rules to petition for land grants in California, paving the way for additional settlers by making land grants easier to obtain. • The Gold Rush resulted in cattle numbers quadrupling and sheep numbers increasing more than 60-fold between 1850 and 1860. • Multiple uses, such as agriculture crop production, impacted California rangelands. • Public policies now influence management of approximately 38 million acres of privately and publicly owned rangelands. 2014-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/640052 History of University of California Rangeland Extension, Research, and Teaching George, Melvin R.; Clawson, W. James On the Ground • The Agricultural Extension Service at the University of California (UC) was established in Humboldt County in 1913 preceding the nationwide establishment of the extension service in 1914. • Improving rangelands by controlling weeds and brush, seeding, fertilization, and grazing management has been a continuing theme of research by UC since the late 1800s. • Restoration of annual-dominated grasslands with native perennials has been a recurring research theme that continues to challenge grassland researchers. • The complexity of research questions and education programs increased when environmental issues including grazing effects on riparian areas, oak regeneration, wildlife habitat, and water quality began to influence range research and extension programs in the 1980s. • A more diversified range extension audience evolved with the increase in small farms and ranches and diversification of agency staff in response to affirmative action. 2014-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/640051 Managing Diversity in California: An Exploration of Range Management in California Brownsey, Philip; Larsen, Royce 2014-10-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10150/640050 Performance Advantage of Wintering Cattle in California’s Sacramento Valley Forero, Larry; Oltjen, James; Blank, Steve; Taylor, Norman On the Ground • In this six year study fall calving cows grazing annual grassland in the Sacramento Valley of California weaned heavier calves than their cohorts fed hay in the mountains. • The heavier weaned calves wintered on annual grasslands continued to be heavier than their cohorts wintered on hay in the mountains through the yearling phase. • Winter grazing annual grasslands was economically favorable when compared to feeding hay in the mountains. • The timing and amount of precipitation influence annual grassland forage production tremendously. There may be years when cattle fed hay in the mountains perform better than their cohorts grazing annual grassland. 2014-10-01T00:00:00Z