We observed the effects of accessions of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) on big sagebrush utilization by wintering domestic sheep. The sheep had continuous access to high quality alfalfa hay and were fed 0.28 kg of rolled barley per head per day. Utilization was expressed as a percent of the current year's vegetative growth consumed by the sheep and also as grams of dry matter eaten per stem. Utilization of accessions varied from 0 to 98% over 3 sites and from 0 to 7.112 g of dry matter per stem. The sheep tended to remove significant (60 to 70%) amounts of current growth from the more preferred accessions before removing even small (15%) amounts of less preferred accessions. If this is typical grazing behavior, preferred big sagebrush plants may be lost in areas subject to repeated grazing.

Two-year understory production was determined on 6 major forest soils across 2 geomorphic regions in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Stepwise multiple regression was used to determine those variables best explaining yield variability. Canopy cover, basal area, soils, May-June precipitation, and soil × cover interactions further improved the models, which accounted for 65 to 76% of the variability in herbage production. Footslope, nonskeletal soils had the highest herbage production (yielding 1,800 kg/ha at 0% canopy cover). The least developed, backslope, skeletal soil had the lowest herbage production (producing only 550 kg/ha at 0% canopy cover) from comparable areas of the Black Hills. Developed models can be used in conjunction with soil survey reports to estimate the forage potential of a given soil mapping unit. Results from this study emphasize the importance of considering the understory vegetation production potential of individual soil series when developing grazable woodland management plans. Soil-related production differences were most strongly expressed under conditions of limited overstory canopy cover.

We illustrate the use of life tables and survival analysis for evaluating data on livestock losses. The techniques are used to compare the rate of coyote (Canis latrans) predation on single and twin lambs. Based on the number of lambs known to have been killed by predators, the survivorship of single and twin lambs was not significantly different (P>0.05) for any year of the study. Survival functions which can be generated and used to evaluate data on livestock losses include the cumulative proportion of livestock surviving at the end of an interval, probability density, and hazard rate.

On-site disposal of drilling fluids frequently causes severe, longterm disturbance of rangeland soils. The effects of mulch on establishment and standing crops of seeded kochia [Kochia scoparia (L.) Schrad.], King Ranch bluestem [Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng], Lehmann lovegrass (Eragrostis lehmanniana Nees), kleingrass 'Selection 75' (Panicum coloratum L.), alkali sacaton [Sporobolus airoides (Torr.) Torr.], and fourwing saltbush [Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt], and transplanted fourwing saltbush were evaluated on 4, recently covered oil well reserve pits in Reagan County Texas, in 1981 and 1982. On-site disposal of drilling fluids resulted in substantial to large increases in sodium adsorption ratios (SAR) and concentrations of soluble salts, primarily sodium chloride, in reserve pit soils. Mulching with 4,500 kg/ha of weathered hay had no effect, but irrigation was essential for establishment and growth of the seeded species on severely contaminated soils (ECe 71 to 114 dS m-1, SAR 33 to 127). Mulching improved establishment and yields of seeded King Ranch bluestem and kleingrass on reserve pit soils with ECe values of 9 to 11 dS m-1 and SAR values of 12 to 16. Application of 5.1 cm of supplemental water and mulching reserve pit soils with Ece values of 3 to 7 and SAR values of 5 to 9 stimulated establishment of competing vegetation, which tended to decrease establishment and yields of seeded and transplanted species. Establishment and yields of transplanted fourwing saltbush were acceptable with or without mulching or irrigation. Survival of fourwing saltbush transplants was near 100% on moderately contaminated soils and 26 to 30% on severely contaminated soils.

Protein supplementation is widely used to enhance the nutritional status of cattle on rangeland. The effects of protein supplementation on particulate and fluid passage rates, rumen fermentation, and weight gain were evaluated on cattle grazing dormant blue grama rangeland. Twelve rumen-cannulated steers were randomly allotted to 3 equal supplement groups (4/treatment): cottonseed cake (CSC), pelleted alfalfa (ALF), or no supplement (CON). Supplements were individually fed every other day at isonitrogenous levels (1.7 kg/hd CSC vs 3.6 kg/hd ALF). Particulate passage rate was measured during 2 collection periods. Concurrently, 102 yearling heifers were allotted to the same treatment groups for measurement of average daily gain. Cattle were fed these treatments from January through April 1983. In a second trial, 9 rumen-cannulated steers were randomly allotted to the same treatment groups as trial 1. An intraruminal dose of Co-EDTA was used to estimate fluid passage rates. Rumen ammonia, volatile fatty acids, and pH were also measured. In trial 1, average daily gain did not differ between ALF and CSC supplemented heifers; however, both ALF and CSC gained more than CON heifers. Passage rate estimates were not different among treatment groups. In trial 2, rumen fluid dilution rate, volume, and outflow rate were not different among treatments. Rumen ammonia-N was different at 11 h postsupplementation when the CSC steers had higher levels than steers in other treatment groups. Rumen pH was not influenced by supplementation. Molar proportions of acetate and propionate at 8 and 11 h after supplementation differed among treatment groups. Acetate was lowest in ALF, intermediate in CSC, and highest in CON supplemented steers. Propionate followed the reverse trend. Overall, protein supplementation improved livestock performance but the mechanism involved was not elicited. The current data suggest shifts in fermentation patterns and meeting dietary demands for gain are the factors involved in improving performance.

Between 1915 and 1932, 104 permanent 1 × 1-m quadrats were established on grasslands of the Jornada Experimental Range in southern New Mexico. Primary- and secondary-dominant species were determined from the first quadrat records and each quadrat was reevaluated in 1981 to determine current dominants. The first records showed that 13 species of perennial grasses occupied all primary- and secondary-dominant positions on all quadrats. In 1981, there were 12 perennial grass species as primary- or secondary-dominants. Six shrub species occurred as primary- or secondary-dominants on 47% of the quadrat sites in 1981. Dominance-classes, i.e., single-species dominance or two-species dominant combinations, increased from 24 to 43. Thus, vegetation on this range has become more diverse and this diversity must be considered in grazing management.

A study was conducted to evaluate production of 2 temperate, annual legumes at locations where temperature and moisture may seasonally place severe constraints on growth. Arrowleaf (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi) and subterranean (Trifolium subterraneum L.) clovers were grown at Beeville, in south Texas, and at Brady, 230 miles north of Beeville. Standing crop samples were collected at approximately 2-week intervals, starting 30 days post emergence and continuing to plant maturity during 2 years. Very little growth was made prior to 1 March at Brady in either year or at Beeville the first year. Total production was minimal (<1,500 kg/ha) at Brady. Arrowleaf produced about twice as much standing crop as subterranean at Beeville, 3,900 to 8,800 kg/ha (arrowleaf) versus 2,800 to 4,600 kg/ha (subterranean). No environmental variable showed a close association with growth rate when the data for 2 years and 2 species were included in simple correlations. In stepwise multiple regression equations, daily heat units was the most important variable followed by soil water. Early fall emergence and the development of a supraminimal canopy prior to the advent of growth-limiting winter temperatures had an overriding effect on winter growth as indicated by production differences in the 2 years at Beeville. The study shows that temperate annual clovers can be grown further west in the Southern region than current usage indicates.

Scarlet (Sphaeralcea coccinea), orange (Sphaeralcea munroana), and gooseberry globemallow (Sphaeralcea grossulariaefolia) seed were soaked in 18 m sulfuric acid; 1 m, 1,4-dioxane; and sulfuric acid plus dioxane to increase germination. A 3 to 4-hour soak in dioxane significantly (P<.05) improved germination of all species over the control, and was the best treatment when data were pooled across species. Scarlet globemallow had the highest germination when subjected to 10-minute soak in sulfuric acid. Dioxane is a highly flammable, potentially cancer inducing chemical not readily available to most personnel interested in seeding globemallow. In contrast, sulfuric acid is a readily available chemical that poses a relatively minimal hazard to human health if handled correctly. A 10-minute soak in sulfuric acid appears to be a very practical treatment for improving the germination of scarlet and gooseberry globemallow. However, orange globemallow germination (P>.05) was not improved by sulfuric acid treatment.

Understanding how rate of passage estimates are influenced by procedural variations may facilitate standardization of methodology and enhance comparisons among studies. Therefore, 12 ruminal-fistulated beef steers (mean wt. = 294 kg) were used in two 6-day grazing trials to evaluate influences of sampling site, intraruminal mixing, and mathematical model on particle passage rate estimates. Steers grazed a 13-ha pasture of immature crested wheatgrass. We estimated particle passage rate from the rumen by intraruminal administration of a pulse dose of Yb-labeled forage followed by serial collection of ruminal digesta or fecal samples. Treatments were (1) rectal sampling; (2) ruminal sampling-ruminal contents mixed before subsampling digesta; (3) ruminal sampling-ruminal contents not mixed before subsampling digesta. All steers were fitted with vibracorders to monitor grazing time before and during sampling periods. Fecal Yb curves were fitted with a one compartment, time-dependent (ICMPT-TD), a two-compartment, sequential time-dependent-time-independent (2CMPT-TD), and a two-compartment, time-independent (2CMPT-TI) model. All ruminal Yb curves were fitted with a single exponential decay model. Comparisons among models were limited to rate constants associated with the slower escape process. Intraruminal mixing did not alter (P>0.10) passage rates. The 2CMPT-TD model failed to fit some fecal profiles. Particle passage rates from the 2CMPT-TI model were greater (P<0.05) than those from the ICMPT-TD model. Similarity among passage rate constants derived from fecal Yb curves and those derived by semilogarithmic regression of ruminal Yb concentration on time depended on the model used to fit fecal Yb curves. Grazing time decreased (P<0.01) during intensive sampling periods. We conclude that for steers grazing immature grass pastures, intraruminal mixing before subsampling does not significantly alter rate of passage estimates; however, site of sampling and mathematical model may be important factors to consider in choosing appropriate methodology for estimating rate of passage.