Cattle Grazing White Locoweed: Diet Selection Patterns of Native and Introduced Cattle

Abstract

Cattle preference for immature white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea Nutt.) seed pods reported in a previous intensive grazing study was confirmed using free-ranging cows under natural grazing conditions. Diets were quantified by bite count. The succulent immature seed pod was palatable and preferentially selected until its supply was exhausted. Locoweed flowers or mature seed pods were not grazed and very few locoweed leaves were consumed. Native cows (born and raised on the range) and introduced 2-year-old replacement heifers (raised in another part of the state with no prior grazing experience with locoweed) consumed similar amounts of locoweed pods.