Grazing Preferences of Cattle in Regenerating Aspen Forest

Abstract

The relative preferences of cattle for the major plant species in regenerating aspen (Populus tremuloides) forest following burning were studied to assist in developing strategies for controlling aspen regrowth by grazing with cattle. The tendency of cattle to graze forest rather than grassland increased as grasses matured towards the end of the growing season. Within the forest, cattle preferred herbaceous species when they were present. Of the shrub species, generally wild rose (Rosa spp.) and wild raspberry (Rubus strigosus) were preferred over aspen but aspen was preferred over western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis). Aspen was grazed more readily late in the season than early. Similarly western snowberry, which was of consistently low acceptability, was relatively more acceptable late in the season. Cattle readily consumed wild raspberry in both years and both seasons. Wild rose was accepted early in the season in both years but was less preferred late in the season when it had relatively more woody growth.