Estimating Snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) Utilization by Sheep from Twig Diameter-Weight Relations

Abstract

Three procedures were used to estimate snowberry biomass browsed at 3 stocking intensities by domestic sheep on mountain range in southwestern Utah. Two regression equations and (percentage of) grazed stems were compared. Each technique gave different estimates of utilization, which were affected by grazing intensity. The two regression equations we developed distinguished between two kinds of sheep browsing, leaf only and entire stem removal. Sheep usually strip only the leaves and rarely is the entire stem removed. The predictive equations accounted for both methods of browsing and related twig diameters to twig leaf weight (R2=.89) and twig plus leaf weight (R2=.90).