Differential Grazing Use of Herbicide-Treated Areas by Cattle

Abstract

Cows allowed free access to randomly placed plots of Bell rhodesgrass, kleingrass, and weeping lovegrass appeared to prefer to graze plots treated with 2.2 or 4.4 kg/ha (a.i.) of 20% tebuthiuron pellets compared to untreated plots, regardless of grass species. The apparent preference was observed during the summer and fall following herbicide application in the spring but was not detected the growing season 1 year after herbicide application. The cows also appeared to prefer herbicide-treated (2,4-D or picloram sprays at 1 kg/ha, tebuthiuron pellets at 0.5, 1 or 2 kg/ha [a.i.]) little bluestem-brownseed paspalum native stands to untreated plots. Moreover, cows usually grazed on plots treated with 1 or 2 kg/ha of tebuthiuron more than on those plots treated with 2,4-D or picloram sprays. Since all plots were mowed prior to the grazing trials, apparent grazing preferences were not attributable to differences in stage of grass maturity or to control of broadleaves by the herbicides.