Sheep Use on Mountain Winter Range in New Mexico

Abstract

Sheep were found to be affected by several factors related to the mountainous terrain. Slope steepness, percent bareground, and position on slope were the three most important factors influencing sheep distribution and utilization. Sheep favored mountain ridgetops for bedgrounds and grazing. Sheep utilization was relatively uniform on all side slopes less than 45%, but utilization was reduced from 50% to 75% on steeper slopes. Sheep were not limited by distance from water in the mountainous country of this study area. Sheep used severely eroded slopes less than slightly eroded slopes.