Cattle Activities and Preferences Following Strip Application of Herbicide

Abstract

Santa Gertrudis cattle activities were dominated by grazing, standing and ruminating. Only minor differences occurred between winter and summer activities. Summer morning temperatures were negatively related to percentage of herd grazing, indicating a decrease in grazing as temperature increased. However, summer daytime vapor pressure deficit (VPD) showed a better correlation with grazing habits. As VPD increased the number of cattle grazing decreased; conversely, as VPD decreased cattle grazing increased. Cattle indicated a strong grazing preference for untreated vegetation, even though herbage production was substantially higher in the herbicide treated strips.