Waterfowl Production in Relation to Rest-Rotation Grazing

Abstract

Duck production was compared in two rest-rotation cattle grazing systems and normally grazed areas in Phillips County, Montana, from 1968 to 1970. Pair populations generally increased in pastures excluded from cattle grazing the previous year and decreased in pastures grazed in the fall of the previous year. In eleven of twelve instances, complete rest or grazing only during spring and early summer, resulted in an increase of the number of broods the following spring. In five of eight instances grazing during summer and fall resulted in a decrease of broods the following spring.