tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991398492738672004.post4508802684891550047..comments2023-11-07T05:52:17.299-08:00Comments on Ecology of Appalachia: Intensive Grazing StudyMike Whittemorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11517146402482565807noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991398492738672004.post-91658675967890809322011-08-26T17:48:51.336-07:002011-08-26T17:48:51.336-07:00Hey Sondra! As you know, during pre-settlement, bi...Hey Sondra! As you know, during pre-settlement, bison roamed freely and grazed the great plains states. So, grazing is a natural mechanism of healthy prairies. Cattle are indeed non native but the animals that have moved the most non native plants around are humans, unfortunately. <br /><br />At the National Wildlife Refuge I worked at, they would alternate bison and cattle throughout management units to mimic what bison did hundreds of years ago. They both help control invasive like smooth brome and kentucky bluegrass, particularly in addition to other management practices like burning or chemical application. Also, both have similar digestive systems and produce a natural fertilizer for the seed they eat as they move through them., which can also be important to some prairie systems.<br /><br />If the refuge had it's way, I'm sure they would use more bison than cattle but cattle ranchers are so abundant in ND. That's what makes this such an interesting study - Cattle operations will always go on in ND. This study investigates the positives and negatives of grazing, which could be used to make recommendations to cattle ranchers in the future. It could help private land owners make better choices towards improving habitat and their land.Mike Whittemorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11517146402482565807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5991398492738672004.post-62312481782388338052011-08-26T15:23:26.682-07:002011-08-26T15:23:26.682-07:00Well Ive always heard that grazing helps land but ...Well Ive always heard that grazing helps land but Cattle are not native to this land and Im sure they spread a lot of non native species around...be interesting to know the results of your test patches.Sondrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03485055844682296876noreply@blogger.com