Progress 10/01/07 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: 1) We investigated how environmental variables influence vegetation use by characterizing and modeling the biotic and abiotic factors that explain foraging patterns of cattle. Landsat Thematic Mapper derived normalized vegetation difference index (NDVI), woodland cover, herbaceous vegetation cover, forage biomass, forage chemical composition, and weather variables were measured in grassland (G), open pinon juniper (PJ) woodlands (OW; 8 - 19% tree cover) and closed PJ woodlands (CW; 32 - 37% tree cover) in two adjacent pastures during spring, summer, fall, and winter from 2009 to 2011. Analysis of woodland electivity indices, weather records, and actual pasture use data suggested that resource selection in these seasons was driven by weather-related factors. Weather factors (abiotic) appeared to have a stronger influence on cattle selectivity patterns at the scale of days and seasons whereas forage-related factors (biotic) were apparently responsible for livestock resource selection patterns at the scale of weeks. 2)A study was conducted in central NM to evaluate effects of two levels of stocking rate and weather factors on activity patterns and habitat selection (grassland vs. woodland) of young rangeland raised cows grazing a grassland/woodland mosaic. Data were collected over four years by tracking 52 cross-bred cows grazing a 146 ha pasture (55% grassland and 45% woodland). Previous studies indicate that woodland preference increased during the years when forage availability was scarce in the grassland open area. Our results support this hypothesis. 3) Cows with fast SCR exhibit more dispersed pasture use patterns, tend to wean heavier calves, and are therefore hypothesized to be better adapted to rangeland conditions compared to counterparts with slow SCR. Frequency distribution of SCR of the herd showed a reduction in the overall number of cows with slow SCR and was increasingly skewed toward the fast SCR individuals over the time period considered. This case study provides tentative support for the hypothesis that cows classified on the basis of SCR into behavioral types with contrasting spatial distribution patterns exhibit different levels of adaptation to rangeland grazing environments. 4) We examined the relationship between terpene profile and one-seed juniper sapling herbivory by sheep and goats. Results support the hypothesis that one-seed juniper terpene chemistry is related to the extent of sapling herbivory by small ruminants, sapling size, and season. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Use of animal behavior data as a criterion to create optimal rangeland grazing environments for livestock: Results from studies a) and b) confirm the important role that weather factors play on foraging behavior of cattle, particularly at the scale of days and seasons. At intermediate temporal scales (weeks), forage-related factors drive spatial distribution behaviors most of the time. Cattle adjust activity patterns in response to increasing stocking rate (and lower per-capita forage allowance) and day-to-day variations in weather conditions. The impacts of these adjustments on an animal's energy balance need to be further explored. Both studies which jointly cover a period of 7 years of detailed GPS tracking of cattle spatial behaviors confirm the importance of tree cover in buffering forage and non-forage environmental factors and improving grazing habitat for cattle. These data suggest that a mix of vegetation structure types within a grazing pasture offers better habitat conditions than pastures with a single vegetation type. Use of individual-based differences in behavior to infer livestock adaptation to rangeland grazing environments: Study c) is a follow-up case study to an earlier experiment conducted by Wesley et al. (2012) and provides circumstantial evidence regarding the potential to infer spatial behaviors and reproductive performance of rangeland-raised cows based on feeding behavior differences in confinement. Cross-context consistency in individual variation in foraging behavior is an area we expect to further explore to determine whether cows that exhibit high adaptation to rangeland environments (explore large areas, spend less time loafing at water, exhibit better reproductive performance) produce calves that do well in confined (feed-lot) environments. One seed juniper secondary metabolites can limit the success of targeted grazing programs: This provides insights into the causes of plant-to-plant differences in herbivory levels observed in programs that use small ruminants to suppress one seed juniper sapling encroachment. Interestingly, sapling bark (which was heavily used by goats and sheep in spring) had less than half the concentration of terpenoids of leaves. This is the first time bark secondary compounds were measured in saplings of this species. Highest rates of success should be expected if saplings are small and targeted grazing is applied in summer. Debarking by small ruminants may prove to be the most effective way of controlling larger saplings.
Publications
- Estell, R.E., K.M. Havstad, A.F. Cibils, E.L. Fredrickson, D.M. Anderson, T.S. Schrader, and D.K. James. 2012. Increasing shrub use by livestock in a world with less grass. Rangeland Ecology and Management 65:553-562
- Breck, S., P. Clark, L. Howery, D. Johnson, B. Kluever, S. Smallidge, and A. Cibils. 2012. A perspective on livestock-wolf interactions on western rangelands. Rangelands 34:6-11
- Wesley, R.L., A.F. Cibils, J.T. Mulliniks, E.R.Pollak, M.K. Petersen, and E.L. Fredrickson. 2012. An assessment of behavioural syndromes in rangeland-raised beef cattle. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 139:183-194
- Perotto-Baldivieso, H.L., S.M. Cooper, A.F. Cibils, M. Figueroa-Pagan, K. Udaeta, C.M. Black-Rubio. 2012. Detecting autocorrelation problems from GPS collar data in livestock studies. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 136: 117-125
- S.A. Utsumi, A.F. Cibils, R.E. Estell. 2012. Terpene profile of one-seed juniper saplings explains differential herbivory by small ruminants. 17th Wildland Shrub Symposium. Las Cruces, NM, May 22-24, 2012. L. Jacobson, A. Cibils, D. Graham, L. Owensby, W. Taylor. 2012. Wildlife and cattle use of locoweed-infested plots treated with targeted grazing. 65thAnnual Meeting of the Society for Range Management. Spokane, WA, Jan 28-Feb 3, 2012
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Progress 01/01/11 to 12/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: a.) A two year study involving seasonal monitoring of: a) activity patterns and habitat use of cows and their calves via GPS tracking; b) vegetation with on-the-ground sampling and remote sensing tools (NDVI derived from Landsat images); and c) weather conditions in grazing pastures with a network of 8 weather stations, concluded in 2011. Data are being analyzed. All environment and livestock data have been converted to layers in a GIS and will be used to derive seasonal RSFs (resource selection functions) to determine the relative weight of biotic vs. abiotic factors on habitat selection of cow-calf pairs grazing juniper woodland-shortgrass prairie mosaics in central NM. Final results will be compared to livestock RSFs being developed at 3 collaborating sites in Argentina. b.) Four years of late calving season GPS monitoring of livestock GPS data (2004-2007) are being analyzed to determine the influence of stocking rate on habitat use and animal movement patterns of mother cows during the calving season. Vegetation and weather conditions are being used as covariates in these analyses. Preliminary analyses suggest that distance traveled during 24 h period increases with increasing stocking rate. Distance traveled during the night time decreases with increasing stocking rate. The influence of weather on distance traveled during 24h period appeared to decrease as stocking rate increased. Cows spent more time in woodland areas under moderate vs light stocking rates and in dry vs moist spring rainfall conditions. Final analyses of this data set are underway. c.) Spatial proximity patterns of rangeland-raised calves, their dams, and other nursing cows in the herd (Objective 2): Two years of twice-yearly cow-calf GPS monitoring data collection concluded in 2011. Specialized software to analyze this data is being developed. These data will be used to test predictions derived from preliminary data. d.) Targeted grazing (TG) programs use livestock to manipulate vegetation by placing the undesired plant at a competitive disadvantage relative to desired plants. Subsequent preferential selection of treated sites by other herbivores could jeopardize the success of TG programs by inflicting an equally intense grazing pressure on desired plants and neutralizing their competitive advantage. We monitored presence of cattle and pronghorn antelope on recently treated white locoweed plots at 3 ranches in NE New Mexico. TG treatments reduced white locoweed cover and density significantly. Similar overall numbers of cattle and antelope images were obtained in TG plots. However, frequency of images with cattle or antelope grazing (vs. standing) was significantly higher in TG plots than in controls. At this site, TG areas should be protected from grazing for at least a growing season after treatment to allow grasses to gain a competitive advantage over white locoweed. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results of studies a) and b) will contribute to developing better prescriptions for vegetation management on Pinon Juniper dominated rangelands. Data analyzed so far suggests that a mix of vegetation structure types within a grazing pasture offers better habitat conditions than pastures with a single vegetation type. Results of study c) will test current understanding about the importance of dams in early life learning of foraging behaviors of their offspring. Preliminary data suggests that groups rather than individuals may transmit foraging cultures to the young. Analysis of this two-year data set will allow us to test this hypothesis. An important goal of Objective 4 (understanding the effects that plant nutrients and toxins exert on diet selection patterns of sheep and goats) is to use this knowledge to manipulate diet preferences of small ruminants used in targeted grazing programs (TG). Study d) provides practical information on the limitations of targeted grazing (TG) with sheep as a tool to reduce white locoweed on rangelands. It suggests that to optimize TG results, grazing should be excluded from treated areas to allow non-target plants a better chance to outcompete white locoweed.
Publications
- Mulliniks, J. T., Kemp, M. E., Cox, S. H., Hawkins, D. E., Cibils, A. F., VanLeeuwen, D. M., et al. 2011. The Effect of Increasing Amount of Glucogenic Precursors on Reproductive Performance in Young Postpartum Range Cows. Journal of Animal Science, 89(9), 2932-2943.
- Peinetti, R. H., Fredrickson, E. L., Peters, D. P., Cibils, A. F., Roacho-Estrada, O. J., Laliberte, A. S., et al. 2011. Foraging Behavior of Heritage Versus Recently Introduced Herbivores on Desert Landscapes of the American Southwest. Ecosphere, 2(5), art 57.
- Brizuela, M.A. y A. Cibils. 2011. Implicancias de la carga y distribucion de los animales en pastoreo en la utilizacion de pasturas. Capitulo 13. En: Cangiano, C.A. y M.A. Brizuela (eds). Produccion Animal en Pastoreo. 2da Edicion. Publicaciones INTA pp 349-376.
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Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Lack of temporal synchrony of micro-meteorological conditions among vegetation types caused entire pastures to offer areas with PTC conditions more often than each of its vegetation types considered individually. Vegetation structure heterogeneity within pastures appears to improve the availability of grazing sites with PTC conditions during spring and summer at this site. Our results suggest that early-life communal (vs. mother-only) care of calves may have an important influence on the feeding preferences of calves particularly if social learning occurs through imitation and is a function of the time a calf spends close to an adult cow. Animal culture (i.e. a set of group-specific socially-transmitted behaviors in a population) which has been studied in non-human primates but not in ruminants may play a fundamental role in shaping dietary and habitat preferences of rangeland-raised beef cattle. Intermittent targeted grazing of white locoweed-infested rangeland with sheep may be a viable means of suppressing locoweed abundance without detrimentally affecting animal health. Apparent preference of cattle and pronghorn for plots treated with targeted grazing suggests that deferment of treated areas may be needed to obtain best results. Protein and possibly corn-based supplements may be effective tools to manipulate sheep browsing levels of Salix exigua but need to be tested in a field setting before management strategies with supplementation can be applied. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results of study a) will contribute to developing better prescriptions for vegetation management on Pinon Juniper dominated rangelands. This preliminary study suggests that a mix of vegetation structure types within a grazing pasture offers better thermal comfort conditions than pastures with a single vegetation type. Results of study b) question current understanding about the importance of dams in early life learning of foraging behaviors of their offspring. Our data suggests that groups rather than individuals may transmit foraging cultures to the young. We plan to conduct further research and data- mining to confirm this hypothesis. Studies c) and e) provide practical information on how to use sheep to suppress two kinds of rangeland plant species that contain secondary compounds (alkaloids, and tannins). Results suggest that an on/off grazing strategy may allow ranchers to use sheep to suppress locoweed populations without causing detrimental toxic effects on animals. Our data also suggest that supplements could be used to manipulate sheep preference for coyote willow, a sensitive species of New Mexico riparian areas. Finally, study d) will allow new insights into the fate of juniper secondary compounds (terpenpoids) in ruminants and will allow us to develop a mechanistic explanation of changes in small ruminant foraging behavior mediated by nutrient/toxin interactions.
Publications
- Jackson, K.T., A.F. Cibils, W.R. Gould, J.D. Graham, and C.D. Allison. 2010. Does feeding area restriction inhibit social learning of toxic weed ingestion in cattle Animal: An International Journal of Animal Bioscience 4:1577-1587.
- Lujan, A.L., S.A. Utsumi, S.T. Smallidge, T.T. Baker, R.E. Estell, A.F. Cibils, and S.L. Ivey. 2010. Manipulating sheep browsing levels on coyote willow (Salix exigua) with supplements. Sheep & Goat Research Journal 25: 32-38.
- Goodman, Laura. 2010. Plant and animal responses to targeted grazing of white locoweed (Oxytropis sericea) with sheep. MS Thesis. New Mexico State University. Las Cruces. 99 pp.
- Ramirez-Garduno, H., A.G. Fernald, A. F. Cibils, D. M VanLeeuwen. 2010. Response of understory vegetation and soil moisture to infrequent heavy defoliation of chemically thinned juniper woodland. Journal of Arid Environments74:291-297.
- Utsumi, S.A., A. F. Cibils, R. E. Estell, T.T. Baker, and J. H. Walker. 2010. One-seed juniper sapling use by goats in relation to stocking density and mixed grazing with sheep. Rangeland Ecology and Management 63:373-386.
- Estell, R.E., S.A. Utsumi, and A. F. Cibils. 2010. Measurement of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in serum, plasma, and rumen fluid from sheep. Animal Feed Science and Technology 158:104-109.
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Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: We determined tree canopy cover (TCC) and monitored cattle use of Pinyon-juniper (PJ) woodland during spring in a 146ha pasture at a site in central New Mexico. Half the research pasture had been cleared of PJ woodland in the 1980s. A subset of intact woodland grid cells containing cow locations (approximately 62% of these occurred in wooded areas) was used to describe the relationship between cattle spatial distribution and PJ canopy cover. We found a significant negative exponential relationship between TCC and relative use of grid cells by cattle. Tree cover explained 50.1% of the variation in relative use by cattle of the 1 ha woodland grid cells. Most cow positions recorded in PJ-dominated areas occurred in grid cells with 30-50% TCC. A sharp decline in woodland use occurred beyond an apparent threshold of 55% TCC. Our data suggest that PJ woodlands with up to 50% canopy cover could provide an adequate balance of shelter and forage for cattle during spring at our site. We investigated the relationships between stress coping styles, patterns of rangeland use, and performance of thirty six 3-year-old cows during two consecutive calving season (2006-07). We used Cluster Analysis and Discriminant Function Analysis to classify cows into two stress copying style groups on the basis of multiple behavioral traits. Compared to proactive cows (PR), reactive individuals (RE) tended to spend more time at water, explore smaller areas, and exhibit more concentrated search patterns. Reactive individuals also had lighter body weights, and weaned lighter calves. Cow-calf location relations measured in 2007 suggested that calves born to highly proactive cows (PR+) were lighter than their peers born to less proactive mothers (PR-). PR+ cows tended to spend less time near their calves and to travel further from their offspring and therefore tended to wean lighter calves than PR- mothers. Behavioral syndromes appeared to influence landscape use patterns and productivity of cattle in this study. Cows with intermediate stress coping styles (as defined in this study) appeared to be the best suited to the biophysical characteristics of our study site. Plots on rangeland infested with one-seed juniper were exposed to high (small patches; 10m2/AU/day) or low (large patches; 60 m2/AU/day) density stocking (vs control plots without grazing) of goats and goats plus sheep (2 replicates/treatment) during a summer targeted grazing experiment. Both deer (SI: 0.00) and cattle (SI: 0.40; P < 0.001) avoided large patches which had been grazed by goats + sheep. These patches received heaviest utilization of herbaceous vegetation (73.5%) the previous summer. Deer selected small patches that had been grazed by goats + sheep whereas cattle selected large patches and avoided small patches grazed by goats alone . Cattle exhibited greatest preference for grazed patches in summer, while deer avoided grazed patches in summer. The probability of mule deer presence on a given patch (y) was reduced by cattle (x) presence. Targeted grazing programs with small ruminants could be used to create contrasting patches of different sizes to improve habitat for multiple rangeland ungulates. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results of studies a) and c) reported above will be used to derive animal-behavior based guidelines for vegetation management on Pinyon Juniper dominated rangelands. Strategic thinning programs and targeted grazing prescriptions could be greatly improved by considering animal responses to sheltered patches (thinning) or patches of increased forage quality (targeted grazing). Our findings in relation to grazing distribution patterns of cows that exhibit contrasting stress coping styles (study b reported above) will allow us to make the connection between temperament, spatial distribution patterns of grazing, and animal performance. If these relationships are repeatable, we envision that stress coping style could eventually be included as an animal selection criterion geared toward achieving specific pasture use objectives on semi-arid rangelands.
Publications
- Martin, J. 2008. Factors affecting locoweed (Oxytropis sp. and Astragalus sp.) ingestion by yearling cattle. M.S. Thesis, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM 82p.
- Utsumi, S.A. 2008. Influence of nutrients, toxins, and grazing strategies on the utilization of one seed juniper by small ruminants. PhD Dissertation. New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 250 p.
- Cibils, A. F., J. A. Miller, A. M. Encinias, K. G. Boykin, and B. F. Cooper. 2008. Monitoring heifer grazing distribution at the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Rangelands 30(6):19-23
- Black-Rubio, C. M., A. F. Cibils, R. L. Endecott, M. K. Petersen, and K. G. Boykin. 2008. Pinon-juniper woodland use by cattle in relation to weather and animal reproductive state. Rangeland Ecology and Management 61:394-404
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Progress 01/01/07 to 12/31/07
Outputs
Objective 1: We conducted a study to determine the role of pinon juniper (PJ) woodlands in providing shelter for cattle during winter at a site in central New Mexico. Weather conditions explained 25 to 79% of changes in plant community preference (woodland vs. grassland) of nursing and open cattle. The strength of association between weather conditions and plant community preference appeared to be modulated by forage availability and by the reproductive state of cows. When forage availability in open grass steppe areas was low, cattle spent up to 90% in PJ-dominated feeding sites. Conversely, when forage availability in the open grass areas was high, cattle avoided grazing in PJ woodland regardless of weather. Pinon-juniper woodlands appear to play an important role in providing shelter for cattle, in particular for nursing cows, in years when forage availability is scarce. A mosaic of wooded and open areas appears to be the habitat structure that can best provide
forage and thermoregulation needs of cattle. Objective 2: Early life social experiences could affect feeding site choices of female and male animals differently. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of gender on social learning of feeding site avoidance in lambs. We used electrical stimulation to train nursing ewes to avoid a cued unsafe feeding site (UFS). We predicted that lambs would learn from their mothers to avoid UFS, but expected female lambs to exhibit stronger and more persistent avoidance behavior than males. Ewes learned to avoid UFS associated with shock and their lambs, which were naive to pain, also learned to avoid UFS, presumably induced by their mothers' fear. Lambs whose mothers were trained with shock spent significantly less time in UFS and consumed significantly less food in UFS than control lambs. Daughters of shocked ewes tended to spend less time in UFS, less time feeding, and more time standing and nursing than their male counterparts. In addition,
compared to control animals, daughters of shocked ewes spent more time standing and remained closer to their mothers than male lambs whose mothers had received shock. Avoidance behavior in all lambs persisted regardless of whether mothers or visual cues surrounding UFS were present. Lamb age appeared to modulate the influence of lamb gender on maternally-induced feeding site avoidance learning. Objective 4: One-seed juniper intake by sheep and goats could be manipulated using protein supplements to offset the deterrent effect of seasonal increases in secondary compounds. Short term juniper intake in the fall was approximately 50% lower than intake in summer, winter and spring due to the fact that secondary compounds peaked during this season. Short-term juniper intake of goats was twice the intake of sheep, and animals that received protein supplements ate twice as much juniper as did controls. Importantly, proteins and secondary compounds interacted. Variation in seasonal intake was
a function of prior intake levels (affected by protein supplementation) and seasonal changes in specific secondary compounds the most important of which were a group of oxygenated sesquiterpenes.
Impacts
Objective 1: Understanding the role of pinon juniper woodlands in providing shelter and shade for cattle will allow managers to refine current woodland thinning criteria by explicitly considering livestock foraging behavior and welfare needs. Pinon-juniper woodlands appear to play an important role in providing shelter for cattle during winter, particularly in years when forage availability is in short supply. Our research suggests that a mosaic of wooded and open areas may be the plant community mix that could best provide forage and thermoregulation needs for cattle at these sites. Objective 2: Ewes play a critical role in the acquisition of feeding site preferences of their offspring. Our results suggest that social conditioning via the dam at an early age could be a viable tool to modify sheep behavior and that lamb gender does not significantly affect the efficacy of this tool. Socially- induced feeding site avoidance responses in this study persisted after
weaning; however, further research regarding the longer term persistence of feeding site avoidance and/or the reinforcement schedule required to maintain such behaviors is needed. Objective 4: Our results will help design more effective targeted grazing prescriptions to control one seed juniper invasion into adjacent grasslands. Goats appear to be better suited to control one seed juniper sapling invasion than are sheep. The ability of goats to consume juniper can be enhanced with protein supplementation. However, juniper intake varies with the kind and amount of protein, which interact with seasonal changes in the secondary compound profile of juniper foliage. Protein supplements are less likely to boost the intake of juniper in the fall when secondary compounds are more concentrated.
Publications
- Black-Rubio, C.M., A. F. Cibils, W. B. Gould. 2007. Maternal influence on feeding site avoidance behavior of lambs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 105:122-139
- R.Wesley, A. Cibils, C.Rubio, and E. Pollak. 2007. Effects of gender on feeding site avoidance behavior in lambs. 60th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, Reno, NV, February 12-16, 2007. p.316.
- S.Utsumi, A. Cibils, R. Estell, and S. Soto Navarro. 2007. One seed juniper intake by sheep and goats supplemented with degradable or by-pass protein. 60th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, Reno, NV, February 12-16, 2007. p.306.
- Martin, A. Cibils, and J.Graham. 2007. Influence of novel flavors on food preference of naive steers that either avoid or consume white locoweed. 60th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management, Reno, NV, February 12-16, 2007. p.185.
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