Clayton Gibbs

Clayton Gibbs is the rancher who has the lease on the allotment of concern. Clayton would like work with Tim on improving the range condition of his Forest pastures and accepts the fact that he needs to change the sequence of grazing of the pastures in his allotment. The grazing season on Forest Service leases are from May 20 to October 20 of each year; in other words, ranchers can move cattle onto their lease as early as May 20 and must have the cattle off the leased pastures by October 20. Clayton and Tim agree that the first pastures grazed in the upcoming year will be those that have been grazed historically in late June to late July. Clayton reminds Tim that he usually grazes his first pastures for about 25 days before moving onto the next set of pastures, and then moves back to the first pastures towards the end of the grazing season (around September 30) after the first killing frost. He does this because the first pastures in the sequence recover from the early-season grazing and have much available forage by the end of the season. He likes to take advantage of this forage and have his cattle graze it before removing them from the allotment on October 20.

Quiz

Question

Tim decides to allow Clayton to graze the pastures of concern twice during a grazing season, once in May and early June and a second time in October. Based on what you know about grass morphology and physiology, why does Tim’s decision seem reasonable?

The pastures are already in poor condition, why be concerned about further abusive grazing.

As indicated previously, grazing once early in the growing season could result in increased rangeland condition even if the pasture grasses are grazed again during the dormant season.

The rancher should be allowed to use all available forage, regardless of consequences.

As indicated previously, grazing once early in the growing season could result in increased rangeland condition even if the pasture grasses are grazed again during the dormant season.

The desired grasses have most of the growing season to recover and are not grazed a second time until dormancy.

As indicated previously, grazing once early in the growing season could result in increased rangeland condition even if the pasture grasses are grazed again during the dormant season.

The leaf area normally produced early in growing season is of little consequence for carbohydrate storage

As indicated previously, grazing once early in the growing season could result in increased rangeland condition even if the pasture grasses are grazed again during the dormant season.

Looks Good! As indicated previously, grazing once early in the growing season could result in increased rangeland condition even if the pasture grasses are grazed again during the dormant season.

Question

Tim expects the two pastures of concern to recover and be in good to excellent condition within 5 years. Once they have recovered, what would you recommend?

Maintain the same sequence of grazing where they are the first pastures grazed each year.

The sequence of grazing should change annually to avoid grazing pastures at the same time in consecutive years.

Change back to the sequence of grazing where the two pastures are grazed in late June to late July annually.

The sequence of grazing should change annually to avoid grazing pastures at the same time in consecutive years.

Develop a grazing plan where the sequence of grazing of the pastures changes annually.

The sequence of grazing should change annually to avoid grazing pastures at the same time in consecutive years.

Change to continuous grazing.

The sequence of grazing should change annually to avoid grazing pastures at the same time in consecutive years.

Looks Good! The sequence of grazing should change annually to avoid grazing pastures at the same time in consecutive years.

Defoliation - Grazing Response