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Diets of 3 Cattle Breeds on Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland

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Diets of 3 Cattle Breeds on Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Diets of 3 cattle breeds on Chihuahuan Desert rangeland Item Type text; Article Authors de Alba Becerra, R.; Winder, J.; Holechek, J. L.; Cardenas, M. Citation de Alba Becerra, R., Winder, J., Holechek, J. L., & Cardenas, M. (1998). Diets of 3 cattle breeds on Chihuahuan Desert rangeland. Journal of Range Management, 51(3), 270-275. DOI 10.2307/4003410 Publisher Society for Range Management Journal Journal of Range Management Rights Copyright © Society for Range Management. Download date 25/09/2021 05:31:06 Item License http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ Version Final published version Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/644078 J. Range Manage. 51:270-275 May 1998 Diets of 3 cattle breeds on Chihuahuan Desert rangeland R. DE ALBA BECERRA, J. WINDER, J.L. HOLECHEK, AND M. CARDENAS Authors are graduate research assistant, associate professor, and professor. Dept. of Animaland RangeSciences, New M&co Statelhiversity, ku Cm.%%, N.M. 88003; and professor, Dept. of Experimental Statistics, New Mexico State University, l&s Graces, 88003. J. U%&r is presently hestock specialist, Samuel Roberts Noble Foundati&, p.0. iox 2180, Arainore, Okra. 73402. Abstract Resumen Diet botanical composition, fecal nitrogen percent, and fecal La composition botanica de la dieta, el porcierto de nitrogeno phosphorus percent were determined seasonally during 1991 and fecal, y el porcierto de fosforo fecal fueron determinados en 1992 for 3 cattle breeds (Barzona, Brangus, Beefmaster) grazing diierentes epocas de1 aiio durante 1991 y 1992 para tres razas de late-seral Chihuahuan Desert rangeland in southcentral New gauado (Barzona, Brangus, Beefmaster) en pastizales en buenas Mexico. These 3 cattle breeds are considered to be well adapted condiciones en la region centro-sur de1 e&ado de Nuevo Mexico. to harsh envirouments. Cattle breed main effect was non-signift- Se considera que estus tres razas esta bien adaptadas a las sev- cant (P > 0.05) for diet botanical composition. However, season eras condiciones de1 medio ambiente. El efecto medio de la raza main effects (P < 0.05) did occur for some diet botanical composi- sobre la composition botanica de la dieta no fue signiiicativo (P > tion components. Total grasses in cattle diets were highest in 0.05). Sm embargo, la Cpoca de1 afio afectaron (P < 0.05) algunos January and lowest in June. Dropseeds (Sporobolus sp.), black compoenetes de la composition botanica de la dieta. La cantidad grama (BouteZoua eriopoda Torr.), and threeawns (Aristido sp.) de pastas en la dieta fne mas alta duraute Enero y mas baja en were the primary grasses consumed by cattle. Forb consumption Junio. Los principales pa&s consumidos fueron zacaton (espp. was highest in June lowest in January. Honey mesquite (Proso@ Sporobolus), navajita megra (Boutelouu eriopoda Torr.), y tred glandulosa Tot-r.) consumption by cattle was highest in August aristas (espp. iAristida). El consume de hierbas fue mas alto and lowest in January. It was the primary shrub in cattle diets. durante Junio y mas bajo en Energo. El consume de mesquite Breed X season interactions (P < 0.05) occurred for a few diet (Prosopis glandulosa Tort-) fue mayor en Agosto y menor en botanical composition components, but the small magnitude of Enero. Mesquite fue el principal arbusto consumido por el gana- the values and lack of consistency prevented drawing definite do. Interacciones entre raza X epoca de1 aiio (P < 0.05) ocur- management implications. Fecal nitrogen values showed differ- rleron solamente para algnnos componentes de la dieta, pero la ences (P < 0.05) among breeds in some seasons. However due to pequeiia magnitud de 10s valores y la falta de consistencia impi- lack of consistency no definite conclusions could be drawn den derivar implicaiones de manejo defnitivas. Los valores de regarding superiority of 1 breed compared to another in diet nitrogen0 fecal mostraron diierencias (P < 0.05) entre razas en nutritional quality. Both fecal nitrogen and phosphorus concen- algunas epocas de1 aiio. Sin embarog, debido a la falta de consis- trations showed cattle diets to be lowest in quality in winter and ten& no se pudo concluir sobre la ssuperiordad de una raza en highest in summer. From a practical standpoint, this study calidad nutritional de la dieta Las concentraciones de nitrogen0 showed no defmite advantage of any breed studied in diet botani- y f6sforo fecal nostraron una inferior calidad dietetica durante el cal composition or in diet quality. inviemo y superior durante el verano. Desde un punto de vista practice, este estudio no mostro ninguna ventaja defmitiva de algnna de las razas en composition botanica de la dieta o en la Key Words: ruminants, forage, nutrition, grazing management, calidad dietetica. cattle breeding In the Chihuahuan Desert, large amounts of grazing land are required per animal unit due to low forage productivity (1996) has indicated breed selection may be a mechanism to (Holechek 1992, 1996). Under these conditions investment in achieve more uniform utilization of Chihuahuan Desert range fence and watering points to improve grazing distribution must be sites and forage plants. minimized to improve the economic viability of livestock grazing Research on diet selectivity comparisons among breeds of cat- (Holechek 1992). However Chihuahuan Desert ecosystems are tle is limited. In eastern Colorado, Walker et al. (1981) observed very susceptible to damage from spot overgrazing and(or) species no important differences among diets of Hereford, Hereford X selectivity by grazing beef cattle (Paulsen and Ares 1962). Charolais, and Hereford X Angus cattle. However, Herbel and Research by Herbel and Nelson (1966a, 1966b) and Winder et al. Nelson (1966b) observed some important differences between diets selected by Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows in the Chihuahuan Desert. In another Chihuahuan Desert study Winder This research was supported by the New Mexico Agr. Exp. Sta., Las Cruces, et al. (1996) found important breed differences among Hereford, N.M. 88003 and was part of project 1-5-27414. Manuscript accepted 12 Oct. 1997. Angus, and Brangus cattle. Brangus cows had a stronger prefer- 270 JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 51(3),May 1998 ence for shrubs than either Hereford or Angus cows. Brangus Primary grass species on our study pasture include black grama cows also showed a greater preference for dropseeds (Sporobous (Bouteloua eriopoda Tot-r.), dropseeds (Sporobolus sp.), three- sp.) than Hereford or Angus cows. It was concluded that genetic awns (Aristida sp.), bush muhly (Muhlenbergiu porteri Kunth.), composition of the animal is an important factor determining the fluffgrass (Erioneuron pulchellum Tateoka), and tobosa (Hilaria utilization of key forage species on Chihuahuan Desert ranges. mutica Buckley). The most commonly encountered shrub species Today, more than 85 breeds of cattle are known to exist in the is honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa Torr.) which dominates U.S. (Taylor 1994). This represents a tremendous reservoir of the overstory (Pieper and Herbel 1982). Other shrubs commonly germplasm and potential genetic variation. Range forage utiliza- found are snakeweed (Gutierrizea sarothrae Pursh), souptree tion might potentially be improved through selection of cattle yucca (Yucca elata Av.), creosote (Larrea tridentatu [Pursh] breed (Winder et al. 1996). The objectives of our study were to Nutt.), and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens [Push] Nutt.). evaluate diet botanical composition and fecal nitrogen and phos- Leatherweed croton (Crofon poffsii Lam.) is the primary forb phorus concentrations of 3 breeds of cattle (Barzona, Brangus, occurring on the CDRRC and is an important food for livestock Beefmaster) during different seasons and years on Chihuahuan and pronghorn. Data on forage standing crop, relative plant Desert rangeland in southcentral New Mexico. cover, ecological condition, and forage use for the study area were collected in 1991 and 1992 by Smith et al. (1994). We have used data from Smith et al. (1994) on standing crop and relative Materials and Methods cover in Table 2. Ecological condition of the study area is late seral (good) with Study Area about 65% remaining climax vegetation using the quantitative The study area (3,130 ha) used for this experiment is located on climax approach (Dyksterhuis 1949) based on standing crop and the NMSU Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland Research Center cover data (Smith et al. 1994). Utilization of key forage species (CDRRC) 37 km north of Las Cruces, New Mexico in Dona Ana (black grama, mesa dropseed) by cattle during the study period County. It is in the southern portion of the Jomada de1 Muerto (1991, 1992) was 2535% (Smith et al. 1994). Plains between the San Andres Mountains to the east and the Rio Grande Valley to the west. Elevation varies from 1,188 to 1,371 m with level or gently rolling hills. Table 2. Vegetation botanical composition on the study area and mean Soils of the study site are mainly light loamy sandy loams cattle diet botanical composition for data pooled across seasons and underlain by calcium carbonate hardpan (caliche) at depths vary- cattle on good condition Chihuahuan Desert rangeland. ing from a few centimeters to 1 m or more (Valentine 1970). In areas where the ground cover is sparse, sand dunes are formed around invading mesquite plants (Wood 1969). &ding Relative Cattle diet composition3** The climate on the CDRRC is arid with an average frost-free crop’ cove? B-na Brangus Beefmaster period of 200 days. The only permanent water sources are wells O&a) (%) -------- (%) ----_--_ and pipelines used to water livestock. Temperatures are high in Grasses: Black grama summer, with a mean maximum of 36°C during June, and a mean 240 26 13.9 13.8 16.2 Dropseeds 213 21 28.2 28.0 28.1 maximum of 13’C during January (Pieper and Herbel 1982). Thrceawns 175 10 18.3 16.5 17.9 Diurnal variation in temperature is often 20°C. The annual pre- Tobosa t t 3.8 3.9 3.4 cipitation is bimodal with peaks in January and August.
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