With the use of grazing
BLM, UNR: Research Demonstrates Ways to Control Cheatgrass by Dr. Barry Perryman and Schirete Zick
“Several theories have prevailed through the years regarding cheatgrass,” said Jerry increased from 45 lbs. per acre to 577 lbs. to the acre.” Perryman and Bruce began the research to investigate whether or not previously held Smith, District Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Battle Mountain District. “ You had to graze it in the spring when it was green, once it dried theories regarding cheatgrass were true. Only grazing cheatout, it had no nutritional value to livestock, and cows won’t eat grass when it is green seemed like an impractical solution for large-scale control, according to Perryman. dry cheatgrass.” To date, application of fall “You can’t get enough animals to graze it all, you don’t “Now, an experiment by University of Nevada Scientists, cheatgrass grazing has been know when it is going to be green, making it difficult to plan, Dr. Barry Perryman and Dr. Ben Bruce, dispels these theories,” said Smith. ”Dr. Perryman, who is a member of the BLM’s and you don’t know how many animals to bring to an area beexpanded to three opportunities. Northeastern Resource Advisory Council, demonstrated that fore it is too late,” said Perryman. Two ranches in southeast Oregon… cheatgrass can be significantly reduced with the use of fall graz“The notion that animals don’t eat dry cheatgrass is incorrect,” said Perryman. “Our experiment showed that once ing. I believe it is important to bring the research to the attention A third ranch in northern the seeds fell off the plants, the cheatgrass became palatable.” of the public.” Nevada anticipates initiation Perryman, who is an Associate Professor of rangeland EcolPerryman also ruled out the notion that dry cheatgrass has no nutritional value. ogy and Bruce, who is Associate Profession of rangeland Animal of a spring/fall cheatgrass Nutrition, conducted the experiment between 2006 and 2009 at “The protein content and energy of cheatgrass in the fall grazing program in 2013. the Gund Ranch near Eureka, Nevada, the results showed reducis at least as good, if not better, than perennial grasses. And the tions in the amount of cheatgrass from 500 lbs. of cheatgrass results were consistent through the four-year study,” said Perrybiomass per acre to 90 lbs. of cheatgrass biomass per acre. man. “We analyzed the cheatgrass in the lab. The protein level “In subsequent years, we reduced the cheatgrass to less fluctuated between 3.5 percent and 6 percent, but never went than 90 lbs.,” Perryman said. “With the reduction in wildfire potential, came improvement below the 3.5 percent. Energy levels measured 45 percent and above. “ in perennial grass production. Over the course of the study, production of perennial grasses Perryman and Bruce began their research by shifting the calving cycle to later in the season. They found that using this system would benefit ranchers, the rangeland and other wildlife. “Fall grazing is of great benefit to ranchers, giving them another source of forage that previously was not considered nutritious,” said Bruce. “Also, decreasing cheatgrass increases perennial grass growth. “We made sure that the cows were in the second trimester before putting them on a cheatgrass diet. This time in their production cycle is less nutritiously damaging. We supplemented their diet with Anipro liquid protein just as ranchers do when grazing with local perennial grasses in the fall,” he added. Bruce pointed out that liquid protein supplement not only stimulates the cattle’s appetite, but also keeps them in a specific area where the cheatgrass is located. “Protein stimulates the microbes in the rumen and increases the cattle’s appetite PARADISE VALLEY to consume the cheatgrass,” said Bruce. “When we entered the study, we didn’t know 2,290 acres plus BLM and USFS grazing. what condition the cows were going to be in after 30 to 60 days of a cheatgrass diet. We didn’t want them to lose weight. We found that the cows either maintained their weight 300 plus acres of cropland for winter feed. or gained weight.” Surface and groundwater. River frontage. Perryman and Bruce maintain that fall grazing will help reduce the fire danger and $2,400,000 the spread of cheatgrass. “Fall grazing is more logical because the cows consume it all the way including the litter, thus helping reduce cheatgrass the following years. It’s also easier because you BUTTE VALLEY know where the cheatgrass is and how much of it there is,” said Perryman. “You can decide when you want to graze it, you can measure how much forage there is, which +/-7,200 acres plus summer and winter grazing then allows you to determine how many cows you can put there and for how long. In for 600+ cows and 5,000 sheep. our research, we couldn’t find a downside to fall grazing. The results were all positive.” Many springs, creeks and meadows. “Everything about grazing cheatgrass in the spring is difficult,” added Perryman. “If you graze in the spring, you are also grazing perennials. In the fall, grazing perennials 4 pivots for additional winter feed. is less of an issue because they are dormant. In the spring, you don’t know exactly when $6,500,000 the cheatgrass is going to grow, you don’t know how much of it is going to be available, and you don’t know how long you can be in that specific area from a permit perspective.” Contact: To Jerry Smith, who has dedicated his 34-year career with the BLM to managing natural resources, the research shows great promise in the fight against cheatgrass. “Cheatgrass presents a hazard from two perspectives,” said Smith. “It comes up Tom Gunn earlier than most perennial grasses, stealing resources like water and nutrients needed 775-343-0200 by other grasses, which provide forage for wildlife. Secondly, once cheatgrass dries, it is highly flammable and becomes a fire hazard.”. www.NevadaFarmland.com “According to our records, during the last four years nearly four million acres
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28 February 2013
The Progressive Rancher
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