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page 5 #42 <br />B. <br />MAJOR USES AND INTERPRETATIONS FOR: <br />1. Livestock Grazing <br />a. This site provides excellent forage for cattle and <br />horses throughout the year. It provides good forage <br />for sheep, pronghorn, and deer. <br />The animal forage preference changes as the growing <br />season progresses. Western wheatgrass, and green <br />needlegrass are very palatable during the spring and <br />early summer. Dluegrama and alkali sacaton are most <br />palatable during the summer. Fourwing saltbush and <br />winterfat provide valuable forage-on this site in the <br />winter. Good management on this site necessitates that <br />proper grazing use and planned deferment be followed so <br />that these plants are not grazed out and so that blue <br />grama and buffalo grass do not regress to a low <br />producing sod-bound condition. <br />b. Guide to Initial Stocking Rates <br />(1) Stocking rates given below are based on continuous <br />use for the entire growing season, and are <br />intended only as an initial guide. Forage needs <br />are calculated on the basis of 900 lbs of <br />air-dry forage per animal unit month (AUM). To <br />maintain proper use and allow for forage that <br />disappears through trampling, small herbivore <br />use, weathering, etc., 35 percent of the <br />palatable forage,produced is considered available <br />for grazing by large herbivores. <br />Condition Percent climax <br />Class vegetation AUMIAq. AC AUM <br />Excellent 76-100 .28-.36 2.8- 3.6 <br />Good 51-75 .19-.27 3.7- 5.5 <br />Fair 26-50 .10-.18 5.6-10.0 <br />Poor 0-25 0-.09 11.0- + <br />(2) Adjustments to the initial stocking rates should <br />be made as needed to obtain proper use. With <br />specialized grazing systems, large livestock <br />breeds, uncontrolled ungulates, inacassability, <br />dormant season use, presence of introduced forage <br />species, seeded rangeland etc., stocking rate <br />adjustments will be required.