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B. MAJOR USES AND INTERPRETATIONS FOR <br />1. Grazing <br />a. This site provides good fall, winter and spring grazing <br />for sheep. Heavy spring use every year will cause a <br />decline in plant vigor and cause range condition to go <br />down. Fields should be rested from spring grazing a <br />minimum of once every four years to prevent this range <br />condition decline. <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 intended <br />only as an initial guide. Forage needs are <br />calculated on the basis of 500 lbs of air—dry <br />forage per animal unit month (AUM >. To maintain <br />proper use and allow for forage that disappears <br />through trampling, small herbivore use, weathering, <br />etc., 35 percent of the palatable forage produced <br />is considered available for grazing by large <br />herbivores. <br />Condition <br />Class <br />Excellent <br />Good <br />F a i r <br />Poor <br />Percent C l i m a x <br />Vegetation <br />76 -100 <br />51 -75 <br />26 -50 <br />0 -25 <br />Ac /AUM <br />4.1— 5.5 <br />5.5— 8.2 <br />8.2 -16.6 <br />16.6 -20+ <br />page 5 #326 <br />AUM /Ac <br />.24 <br />. 17 <br />. 10 <br />.05 <br />(2) Adjustment to the initial stocking rates should be <br />made as needed to obtain proper use. With <br />specialized grazing systems, large livestock <br />breeds, uncontrolled big game herbivores, <br />inaccessibility, dormant season use, etc., stocking <br />rate adjustments will be required. <br />(3) Depending on climatic condition, in some years <br />palatable annuals such as cheatgrass may produce <br />large amounts of forage that is available for only <br />a short time. Intensive grazing programs on these <br />areas followed by deferment is an excellent <br />management tool to utilize these annuals but still <br />allow recovery of the perennial vegetation normally <br />associated with this site. <br />