Effect of Burning or Clipping Agropyron spicatum in the Autumn on the Spring Foraging Behaviour of Mule Deer and Cattle

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Abstract
Dead stems and leaves of A. spicatum affect the grazing behavior of deer and cattle by imposing a barrier to new growth. To determine the effects of autumn clipping or burning on the foraging behavior of deer and cattle [in British Columbia, Canada], trials were set up in 2 communities and observations made at different intensities of spring grazing. Deer and cattle preferred the burned treatment to the clipped treatment, and both were preferred to the control. Deer maintained these relative preferences at all levels of utilization, but for cattle the treatment effect was less important and was considerably reduced by the 2nd yr. Deer avoided switching to the control by closely utilizing plants from treated areas. The weight of each bite of forage from the burned and clipped treatments decreased relative to the control at higher levels of utilization.