Response of Shrubs to Simulated Browsing

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Abstract
Little rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) and snowberry (Symphoricarpos vaccinioides) shrubs were clipped for 5 yr to simulate browsing under 7 schedules and 3 intensities of herbage removal. Herbage production was increased over unclipped plants by clipping little rabbitbrush annually in late summer, and snowberry during alternate years on July 15th. Herbage removal [30%] produced an increase in herbage production while more intense defoliation usually caused a decrease. Sprouting increased with all clipping intensities and with most clipping schedules. Sprout vigor, measured as average sprout length of clipped plants, was reduced on little rabbitbrush shrubs but not on snowberry. Seed production was greatly reduced by clipping. Browsing, especially by controlled livestock use, can be a tool to rejuvenate shrubs and to increase their forage production.

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