Herded vs. Unherded Sheep Grazing Systems on an Alpine Range in Wyoming

摘要

The influence of sheep grazing on plant composition, canopy coverage, and forage utilization, was studied on an alpine range in northwestern Wyoming grazed by an unherded band of sheep and on an adjacent range where the sheep were grazed under the usual herded system. Under both systems total canopy coverage did not change appreciably over the 10 years of study. Alpine mat clovers, graminoids, and grasses were the preferred forages. The major response to protection from grazing was a decline in the coverage of alpine mat clovers, accompanied by an increase in the coverage of other forbs, especially non-cushion plant forbs. Lamb weight gains were similar under both grazing systems.