Cattle landscape selectivity is influenced by ecological and management factors in a heterogeneous mountain rangeland

Abstract

Few studies addressing drivers of cattle selectivity focus on the combination of ecological (biotic and abiotic) and management factors such as rotational systems, paddock sizes and paddock shapes. As a consequence, it is difficult to prioritise management practices integrating information of different driving factors. In a heterogeneous mountain rangeland in Central Argentina we established a total of 419 square study plots of 1 ha located in 18 paddocks with differing sizes, shapes and cattle grazing management. Plots were small samples of landscapes, covering all existing variability in vegetation and physiography. For each plot we estimated the annual cattle use, average seasonal cattle density, forage types and abiotic characteristics. We used general linear models to show that selectivity was mainly driven by biotic variables. Cattle selected landscapes dominated by short palatable plants, but the strength of this influence differed among paddocks. Selectivity was strongest in paddocks with low abundance of lawns dominated by short palatable plants and low annual stocking rate. As stocking rate and the availability of lawns increased, selectivity strength decreased. Abiotic variables had far less influence than biotic variables, showing that cattle tended to avoid rough landscapes with steep terrain in the wet-warm season; and to be attracted by permanent water sources during the dry-cold season. Seasonal stocking density and paddock size had no detectable influence on cattle selectivity and distribution. Paddock shape influenced distribution but not the strength of forage selectivity. We conclude that in our system, cattle selectivity is mainly driven by biotic factors, and the most effective methods of changing the consequent distribution pattern is by manipulating forage types and paddock shape. The role of stocking rate remains controversial as it was correlated with the proportion of lawns in the paddock.