What is Range Utilization?

Utilization is the amount of the current year’s growth that is removed by grazing livestock. Utilization is in no way similar to range condition. Close utilization may occur on a range in excellent condition or on a range in poor condition. Heavy utilization over a period of years causes regression and so lowers range condition. Utilization is difficult to determine with great accuracy.

Livestock do not utilize all species of range plants to the same degree. They eat more of the better tasting plants. Each grass, forb and shrub can be grazed a certain amount without harmful effects to its productiveness. Proper use of a range area can be placed into three categories.

Categories
Heavy use. The range has a ‘clipped’ or mowed appearance. Over half of the green and yellow forage plants are grazed. This leads eventually to a decrease in forage production and range condition. Heavy use is directly harmful to plants and soil and indirectly to animals. Grasses are grazed short. As a result, the leaf ‘food factories’ are inefficient, roots are decreased in size and length, and plants die during the dry summer season or a severe drought. Heavy use results in unprofitable returns and reduces the value of the land for sale. The land may be ruined for many years by sped—up water and wind erosion and by trampling. Grasses that are grazed short require 3 to 5 weeks of top growth before root growth begins.

Light use. Only choice plants are grazed. Only a small amount of the less desirable forage plants are consumed, thereby wasting much valuable forage. Ungrazed plants and heavy litter build-up may result in serious fire hazard. Also, excessive amounts of unused plant material may contribute to poor utilization of forage by the grazing livestock because usually they will not eat last year’s old stems and leaves.

Moderate use. The most economically important forage plants have been fully grazed on the most popular parts of the management unit. Factors to be considered when determining proper use are: 1) species of grasses being grazed; 2) season of year the grass is grazed; 3) amount of growth made in the present year; and 4) amount of soil moisture in the present year.

See Also: Rangeland Management Principles