source: Farm and Food Report
Saskatchewan’s forested rangeland and forest support a large amount of cattle grazing.
However, forest grazing and logging are not the most compatible activities, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Forage Development Specialist Todd Jorgenson.
“Around 20 to 25 per cent of our cattle herd is currently grazing in forested areas to some degree,” Jorgenson says. “This can be solid aspen forest or parkland that includes open prairie clearings. There is increased demand for poplar at the moment because of the pulp and paper industry and the resource needs of oriented strand board mills.”
This demand has resulted in companies harvesting poplar on forested rangelands in the provincial forest and on agriculture Crown leases.
“Livestock grazing can change a forested area’s plant composition and the quality of plant life. It can also have an effect on soil properties, water shed functioning and many wildlife species that depend on these areas.”
Healthy forested rangeland is essential to soil and water conservation, nutrient cycling, air quality and other ecosystem functions that directly or indirectly benefit everyone.
Jorgenson explains that uncontrolled cattle grazing on logged sites has raised questions about the effect of this combination of activities on aspen regeneration.
How the logged rangeland is managed and used for domestic livestock has a direct impact on other land uses.
“When you have clear-cut over a large forest grazing situation, the cattle tend to congregate over the cutover block. Keep in mind that young aspen suckers are a preferred food source for grazing livestock. Obviously, this raises a concern about the effect on tree regeneration.”
There are a number of methods for estimating range condition in forested communities.
They all look at one or more of the following site conditions: understory composition; understory structure (height and density of grass, forb and shrub layers); overall productivity of palatable species; aspen regeneration itself; and litter levels on the forest floor.
According to Jorgenson, studies in Alberta and British Columbia have shown that cattle do have a negative impact on aspen regeneration, while other studies have found that grazing can be beneficial to regeneration because it removes competition between aspen plants.
“The bottom line is that research so far has been inconclusive.”
What is certain is that overgrazing has the potential to reduce or eliminate the palatable understory species from the shrub, grass and forb layers. And continued overgrazing can result in the establishment of invader species, exposure of soil, soil compaction and reduced water infiltration.
“Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, in cooperation with Saskatchewan Environment and theSaskatchewan
The basic principles for management of forested rangeland are the same as those for native grassland. Planning and setting practical goals will provide a starting point for appropriate management practices.
For more information, contact:
Todd Jorgenson
Forage Development Specialist, Forest Grazing/Ecology
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 786-5859
Saskatchewan’s forested rangeland and forest support a large amount of cattle grazing.
However, forest grazing and logging are not the most compatible activities, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Forage Development Specialist Todd Jorgenson.
“Around 20 to 25 per cent of our cattle herd is currently grazing in forested areas to some degree,” Jorgenson says. “This can be solid aspen forest or parkland that includes open prairie clearings. There is increased demand for poplar at the moment because of the pulp and paper industry and the resource needs of oriented strand board mills.”
This demand has resulted in companies harvesting poplar on forested rangelands in the provincial forest and on agriculture Crown leases.
“Livestock grazing can change a forested area’s plant composition and the quality of plant life. It can also have an effect on soil properties, water shed functioning and many wildlife species that depend on these areas.”
Healthy forested rangeland is essential to soil and water conservation, nutrient cycling, air quality and other ecosystem functions that directly or indirectly benefit everyone.
Jorgenson explains that uncontrolled cattle grazing on logged sites has raised questions about the effect of this combination of activities on aspen regeneration.
How the logged rangeland is managed and used for domestic livestock has a direct impact on other land uses.
“When you have clear-cut over a large forest grazing situation, the cattle tend to congregate over the cutover block. Keep in mind that young aspen suckers are a preferred food source for grazing livestock. Obviously, this raises a concern about the effect on tree regeneration.”
There are a number of methods for estimating range condition in forested communities.
They all look at one or more of the following site conditions: understory composition; understory structure (height and density of grass, forb and shrub layers); overall productivity of palatable species; aspen regeneration itself; and litter levels on the forest floor.
According to Jorgenson, studies in Alberta and British Columbia have shown that cattle do have a negative impact on aspen regeneration, while other studies have found that grazing can be beneficial to regeneration because it removes competition between aspen plants.
“The bottom line is that research so far has been inconclusive.”
What is certain is that overgrazing has the potential to reduce or eliminate the palatable understory species from the shrub, grass and forb layers. And continued overgrazing can result in the establishment of invader species, exposure of soil, soil compaction and reduced water infiltration.
“Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, in cooperation with Saskatchewan Environment and the
The basic principles for management of forested rangeland are the same as those for native grassland. Planning and setting practical goals will provide a starting point for appropriate management practices.
For more information, contact:
Todd Jorgenson
Forage Development Specialist, Forest Grazing/Ecology
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 786-5859
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