For bluebunch wheat grass and other bunchgrasses, it is best that at least half of the total season's growth be left to ensure adequate storage of nutrients for the future. Grassland ranges in the Thompson-Okanagan are ready for grazing when the bluebunch wheat grass is about seven inches high. By the time bluebunch wheat grass is at this height, Rough Fescue is at the same height. Some top growth should be left at the end of the grazing period to ensure that the plant can continue to manufacture food for storage while moisture is still available in the soil. The continued grazing of bunchgrass too early in the season and grazing grass too closely during the growing season will result in the weakening of the plants and the eventual elimination of the bunchgrass species altogether.
Grassland ranges in the Southern Interior of British Columbia.
Canada Department of Agriculture Publication 1319. This can cause a weakening of the plant and lead to its elimination from a range, especially when drought, hard winters or insect damage follow the seasons of overgrazing. However, if the rancher is able to graze his cattle lightly during the growing season by not overstocking the range or to move his cattle from range to range, bunchgrass can continue to be the dominant species in the range. Another deleterious effect of cattle grazing on bunch grasses is the breaking down of the lichens that grow between the grass bunches by the hooves of the cattle, thereby causing a more rapid evaporation of moisture from the surrounding soil. The amount of snowfall in an area indicates a better moisture regime and therefore encourages the growth of bunchgrasses.