Montana farmer-stockman. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1947-1993, 1956-02-01
Managing Ranch or Farm
Grazing Rates Depend on Type
And Condition Of Rangeland
By MONT H. SAUNDERSON

Under this condition this rangeland
type is likely to have an average graz
ing capacity of about three and one half
acres per animal unit month. Where the
shrubs are the good ones, such as the
better of the atroplexes and the winter
fat, the capacity for sheep may be suf-
ficiently good that one can use a to 1
ratio in the animal-unit-month calcula-
ton.
Foothills
Next in acreage and in economic inn
portance in Montana's rangelands is the
foothill grassland range type. The ma
tive forage of this rangeland type is
the bunchgrasseS, largely. Principal
among these are the bluebunch wheat
grass, the slender wheatgrass, the rye
grasses and several of the fescue gras-
ses. Weed and browse feed may also
be of considerable Importance in the
capacity and use of this rangeland type.
The average grazing capacity of this
rangeland type is about two acres per
animal unit month, or "a acres for year
long use, where such use is possible.
In the better soil and moisture locations
of this rangeland type it's capacity may
be IL or even IA acres per animal unit
month. In the dryer areas of this type in
western Montana, such as some of the
lower foothill country in Beaverhead
County, the grazing capacity may be as
low as 312 acres per animal unit month.
In northwestern Montana, on and near
the Blackfeet Indian reservation, we
see an interesting variation of this
rangeland type has, for combination
of climatic and soil influences, devel-
oped as nearly pure type of one fes-
cue grass (Festuca Scabrella) on a ra-
Their limited soil resource. This is a pro-
ductive grassland, considering the ra-
Their poorly-developed glacial-till soils.
The average capacity of this grassland
is about 212 acres per animal unit
month.
Meadow RangeIand
Besides these two main types of Mon
tana rangelands-the prairie grasslands
and the foothill bunchgrass lands there
are some other range types for which
general capacity standards can be Civ
en-, though perhaps with less certainty.
One such is the natural meadow range
land type that occurs throughout
Montana along the stream bottoms and
on the flood plains of larger streams.
Such lands get more in natural water
runoff and sometimes get some effects
from ''subbing'' from the ground water
table. For these lands the combination
of the alluvial soils and the more favor
able moisture conditions favors the
growth of the deep-rooted wheatgrasses,
fescue grasses and wet-land sedges. The
grazing capacity of such lands will gen.
orally be one acre or less per animal
unit month, and may be as good as "a
acre per a.u.m.
In summary, it is emphasized that
the grazing capacity standards given
are based upon the averages over &
period of years. They apply to range
lands that are in at least reasonably
: good condition for their natural range
plant association and soil development
and stability. If the range plants anC
: soils have been considerable changed
through misuse or severe and prolonged
. drouth, the capacity standards and 9th
er use features needed for restoration
: of such rangelands must be determined
by battle-ground study, for the par