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Publication Date

1997

Location

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Description

A hydrologic-based forage production model, PHYGROW, was used to simulate forage production and carrying capacity of a subtropical shrubland complex of over 34 species grazed by various ratios of cattle and goats with a population of indigenous white-tailed deer over a 20-yr simulated weather profile. The diet selection algorithm allowed the three animal populations to selectively graze preferred foods based on preferences of plant species, plant parts, and live:dead status by phenological stage. A level of maximum utilization of key species was specified. An incremental analysis of cattle:goat demand ratio was analyzed to determine how different combinations of livestock were impacted by variation in weather. Goats were less sensitive to rainfall variation with a greater frequency of severe reductions in numbers of cattle.

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Application of the Phygrow Forage Production- Runoff Model for Regional Stocking Analysis

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

A hydrologic-based forage production model, PHYGROW, was used to simulate forage production and carrying capacity of a subtropical shrubland complex of over 34 species grazed by various ratios of cattle and goats with a population of indigenous white-tailed deer over a 20-yr simulated weather profile. The diet selection algorithm allowed the three animal populations to selectively graze preferred foods based on preferences of plant species, plant parts, and live:dead status by phenological stage. A level of maximum utilization of key species was specified. An incremental analysis of cattle:goat demand ratio was analyzed to determine how different combinations of livestock were impacted by variation in weather. Goats were less sensitive to rainfall variation with a greater frequency of severe reductions in numbers of cattle.