Treating Forb-dominated Subalpine Range With 2,4-D: Effects on Herbage and Cattle Diets

Abstract

Treatment of forb-dominated summer cattle range in the Bighorn Mountains with 2,4-D changed the mean grass to forb ratio of the herbage from 27:73 to 81:19, but had no influence on total herbage production. The grass content of the diet of yearling steers was significantly greater only the first 2 years after herbicide treatment. Steers grazing sprayed units gained an average of 2.5 lb/day; those grazing unsprayed units 2.4 lb/day.