| Thomas A. Jones, Philip J. Urness and Dale C. Nielson |
| Authors are USDA-Agricutural Research Service, Forage and Range Research Laboratory, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-6300. Dep of Rangeland resourcesm Utah State University and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Project W-105-R, Logan, UT., 84322-5230. |
Abstract |
| We measured the grazing preference of 3 castrated male Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) for 2 crested (Agropyron desertorum [Fischer ex Link] Schultes), 5 thickspike (Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus [Scribner & J.G. Smith] Gould), 3 Snake River (proposed name E. lanceolatus ssp. wawawaiensis), and 2 bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh] A. LÜve) entries. Number of bites and visits were highly correlated in early May (r2=0.77) and late May (r2=0.83). 'Critana' and 'Elbee' thickspike and 'Hycrest' and 'Nordan' crested wheatgrasses can be recommended for seedings for elk spring grazing where these grasses are adapted. |
| Key Words: palatability, bluebunch wheatgrass, crested wheatgrass, thickspike wheatgrass, northern wheatgrass, Snake River wheatgrass. |