Influence of Range Condition on Pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and Cattle Diets in Southern New Mexico

Abstract

Clemente F., Holechek, J. L., Valdez, R., Mendoza, G.D. 2009. Influence of range condition on pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) and cattle diets in southern New Mexico. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 36: 13–16.

A study was conducted to evaluate the influence of good (GC) and fair (FC) range condition classes on pronghorn and cattle diets. There was a higher preference for the GC (84%) than for the FC (16%) area (P<0.05). Pronghorn in GC consumed maximum shrubs (51.8%) followed by grasses (29.9%) and forbs (18.3%). In FC the sequence was the same but for the fact that shrubs constituted 83.5%. Whereas, cattle in both conditions consumed mostly grasses (98.5, 93.0%, respectively) and nominal forbs and shrubs. However, in FC the shrubs consumption was also substantial (6.9%). Major grass consumed was Sporobolus flexuosus and forb Croton pottsii by both pronghorn and cattle. On the other hand major shrubs consumed by cattle was Yucca elata. Pronghorn consumed Opuntia opuntia, Atriplex canescens and Prosopis glandulosa in GC and P. glandulosa, Ephedra truficata and O. opuntia in FC. The percentage of overlap between diets was higher in the GC (55.64%) than in the FC class (0.09%).

Keywords:

• Antilocapra americana
• botanical composition
• cattle
• diet overlap
• habitat