Response of Planted South Florida Slash Pine to Simulated Cattle Damage

Abstract

there is a high percentage of relatively low forage-producing grasses, such as curly mesquite, red grama, and others. This type of vegetation forms a relatively dense sod but makes little growth under heavy use or dry range conditions. There was no significant difference in total plant material between the deer-livestock exclosure and the heavy-grazed pastures. There are two major conclusions which might be drawn from this study, one being that an ungrazed or natural area has certain limitations which must be considered before it is used for comparative research studies. Vegetation in these areas does not respond like areas which are grazed to some extent. The specific vegetative association may actually deteriorate after an extended period of deferment. The other conclusion is that the use of a grazing management system in this area, such as the 4-pasture deferred rotation system, will allow the development of a highly productive vegetation complex and the maintenance and improvement of both the livestock and wildlife habitat.