B24 

 (leaf 2) 



brush ranges, which furnished forage for domestic livestock, were 

 soon depleted. Such mismanagement favored the gradual invasion 

 and spread of the relatively unpalatable big sagebrush. 3 



Despite low palatability, this shrub is important to western stock- 

 men, due to its wide distribution and abundance over enormous 

 areas of easily accessible range. On the summer ranges or where 

 succulent forage is plentiful big sagebrush is unimportant and even 

 ranks as a pest in many places. Where abundant this species often 

 furnishes considerable feed for sheep and goats on the lower ranges, 

 particularly those used for winter grazing. Generally speaking, 

 cattle browse the plants only lightly and horses seldom eat more 

 than a few flower heads. Frequently during the late fall, winter, 

 and early spring, especially during periods of heavy snowfall, big 

 sagebrush is utilized by sheep, goats, and cattle. Despite its low 

 palatability, chemical analysis indicates that the leaves of big sage- 

 brush equal alfalfa meal in protein, have a higher carbohydrate con- 

 tent, and yield twelvefold more fat. The high fat content quali- 

 fies sagebrush leaves as valuable winter feed, since fat has a high 

 power to produce heat. 4 However, the palatability of the bitter, 

 pungent-tasting leaves is low, due doubtless to the presence of a bitter 

 material and about 3 percent of volatile oil. Notwithstanding that 

 disadvantage, many stockmen find this shrub a valuable forage. On 

 the winter ranges of the Great Basin sheep are frequently confined 

 to big sagebrush areas. At the outset the animals do not readily 

 eat the foliage, but after all other forage is gone they soon acquire 

 an apparent liking for the herbage. Sheep wintered on such areas 

 do well and often remain in excellent condition. In general, the 

 forage value of big sagebrush increases the farther south it grows. 

 Although it rates as poor forage for sheep and practically worth- 

 less for cattle in Oregon and Washington, this species ranks as fair 

 forage for sheep and goats and poor for cattle in southern Nevada 

 and Utah, Colorado, and New Mexico. It withstands moderate, 

 but not severe, usage, grows rapidly and vigorously, and produces 

 an abundance of new stems. 



Dense stands of big sagebrush have been burned on many areas 

 and occasionally grubbed with the object of opening up the brush 

 so that livestock, particularly sheep, can get at the feed and cover 

 the area more successfully, as well as in the hope of improving the 

 grazing capacity by increasing the more palatable vegetation. Han- 

 son 5 found that when the sagebrush is removed by scraping or 

 grubbing the growth of grass becomes denser and taller. Big sage- 

 brush does not form root sprouts readily and accordingly is easily 

 killed by burning. In view of the profound effects on soil and on 

 vegetative and other biological conditions which fire often makes, 

 care must be used in burning sagebrush areas if damage is not to 



Pickford, G. D. THE INFLUENCE OP CONTINUED HEAVY GRAZING AND PROMISCUOUS 



BURNING ON SPRING-FALL RANGES IN UTAH. Ecology 13 : 159-171. 1932. 



4 McCreary, O. WYOMING FORAGE PLANTS AND THEIR CHEMICAL COMPOSITION STUDIES 

 NO. 8. Wyo. Agr. Expt. Sta. Bull. 157: [91]-106. 1927. 



B Hanson, H. C. IMPROVEMENT OF SAGEBRUSH RANGE IN COLORADO. Colo. Agr. Expt. 

 Sta. Bull. 356, 12 pp., illus. 1929. 



