Cool-season grasses make their active growth in winter, early 
spring, or late fall. In extremely cold climates, they are forced 
into dormancy. In the more temperate climates and with adequate 
moisture, they grow during the cool season and become dormant 
during summer. The minimum daily temperature for active 
growth is 40° to 45° F. 
Warm-season grasses make their active growth during sum- 
mer. Growth usually starts when the minimum daily tempera- 
ture is 60° to 65° F. They are dormant' during fall, winter, and 
early spring. 
All grasses are more robust and hardy when they grow close to 
the center of their climatic zone of adaptation. Grasses that grow 
on the outer edge are always more sensitive to use and climatic 
changes. 
Animals are selective grazers when they have a choice. They 
prefer some plants to others during certain seasons. In addition, 
some parts of plants are preferred to others. For example, ani- 
mals generally prefer the grass leaves to the seedstalks. Yet when 
grass seed ripen, cattle and deer select the seed on some plants 
rather than the leaves and stems. 
Since animals prefer different parts of the grass plant, the 
growing points and the height they reach as the plant grows are 
significant in grass management. On many grasses, the growing 
points remain near the ground surface; on others, they are within 
reach of grazing animals (Branson, 1953 and Rechenthin, 1956). 
Growth of the stem stops if the growing points are removed. Any 
new growth must come from axillary buds at basal nodes. 
The grasses most preferred by animals during any particular 
season are grazed closest. If they are grazed closely year after 
year during their growing period, the grasses become weakened 
and may die. 
Because each range or grazable woodland has different soil, 
water, plant, and animal resources, proper grazing use and man- 
agement may be different for each. 
Proper grazing means controlling grazing so that enough of 
the current year’s growth by weight of the key management spe- 
cies is left to maintain them. This practice favors good root 
growth, vigorous plants, and maximum forage production. 
Deferred grazing means postponing grazing for a period during 
any growing season. Its primary purpose is to allow the more de- 
sirable species of grasses to regain vigor and produce a seed crop. 
Deferred grazing from the beginning of the growing season 
through seed maturity gives maximum results. A full growing 
season deferment is especially needed, during the first growing 
season following brush-control measures, severe droughts, or 
overgrazing. 
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