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The Benefits Of Weaning Cattle In The Kimberley, David Pratchett, Stuart Young

Animal production and livestock research reports

The Kimberley region was populated with Shorthorn cattle from Queensland and New Sonth Wales in the 1880's. The descendants of these cattle known as Kimberley Shorthorn are still the predominant breed in the region. The relatively poor performance of these cattle under the harsh Kimberley conditions and the fact that changing the genotype can improve productivity was recently published (Pratchett D. WADA Journal No. 4 1988)

While the adoption of Bos indicus breeds is the correct move, improved husbandry can also increase the productivity of the Kimberley Shorthorn cow. The majority of cattle in the Kimberley are not weaned. Sometimes …

Root Exploitation Of Fertile Soil Microsites, Robert B. Jackson

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Root exploitation of enriched soil microsites was examined for the tussock grasses Agropyron desertorum and Agropyron spicatum and the shrub Artemisia tridentata. Two mechanisms of exploitation of the microsites were examined: root proliferation and changes in nutrient uptake capacity. One day after nutrient solution was applied to small soil patches, the mean relative growth rate of Agropyron desertorum roots in enriched patches was two to four times greater than for roots of the same plants in soil patches treated with distilled water. This rapid and striking root proliferation occurred in response to N-P-K enrichment as well as to P or …

Using Computer Imaging To Assess Visual Impacts Of Forest Insect And Disease Pests, Daniel Rabin

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Forest insect and disease pests alter the appearance of trees, thereby impacting visual resources. Because of the complexity of most forest landscapes, the degree of visual impact of pest-infested forest stands is difficult to quantify.

This paper describes a method of measuring visual impacts of pest-infested forest stands. Photographs of healthy Ponderosa pine trees were entered into a computer video-image-processing system. Using this system, images of trees were altered to simulate different degrees of infestation by limb rust, a forest pathogen.

The altered and unaltered images were shown to groups of observers who rated the scenes in terms of "scenic …

Management, Foraging Behavior, Diet Composition And Forage Quality Of Free-Ranging But Herded Camels In Ceeldheer District, Central Somalia, Ahmed A. Elmi

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

In Somalia, camel (Camelus dromedarius) survivability and milk production has been higher than for other domestic livestock and contributes substantially to the subsistence of Somali pastoralists. The objective of this research was to study management, foraging behavior and nutrition of camels in their natural habitat to determine how production continues under seasonal nutritional stress.

Management systems of Ceeldheer pastoralists are based on available natural pasture and water. The natural rotation grazing system maintained an ecological equilibrium in the District.

Pastoralists manipulate their herds to suit existing environmental conditions, family needs and labor availability for herding. In herd management, …

Water Current, Volume 21, April 1989

Water Current Newsletter

US Water Institutes/Centers Celebrate 25th Anniversary
United Kingdom Geophysicist Now Head of UNL Geololgy Department
Future Depends on Water Quality and Quantity
NItrate Area Map "May Be Out in June"
Large Savings with Nitrogen Best Management Practices
Sandhills Voices Heard at Conference
Papio-Missouri River NRD Receives Progress Award
Pioneer Irrigation Award Goes to Former NPPD Administrator
Research Hydrologist is Kremer Lecturer
Public-Private Sectors Join in National Celebration
Nebraska Unicameral Considers Water Legislation Bills in First Unicameral Session

Habitat Use And Diet Analysis Of Breeding Common Barn Owls In Western Nebraska, Joseph A. Gubanyi M.S.

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

I studied barn owl (Tyto alba) breeding biology in western Nebraska 1984-1986. I had greatest success capturing males (56% success) at night using trap doors at nest sites and females (91 % success) using hoop nets at nest sites during the day. Barn owls removed 16 of 23 tail-mounted radios. Eight birds were radio-tracked for 7-14.5 hours. The mean foraging range was 198 ha (32- 299 ha, n = 8) with < 1 % overlap among birds from adjacent nest sites. Field-tested telemetry error was high (mean displacements of radio-locations for 2 birds were 208 and 241 m). I found no relationship between percent cover in foraging habitat and reproductive success. I identified 10,140 prey items from 15 nest sites and found both annual and seasonal variation in barn owl diets. Microtus ochrogaster occurred most frequently (32.7%) and increased in the diet from 17.6 to 27.2 to 43.5% 1984-1986. M. ochrogaster and Perognathus hispidus annual frequencies were …

The State Of Tampa Bay- 1988, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (Tbrpc), Agency On Bay Management

Reports

Council's Agency on Bay Management has continued to lead and support major Bay related activities through legislation, development review, intergovernmental coordination, impact assessment and public education in 1988. Management and research efforts expand for the Bay as awareness grows of its significance. The State of the Bay - 1988 document represents the compilation of regional activities and these expanding effort to promote the Tampa Bay estuary.

Relocation Of City Raccoons, Richard C. Rosatte, Charles D. Macinnes

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Twenty-four city raccoons were radio-collared and relocated 25-45 km north of the original capture site in Toronto, Ontario. Following release, extensive exploratory movements were noted with distances of 2-7 km being traversed per night. Home ranges for adult males (avg = 39 km²) and females ( avg = 72 km²) far exceeded juvenile ranges and areas utilized by raccoons in an urban setting. None of the raccoons returned to the original point of capture and mortality of the relocated raccoons approached 50% during the first 3 months following release

The Probe, Issue 91 - March 1989

The Probe: Newsletter of the National Animal Damage Control Association

THE PROBE
National Animal Damage Control Association
MARCH 1989
NADCA Personnel
APHIS Activity Report
Farm Cats’ Feeding Habits
AIDS in Monkeys
Animal Rights Movement
Personnel

Red Swamp Crayfish Ecology In Lake Mead, Suzanne E. Leavitt, Jennifer Stephens Haley, Mikell Hager, Donald H. Baepler, Nevada Department Of Wildlife

Publications (WR)

Red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) were trapped in Flamingo Wash, an urban wash of Las Vegas, during four periods of 1988. Life history and reproductive success were determined. The trapped crayfish were marked and released into a study cove in Lake Mead as part of an experimental stocking program. Retrap data from the study cove were used to determine life history, habitat preferences, and movement patterns of the stocked crayfish. In addition, a literature search was done on red swamp crayfish ecology, including food preferences, life history, habitat preferences and fish predation.

The Prairie Naturalist Volume 21, No.1 March 1989

The Prairie Naturalist

WINTER RAPTOR USE OF THE PLATTE AND NORTH PLATTE RIVER VALLEYS IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA ▪ G. R. Lingle

CHARACTERISTICS OF RUFFED GROUSE DRUMMING SITES IN THE TURTLE MOUNTAINS, NORTH DAKOTA ▪ J. W. Schulz, E. L. Bakke, and J. F. Gulke

USE OF A TRIBUTARY BY FISHES IN A GREAT PLAINS RIVER SYSTEM ▪ J. B. Smith and W. A. Hubert

PLANT AND ANIMAL COMMUNITY RESPONSES TO RESTORED IOW A WETLANDS ▪ T. G. LaGrange and J. J. Dinsmore

COLEOPTERA SPECIES INHABITING PRAIRIE WETLANDS OF THE COTTONWOOD LAKE AREA, STUTSMAN COUNTY, NORTH DAKOTA ▪ B. A. Hanson and G. …

Characteristics Of Deer Damage To Experimental Orchards In Ohio, Kerry J. Mower, Thomas W. Townsend, William J. Tyznik

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

We measured several variables of newly established apple trees (1) to compare growth differences between trees damaged by browsing deer and trees protected from deer, (2) to determine if seasonal browsing patterns existed, and (3) to determine if deer browsed selectively among Ohio's 3 most commonly planted apple cultivars. All testing was die at the 0.05 alpha level. Experimental trees were measured repeatedly from June 1986 the May 1988.

Animal Damage Control: The Challenge Of The 90'S, Jack H. Benymanz

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The talk identifies the challenges of the 90's as: to fully professionalize the policies and practice of animal damage control; to provide a responsible and acceptable level of control; to gain executive and legislative support; and to improve public acceptance. It points up a number of obstacles and identifies several steps necessary to meet the challenges.

Aphis Animal Damage Control Livestock Guarding Dog Program, Jeffrey S. Green

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

One hundred traditional breed livestock guarding dog pups were placed with sheep producers in Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington during 1987-88 as part of the APHIS Animal Damage Control program. Producers reared the dogs and integrated them into their operations. Ninety-three dogs were rated as follows: 68% good, 17% fair, and 15$ poor. Success was breed-related. Sixty-one percent of the dogs were used on pasture operations and 39% on range operations. Nineteen percent of the dogs died prior to reaching 18 months-of-age.

Habitat Manipulations To Prevent Elk Damage To Private Rangelands, William M. Long

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Habitat manipulations were initiated on the Wick Brothers big Game Winter range in southern Wyoming to alter traditional movement patterns of Rocky Mountain Elk (Cervus elaphus nelsonii) . Manipulations included spraying with 2-4-D and follow-up fertilization of the same plot in successive years with ammonium nitrate at the rate of 40 lbs. (18 kg.) free nitrogen per acre. Burning hay meadows and upland sagebrush sites and salting were used in combination with the other treatments. Elk distribution shifted to the treated plots in response to the increased quality and quantity of the grass production on these areas. Spring …

Coyote Control In Alberta, John B. Boumez

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

A historical review of coyote damage to livestock, early control measures and the development of Alberta's coyote damage control program is provided, including provincial and federal legislation, provincial policy, research and field testing initiatives, extension and control methodology.

Use Of Monofilament Line, Reflective Tape, Beach-Balls, And Pyrotechnics For Controlling Grackle Damage To Citrus, Alan R. Tipton, John H. Rappole, Arlo H. Kane, Rafael H. Flores, Dave Johnson, John Hobbs, Paul Schulz, Sam Beasom, Joe Palacios

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The effectiveness of monofilament line, reflective tape, beach-balls and pyrotechnics (propane cannons and shotgun scare shells) in reducing damage to citrus by great-tailed grackles was tested in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas. Results indicate that these treatments can produce reduction in damage. Whether the treatments are economically advisable for a grower depends on the history of grackle damage to the grove and grove size. Only large amounts of damage in large groves justify costs associated with implementation of these methods.

Fall Food Habits Of Double-Crested Cormorants In Arkansas, Albert E. Bivings, Michael D. Hoy, Jeffrey W. Jones

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

One hundred forty-eight double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were collected in October-December 1988. Some were collected while actively feeding, but most were collected at loafing or roosting areas. Of the 135 with fish in them, 79% contained gizzard shad (Dorosoma cepedianum) and 16% contained centrarchids (mostly Lepomus sp.). The rest contained a variety of aquaculture (commercially raised) fish. Fish prey weights were estimated from total length of prey items and use of published length-weight tables. Total weights of prey ranged from 39 to 4558 with a mean of 185g. This was felt to be a conservative estimate …

Field Trials Of Alpha-Chloralose And Drc-1339 For Reducing Numbers Of Herring Gulls, Paul P. Woronecki, Richard A. Dolbeer, Thomas W. Seamans

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

We compared the potential of Alpha-chloralose (A-C) and DRC-1339 to reduce a nesting population of herring gulls at an industrial site in Ohio in 1988. Almost all treated baits were consumed by gulls but only about one affected gull was noted for every 10 baits consumed of either chemical. A test indicated our DRC-1339 baits. containing 3.7 - 7.4 times the published LD value, were not lethal to most captive herring gulls living in fresh water. LD values of A-C and DRC-1339 need to be more precisely estimated for gull species in fresh and salt water environments.

Use Of Drc-1339 And Pa-14 To Control Grackle Populations In The Lower Rio Grande Valley, Alan R. Tipton, John H. Rappole, Arlo H. Kane, Rafael H. Flores, John Hobbs, Dave Johnson, Sam Beasom

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

In an attempt to reduce valley wide populations of grackles in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas, PA-14 was sprayed over a staging area where as many as 10,000 birds were located. This attempt was unsuccessful and this method of population reduction was deemed not suitable for south Texas. Dog food bait was treated with DRC-1339 and presented to great-tailed grackles in several different situations in an attempt to control depredations to citrus by this bird. Bait presented in feedlots during winter (Nov-Feb) was readily taken by the birds, resulting in a significant reduction of numbers of birds visiting …

The Current Program And Future Of Adc In The Usda, Bobby R. Acord

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The ADC program was transferred to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in December 1985. The ADC mission continues to be the protection of American agriculture and other resources from wildlife damage. Changes have been implemented to enhance the program, and efforts are continuing toward additional improvements.

The Use Of Dma To Reduce Robin Depredation On Cherries, Leonard R. Askham, John K. Fellman

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The use of a biorational pesticide, Dimethyl Anthrantlate (DMA), was investigated for possible use as a robin repellant in an Eastern Washington Research orchard. Applied in low concentrations (2, 4, and 8% with surfactant), robin depredation was reduced an average of 75%. A double-blind taste test showed no consumer aversion for fresh fruit sprayed with DMA two weeks before harvest.

Kansas Attitudes On Prairie Dog Control, Charles D. Lees, F. Robert Henderson

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

In Kansas prairie dog management is primarily determined by private individuals and local government agencies. We conducted a mail survey of 350 affected landowners as a means to evaluate the effectiveness of current prairie dog control. The same survey was also sent to 350 randomly selected state residents within the general prairie dog range. We evaluated people's perceptions of prairie dogs, the effectiveness of control methods, costs of control, and reasons for poor response to control techniques. Results indicate people that have previously been involved in prairie dog control on lands they manage have different opinions about prairie dogs than …

Black-Footed Ferret Recovery, Dean E. Biggins, Ronald A. Crew

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

The captive population of black-footed ferrets increased from 24 to 58 animals in 1988, and was split to provide the species added protection against extinction. Experimental reintroductions may begin in 1991. In some areas, "experimental population" designations as authorized under Section 10 (j) of the Endangered Species Act may be used to provide wider management latitude. The Black-footed Ferret Interstate Coordinating Committee oversees much of the work related to reintroduction. Expanded effort to locate wild ferrets now includes a $10,000 reward offer. Research focuses on captive breeding, reintroduction techniques, disease, and habitat. A new Recovery Plan was approved in 1988.

Experimental Applications Of High-Tensile Wire And Other Fencing To Control Big Game Damage In Northwest Colorado, A. Eugene Byrne

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Conventional fencing methods V-mesh wire, square mesh wire and wood panels are compared to experimental methods - 15 wire hightensile wire fences; electric high-tensile wire fences of three designs; baited electric fences; hog panel fences; plastic mesh fences and visqueen wrapped haystacks. Total cost of materials, cost per ft./yr. and comments concerning estimates of efficacy are discussed. The V-mesh wire, hog panel and plastic mesh fences all have a very high cost per ft. and cost per ft./yr. rating and should probably not be used. High-tensile and square mesh wire fences are effective and cheaper alternatives. Modern high-tensile wire electric …

Trophy Game Animal Damage In Wyoming, Ron Iversons

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Wyoming is perhaps one of the most liberal and unique states of the fifty states on compensation for game and trophy game animal damage. Trophy game animals as defined by statute in Wyoming includes the Cougar (Mt. Lion), Black Bear, and the Grizzly Bear. According to statute Wyoming is responsible for damages incurred by these species to livestock, land, crops, improvements, and extraordinary grasses. Since the statutes were enacted Wyoming has been faced with a variety of complaints and damage claims caused by these species. Damage complaints received by the Department have covered a broad spectrum, ranging from the stockman …

The Landowner's View And Recommendations On Wildlife Damage, Michael G. Leroux

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Conflict between landowners and state and federal agencies is prevalent in today's society. This report attempts to provide understanding of the landowners views on wildlife damage and offer some solutions to be considered.

Estimating Domestic Sheep Losses To Mountain Lions, Frederick G. Lindzey, Connie Wilbur

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Large, native-range pastures were searched for dead domestic sheep in the Southern Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. The proportion of dead sheep that had been killed by mountain lions was 23%. Search methods, however, resulted in unequal probabilities of finding sheep that were killed by mountain lions and sheep that died of other causes.

Status Of Strychnine, Compound 1080, And Registered Alternatives, Steve D. Palmateer

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

This paper reveals the current regulatory status of 1080 and strychnine relevant to data call-in actions, administrative hearings, and litigation outside of FIFRA. All strychnine prairie dog claims are cancelled as well as all label claims requiring a tolerance. The 1080 technical is cancelled and all rodenticide uses have been issued a notice of intent to deny.

Effects Of Grackle Damage Control Techniques In Citrus On Nesting Success Of Non-Target Species, John H. Rappole, Wan R. Tipton, Arlo H. Kane, Rafael H. Flores

Great Plains Wildlife Damage Control Workshop Proceedings

Several techniques were tested to reduce the damage caused by great-tailed grackles to citrus in the lower Rio Grande Valley of southern Texas: monofilament line, eyespot balloons, pyrotechnics, and grackle nest removal. Ten species were found nesting in the treated groves, but only the mourning dove, white-winged dove, and great-tailed grackle in significant numbers. Nesting success was not reduced significantly by any treatment but observations indicate that cannon treatments are likely to have a negative impact on overall nesting success for several species.