Considerable information has been presented on the nutritive value of domestic crops but little is known about the nutritive content of range forage. Such information is fundamental to the management of ranges for effective livestock production.
The shortage of suitable spring range in the Intermountain region has caused increased interest in seeding depleted foothill areas to supply more spring forage. Many native foothill ranges with established stands of perennial grasses sufficient to show rapid response to conservative use may be more economically developed through better management practices. In any event, knowledge of forage production, palatability, and nutritive value of both native foothill species and introduced species is needed.
It is generally believed that mountain ranges furnish adequate nutrients for the normal requirements of livestock throughout the summer except perhaps late in the season.
Desert ranges normally used for winter grazing are composed primarily of grass and browse species in varying quantities. Since these species arc generally dormant during the winter, the nutritive value may be deficient in some essential nutrients
