VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Cheatgrass provides valuable spring forage for all classes of livestock.
It is the major spring forage on lambing range in much of the
Intermountain West.  Cheatgrass is an annual species and its production
varies greatly depending on moisture conditions.  It can provide good
spring grazing, but its value during other seasons is limited when
compared with perennial species.  It can be grazed all year, but the
proportion of nutrients to fiber is reduced when the herbage dries
[14,18].  The seed can provide food for upland game birds, such as the
chukar [26].


PALATABILITY : 
The relish and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for
cheatgrass in several western states is rated as follows [6].

                      CO        MT       ND        UT        WY
Cattle               fair      fair     fair      good      fair         
Sheep                fair      fair     fair      fair      fair
Horses               fair      fair     fair      good      fair
Pronghorn            ----      good     poor      ----      ----
Elk                  fair      poor     ----      good      ----
Mule deer            poor      poor     poor      good      ----
Small mammals        good      poor     ----      good      ----
Small nongame birds  ----      poor     poor      good      ----
Upland game birds    good      poor     poor      good      ----
Waterfowl            ----      ----     ----      fair      ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Cheatgrass can provide good nutrition for livestock in the spring, but
as it matures its nutritive value drops rapidly.  The diet of cattle
grazing on cheatgrass range should be supplemented by a source of
energy, crude protein, and possibly some minerals (especially phosphorus
or zinc) from mid-June to mid-August or longer if animals are to continue
making good gains [18].


COVER VALUE : 
Wildlife cover value in several western states is reported as follows
[6]:

                         UT         CO         MT
Elk                     poor       ----       ----
Mule deer               poor       ----       ----
Pronghorn               poor       ----       ----
Upland game birds       fair       ----       poor
Waterfowl               fair       ----       good
Small nongame birds     good       ----       poor
Small mammals           good       good       poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Cheatgrass has been used with some success to eliminate more noxious
plants such as halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus).  Halogeton begins its
lifecycle in the late spring when cheatgrass is drying. By this time,
most of the available soil moisture has been depleted by the maturing
cheatgrass.  This reduction in moisture and the shade provided by a
dense stand of cheatgrass prevent halogeton from establishing [5].

Cheatgrass has fibrous roots and produces relatively large amounts of
litter.  This makes a fairly efficient soil binder.  If erosion is a
concern on grazing range, no more than 50 percent of the available
forage should be utilized [23].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Cheatgrass production is highly variable.  Because of its year to year
fluctuations, recommending an optimal stocking rate is impractical.  In
good years cheatgrass range can be utilized to reduce pressure on
perennial ranges.  In poor production years, noncheatgrass range should
be made available for grazing [18].

In burned sagebrush communities, prompt rehabilitation before cheatgrass
can dominate is important.  Along with grass seeding or other
improvement measures, livestock use must be closely controlled until
perennial plants are well established [27].

Related categories for Species: Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass