VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Leucopoa kingii | Spike Fescue 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Spike fescue is rated good to fair for livestock and elk [6].  In
eastern Idaho and western Wyoming, cattle reportedly use spike fescue
only on slopes which are not steep [23].  In Utah, cattle and sheep
graze spike fescue during the spring but use it only sparingly after
midsummer [26].  Spike fescue may occur on summer or winter big game
ranges [18,23].  In central Idaho, mule deer use of spike fescue is
described as "light but frequent" [24].  Productivity is low, since this
species most often occurs in scattered bunches [26].


PALATABILITY : 
Spike fescue is considered palatable for cattle and sheep during the
spring but becomes less palatable as it matures [26].  The degree of use
shown by livestock and wildlife species for spike fescue in several
western states is as follows [6]:

                      CO       MT       UT       WY

Cattle               Good     Good     Fair     Good
Sheep                Fair     Fair     Fair     Fair
Horses               Good     Good     Good     Good
Pronghorn            ----     ----     Fair     Poor
Elk                  ----     ----     Good     Good
Mule deer            ----     ----     Fair     Poor
White-tailed deer    ----     ----     ----     Poor
Small mammals        ----     ----     Fair     ----
Small nongame birds  ----     ----     Fair     ----
Upland game birds    ----     ----     Fair     ----
Waterfowl            ----     ----     Poor     ----


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Spike fescue is rated good in energy value but poor in protein value
[6].  Nutritional content is as follows [21]:

                                   Spike Fescue

  in %       Aerial Part  Aerial Part  Aerial Part  Aerial Part  Aerial Part
             Fresh        Fresh        Fresh-Early  Fresh-       Over ripe
                          -Immature    Bloom        Mature
Ash             7.4          7.6          7.8          7.5          6.4
Crude Fiber    33.9         29.2         33.6         37.2         39.0
Ether Extract   4.2          4.4          4.3          3.8          5.3
N-free Extract 43.0         40.0         39.8         44.9         45.5
Protein(Nx6.25)11.5         18.8         14.5          6.6          3.8
Dig. Protein
  cattle        7.7         13.9         10.2          3.5          1.1
  goats         7.3         14.1         10.1          2.7          0.1
  horses        7.3         13.5          9.8          3.1          0.8
  sheep         7.7         14.5         10.5          3.1          0.5
Ca              0.44        ----          0.49         0.44         0.25
P               0.30        ----          0.38         0.20         0.07


COVER VALUE : 
Spike fescue provides some cover for smaller birds and mammals.  The
degree to which spike fescue provides environmental protection during
one or more seasons for wildlife species in two western states is as
follows [6]:

                      UT       WY 

Pronghorn            Poor     Poor
Elk                  Poor     Poor
Mule deer            Poor     Poor
White-tailed deer    ----     Poor
Small mammals        Good     Good
Small nongame birds  Fair     Good
Upland game birds    Fair     Fair
Waterfowl            Poor     Poor


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Spike fescue grows well on many harsh, droughty, windswept microsites.
It is reported to have moderate value for erosion control [6].  Spike
fescue is rated as having low to moderate potential for short-term
revegetation and moderate to high potential for long-term revegetation
projects [6].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Leucopoa kingii | Spike Fescue