VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Artemisia spinescens | Budsage 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Budsage is generally considered a desirable forage species.  It is one
of the first shrubs to become green in early spring and is highly
palatable to livestock.  On sheep range, it is one of the most palatable
forage plants during late winter and early spring. The early
availability provides high quality nutrition during the lambing season
[11].  Budsage is also an important, palatable, nutritious forage species
for upland game birds, and small and big game [9].



PALATABILITY : 
Mule deer and pronghorn utilize budsage in spring when it is green and
succulent.  Mountain sheep tend to use it in winter when it is dry [20].

Black-tailed jackrabbits and small rodents generally eat only the
leaves, smaller branches, and twigs, although black-tailed jackrabbits
sometimes utilize the whole plant.  Chukar partridge eat the flower
heads and leaves [20].

After elongation of new twigs, volatile oil content increases, and
budsage is not often eaten by cattle and horses.  Wood and Brotherson
[20] report that calves have been poisoned from the green foliage.

The palatability and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife
species for budsage in several western states is rated as follows [6]:
                        UT      WY
Cattle                 fair    fair
Sheep                  good    good
Horses                 fair    good
Pronghorn              good    good
Elk                    fair    good
Mule deer              good    good
White-tailed deer      ----    poor
Small mammals          good    fair
Small nongame birds    fair    fair
Upland game birds      poor    fair
Waterfowl              poor    poor


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Budsage is especially high in calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, and
protein [20].  Below is a list of critical nutrient content under
moderate utilization in early spring [5].

      		Phosphorous             0.33%
		Carotene               10.80 mg/lb
	        Digestible Protein     13.7%
 		Metabolizable Energy  911 cal/lb
                   


COVER VALUE : 
The degree to which budsage provides environmental protection during one
or more seasons for wildlife species is as follows [6]:

                          UT      WY
Pronghorn                poor    poor
Elk                      poor    poor
Mule deer                poor    poor
White-tailed deer        poor    poor
Small mammals            fair    poor
Small nongame birds      fair    poor
Upland game birds        poor    poor
Waterfowl                poor    poor 


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
NO-ENTRY


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Light grazing in late winter and early spring damages growth of budsage
and could even eliminate it from the area [11].  Budsage was found to
increase under heavy grazing in early winter [4].  Hutchings [11]
recommends 50 percent use of annual growth of budsage.

Related categories for Species: Artemisia spinescens | Budsage