BCE320 Activity Budgets and Foraging Behavior of Bison on Seeded Pastures

BCE320 Activity Budgets and Foraging Behavior of Bison on Seeded Pastures

Bruce D. Rutley And Robert J. Hudson
Journal of Range Management 54(3): 218-225; May 2001

Abstract

Activity budgets and foraging behavior of yearling bison (Bison bison L.) on pasture were studied during quarterly trials between June 1994 and December 1995. Daily activity patterns were polyphasic with alternating bouts of foraging and resting activity. During winter, bison displayed 2 main daytime foraging bouts and significant nighttime foraging. During summer, phasic activity was poorly expressed due to the increased number of cycles. Total foraging time declined from summer to winter (763 ± 62 to 470 ± 32 min day) while bedding bout length increased (121 ± 13 to 276 ± 26 min day). Bison selected forage higher in crude protein (12.9 ± 0.8 vs 10.0 ± 0.8%), higher in predicted digestible energy (2.70 ± 0.09 vs 2.17 ± 0.09 Mcal kg), lower in acid detergent fiber (31.9 ± 0.9 vs 38.8 ± 0.9%), and lower in lignin (4.8 ± 0.3 vs 6.8 ± 0.3%, respectively) than forage available within grazed patches.

A complete copy of this article is available from:

Wildlife Ecology and Management
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2H1 Canada

Center for Agricultural Diversification
Northern Lights College
Dawson Creek, BC V1G 4G2 Canada

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