On-Ranch Impacts, Management, and Planning Horizons Following Severe Drought
Dr. Leslie Roche, CE Specialist in Rangeland Management, UC Davis
Ranchers depend on forage from rain-fed rangelands to support their livestock herds, thus are among the first agriculture to be impacted by drought. The goal of this project is to follow-up on previous survey and interview efforts to better understand ongoing ranch impacts, management strategies, and planning horizons relative to the current severe drought (2012-2015).
Contact lmroche@ucdavis.edu for additional information
Post-Wildfire Livestock Grazing Management on Public Rangelands
Laura Snell: UC Cooperative Extension, Modoc County
Unprecedented wildfires across California rangelands and forests have elevated the need for science-based information to inform post-wildfire livestock grazing policies and management on public lands. Research to guide grazing policy decisions after wildfire is limited. The purpose this study is to examine short and long-term ecological trade-offs and synergies associated with resting, partially grazing, fully grazing an area following wildfire.
Contact lksnell@ucanr.edu for additional information
Epizootic Bovine Abortion (EBA) Vaccine: An Association with Early Fetal Mortality?
Dr. Jeffrey Stott, Professor of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis
A live EBA vaccine has been developed to reduce losses from Foothill Abortion, a devastating disease confronting California ranchers. Safety and efficacy studies of live EBA vaccine candidate are extremely promising, but there are some indications the vaccine may be associated with early fetal mortality. This goal of this study is to determine if the vaccine is associate with early fetal mortalities.
Contact jlstott@ucdavis.edu for additional information
Waterborne Microbial Pollutants – Quantifying Background and Cattle Contributions on Rangeland Watersheds
Dr. Ken Tate, Professor and CE Specialist in Rangeland Watershed Sciences, UC Davis
Escherichia coli (E. coli) and fecal coliforms are fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) used as regulatory standards to protect human health from waterborne pathogens. Substantial debate exists over the relative contributions of FIB pollution to streams from various potential sources, including cattle, humans, and wildlife. This study is aimed at assessing the relative FIB contributions from various sources to surface waters on multiple use rangeland watersheds.
Contact kwtate@ucdavis.edu for additional information