The Grazed-Class Method to Estimate Forage Utilization on Transitory Forest Rangelands

This publication provides an explanation of the grazed class method of estimating forage utilization, including necessary data sheets. The grazed-class method of estimating forage utilization was developed for and tested on arid rangelands in the Southwest, but appears to have considerable potential in forested settings of the Pacific Northwest as well. It was designed to provide range resource managers with an accurate and easy-to-use tool to monitor livestock utilization of selected forage species. The procedure is based on the concept that when one or more key species of an area representative of a larger range type have been properly utilized, optimum use of that rangeland has been made. The method classifies grazed plants into utilization classes, based on the percent of total plant weight removed