Grazing intensity: critique and approach.

Few subjects in recent years have stirred up more controversy in the range profession than the issue of using utilization guidelines in public rangeland management. Herbage utilization is now becoming a part of management goals on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management rangelands in some western states. Arguments against herbage use as a primary range management tool are given by Sharp et al. (1994), Frost et al. (1994), McKinney (1997) and Burkhardt (1997). Collectively these papers develop the case that percent use is difficult to determine and grazing timing is more important to plant welfare than degree of use. We believe that these papers make some valid points, but can be misleading and fail to consider all aspects of the situation. Therefore, we have prepared a response along with suggestions on how grazing intensity can be appropriately used in range management decisions.