Study Shows Cattle Grazing Cheatgrass Not Spreading Viable Seed

A study led by the University of Nevada, Reno, and published in the journal Rangelands found that cattle grazing on cheatgrass do not spread the invasive grass species through their manure. Researchers found that after being digested in the rumen and abomasum, cheatgrass seeds had nearly complete inhibition of germination. This study helps reinforce the argument that targeted grazing by cattle can be an effective method of reducing cheatgrass fuel height and seed bank without adverse impacts on the ecosystem.