From Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute - Season of Burning and Large Mammal Usage of Gulf Cordgrass
Author(s): Victoria Haynes, José Silverio Ávila-Sánchez, and Sandra Rideout-Hanzak
Published: July 2017
Providing high-quality forage for cattle and large wildlife species can be challenging on some rangelands when vegetation becomes mature and too coarse to be eaten. This is a common problem in gulf cordgrass communities. Gulf cordgrass is a highly productive perennial grass native to the Texas Coastal Prairies. When young, gulf cordgrass can provide high quality forage for cattle. However, as it matures the leaf blades become stiff and spine-like with low nutritional value.