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Arizona
Range Grasses Back to the Table of Contents
Description Growth habit: A vigorously growing, many-stemmed,
strongly rooted bunchgrass, usually with several erect, slender flower
stalks that are commonly 4 to 12, though occasionally as much as 24
inches tall. Occurrence Sheep fescue occurs in Arizona only in Apache and Coconino counties and at elevations above 7,000 feet. It is particularly abundant in the open parks on the North Kaibab, but tends to be common in similar open park-like areas at high elevations throughout its range. This grass is not particularly shade tolerant and consequently occurs sparsely in timber stands.
Forage Value Sheep fescue produces a bulk of the forage for grazing
animals in most areas where it occurs. This is in large part because
it usually makes up a large percentage of the vegetation. Although moderately
palatable, it does not seem to have the palatability in Arizona that
it does in other parts of the West. The leaves are hard and wiry when
they mature, a characteristic that undoubtedly affects the degree to
which they are grazed. The highly nutritious seedheads, on the other
hand, are readily grazed and contribute markedly to the forage value
of this grass. Grazing Management Sheep fescue stands up better than many grasses under long-continued, moderate grazing. It should not be grazed in the spring until the seedheads begin to show. Stocking levels should permit seed setting on some plants. Ranges where this grass could be dominant should be protected for at least the first half of the growing season and lightly grazed the balance of the summer until conditions improve.
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Cooperative
Extension,College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, The University of
Arizona