Conifer release alternatives increase aspen forage quality in northwesternOntario

Conifer release reduces browse availability and moose (Alces alces) use of treated areas for up to 4 years posttreatment; however it has been unclear how release affects forage quality We determined percent digestible dry mat ter (DDM) and percent digestible protein (DP) of trembling aspen (Populus t remuloides), beaked hazel (Corylus cornuta), and red raspberry (Rubus idacu s) collected during mid-July, 2 growing seasons after the following operati onal conifer release treatments were applied: (1) Vision(R) herbicide (acti ve ingredient: glyphosate), (2) Release(R) herbicide (active ingredient: tr iclopyr), (3) cutting (brush saw, Silvana Selective), and (4) no treatment (control). No differences (P > 0.05) in bovine serum albumin (BSA) precipit ation were found among the forage species tested. Differences (P < 0.05) in DDM between hazel (low) and the other 2 species (higher) were common, but only trembling aspen, which had the highest DDM and DP, showed differences among treatments (P < 0.05). When compared with controls, aspen DDM was 5-1 1% and DP was 34-49% greater on released plots. Although not statistically significant, DP was consistently higher for hazel and raspberry on herbicid e-released plots. The lack of differences in DDM and DP among treatments fo r 2 of the 3 species examined suggests that, through time, biomass availabi lity of forage species known to be used by ungulates continues to be a real istic way to predict the effects of conifer-release treatments on ungulate forage.