Nutritional quality of shinnery oak buds and catkins in response to burning or herbivory.

Catkins and buds of shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) are a food source for the lesser prairie chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) and perhaps other wildlife species. It is therefore important for managers to understand how different vegetation treatments may affect nutritional quality of shinnery oak catkins and buds. Objectives of our study were to determine nutritional quality of shinnery oak catkins and buds, evaluate the effect of grazing on bud nutritional quality, and determine the influence of burning and season of burn on nutritional quality of catkins and buds. The study consisted of 2 grazing treatments and 4 burning treatments. Total phenolics were higher in grazed plots compared to ungrazed plots, but crude protein did not differ by grazing treatment. Fiber content was lower in catkins than grazed or ungrazed buds. Prescribed burning decreased ash content of buds, but no other measure of nutritional quality was affected for either buds or catkins. The nutritional quality of shinnery oak buds and catkins is high, but phenolic levels ranging from 15.0 to 20.4% reduce its forage value for some species.