"When applied, both of these concepts will yield 5 percent to 20 percent brush coverage on quail range, which is what most biologists agree is the minimum needed for bobwhite quail, assuming it is comprised of woody species that provide suitable structure," Stevens says. "Shrubby, woody plants provide many benefits for bobwhites: protection from predators, shelter from winter weather, shade in the summer and, in some instances, food."

Quail enthusiasts understand how important it is to manage cover for quail and have little difficulty applying the concepts mentioned above. However, there are land managers who are interested in multiple uses for their land and want to include quail for personal enjoyment or an additional source of income, but have difficulty understanding how these concepts may affect their operations, particularly livestock (cattle) production.

In this instance, Stevens uses a visual of the Huggins' 50:50 Model to illustrate. The figure is drawn to scale, i.e., each grid equals one acre and each motte is 50 feet in diameter.

"With a quick glance at the figure, what do you think the percentage of brush is on this property? Alarmingly high? Let me tell you, it is difficult for many managers to visualize on their property, especially those with cattle and forage as their primary interest," Stevens says.

The figure is a depiction of 63 acres with little brush cover for quail. By applying the 50:50 Model, the number of 50-foot mottes per acre equals about two. Therefore, using two roughly equal-spaced mottes per acre (except for the one displaced by the pond), the formula for determining the percent brush cover on this property would be:

125 x 1,963.5* = 245,437.5 / 2,744,280** = .0894 x 100 = 8.9%

* 1963.5 is the number of square feet in each 50-foot diameter motte.
** 2,744,280 is the total number of square feet in the 63-acre property.

"So, did you guess less than 15 percent? If you did, at first glance you are better than most," Stevens says. "I would bet that most would guess 40 percent or higher and think there is no way that will work while trying to produce cattle."

The bottom line is that the actual amount of brush is not as much as it appears to be. Also, keep in mind that using half this number of brush mottes per acre (1 motte) results in 4.5 percent brush cover, near the 5 percent minimum that some biologists believe necessary to sustain bobwhite.

How would this example affect cattle production, assuming a 1,000-acre property with native grasses and forbs good enough to support one cow per 10 acres? That would be 100 head of cows or their equivalent. Suppose the owner wants to have quail for personal use or as an additional source of income. If two 50-foot mottes of brush per acre were established, 89 acres (1,000 x 8.9% = 89) would be devoted to quail cover. At a stocking rate of 10 acres per cow, roughly nine cows or their equivalent would be displaced.

In today's cattle market for cow-calf producers, that would equal about $900 less in net income from the cattle operation (net of about $100/head).

"Is it worth $900 to develop good quail cover in order to enhance the property for personal use of the quail? How about leasing access to the property for quail hunting? A good quail-hunting lease could easily earn an income of $3 to $6 per acre," Stevens says. "Whichever situation fits, you can do the math."

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Image:
Cutline:	A visual of the Huggins 50:50 Model.

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The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation (www.noble.org), headquartered in Ardmore, Okla., is a nonprofit organization conducting agricultural, forage improvement and plant biology research; providing grants to non-profit charitable, educational and health organizations; and assisting farmers and ranchers through educational and consultative agricultural programs.