HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bohman, V. R. Articles by Lesperance, A. L. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Bohman, V. R. Articles by Lesperance, A. L.

Methodology Research for Range Forage Evaluation¹

University of Nevada, Reno

Abstract

Range livestock nutrition involves the nutritional evaluation of a heterogenous plant cover which is modified continually by plant growth patterns and widely diverse environmental conditions. Plant analyses, animal growth and tissue composition indicates that energy, protein, phosphorus and vitamin A are the nutrients most apt to be deficient in the diet of grazing range livestock, although other deficienices, toxicities and metabolic malfunctions occur on a less extensive basis.

Techniques have been developed utilizing esophageal and ruminal fistulated animals as biological sampling agents. Although further refinements are indicated, these techniques represent the best methods for obtaining an unbiased sample of ingested forage. The preparation of a fistula sample for subsequent analyses is most critical because the apparent composition, especially the carbohydrate fraction, changes during subsequent drying.

The use of indicators to measure the digestibility and fecal excretion and, consequently, feed intake of grazing animals presents unique problems under range conditions because of animal management, environmental conditions and plant species. Although not completely solved, these problems do not seem to be insurmountable at this time. Selective grazing as measured by differences in botanical and chemical composition of the ingested forage compared to forage available is most pronounced.

¹ Invited paper presented at the Pasture and Forage II Session, 58th Annual Meeting American Society of Animal Science, New Brunswick, New Jersey, July 31-Aug. 4, 1966. Contribution of the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station Journal Series No. 59.