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Separation of True Selective Grazing by Cattle from Effects of the Esophageal Fistula¹

University of Tennessee, Knoxville^,3 37901

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to determine the chemical composition and digestibility of the forage ingested by beef steers grazing tall fescue or orchardgrass pastures. Esophagealfistulated steers were used to determine the degree of selective grazing adjusted for the combined effects of collecting a forage sample through the fistula (saliva contamination, partial mastication, possible regurgitation, incomplete sample recovery, leaching and sample preparation).

The combined effects of collecting forage samples through an esophageal fistula resulted in statistically significant (P<.05) increase in ash, acid-detergent fiber and acid-insoluble lignin. The nitrogen-free extract+ether extract fraction was significantly (P<.05) decreased. In tall fescue samples only, in vitro digestible dry matter was also increased. Grazing steers selected forages somewhat higher in crude protein.

¹ Published with the permission of the Dean of the University of Tennessee Agricultural Experiment Station, Knoxville.

² Appreciation is expressed to Dr. J. B. McLaren for assisting with the statistical analyses and to Dr. G. M. Merriman for performing the fistulation operations.

³ Department of Animal Husbandry-Veterinary Science.

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