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The Voluntary Forage Intake of Heifers Grazing a Diminishing Supply of Crested Wheatgrass¹

Montana State University, Bozeman 49717 , University of Thessaloniki, Greece and and Utah State University, Logan 84327

Abstract

Intake estimates for Angus heifers grazing a declining quantity of available crested wheat-grass forage were obtained during the summer grazing seasons of 1978 and 1979. The study was conducted on rangelands in Central Utah that are characteristic of the Eastern Great Basin. Organic matter intake (OMI) was measured by total collection procedures during five periods each year following forage maturation. Available forage was reduced prior to each succeeding intake measurement within each year by grazing animals. In the first year, OMI averaged 1.2% of body weight as available forage decreased from 920 to 140 kg/ha. In the second year, OMI averaged 1.3% of body weight as available forage decreased from 880 to 280 kg/ha. Intake differences between periods within years were not significant. In vitro organic matter digestibility ranged from 33 to 40% in the first year and 34 to 43% in the second year.

¹ Approved by the Director, Utah Agr. Exp. Sta. as Journal Paper No. 2743

² Dept. of Anim. and Range Sci., Montana State Univ.

³ Laboratory of Range Sci., Thessaloniki, Greece

⁴ Dept. of Range Sci., Utah State Univ.