The herbage intake of cattle grazing lucerne and cocksfoot pastures

1963 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 359-369 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. E. Alder ◽  
D. J. Minson
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Sampling Methods ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Cattle Grazing ◽  
Chromic Oxide ◽  
Grazing Experiment ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
The Mean

1. From 1955 to 1957 a cattle grazing experiment was carried out on lucerne and cocksfoot pastures. Hereford-cross steers were used. Results obtained on the assessment of herbage intake either by the use of chromic oxide and faecal index methods or by herbage sampling are presented here.2. Except in 1955, when techniques were being developed, the digestibility of the herbage on offer to the bullocks was estimated by cold storing herbage, cut with an Allen Autoscythe and later feeding it to sheep in indoor digestion trials. The in vitro digestibility of herbage samples cut in 1955 and 1956 was also determined.3. In 1956 the mean intake of organic matter (lb.) per 100 lb. live weight by faecal methods was 2·38, 2·07, 2·20 and 2·29 on pastures of lucerne, cocksfoot, lucerne/cocksfoot (broadcast) and lucerne/cocksfoot (alternate 1 ft. drills), respectively, and 1·99, 1·76, 2·02 and 1·97, respectively, in 1957.4. In 1956 the mean intake of organic matter (lb.) per 100 lb. live weight by herbage sampling methods was 2·14, 1·70, 2·11 and 1·99 on the same pastures of lucerne, cocksfoot, lucerne/cocksfoot (broadcast) and lucerne/cocksfoot (drills), respectively, and 2·49, 1·32, 2·35 and 2·03, respectively, in 1957. The modified Tarpen trimmer, cutting to within 1 in. of the ground was used for sampling in 1956 and the Allen Autoscythe cutting to within 2 or 3 in. of ground level in 1957.5. Detailed botanical separation of herbage samples showed that the bullocks were selecting the more digestible parts of the plants; the top 4 in. of lucerne and the ends of leaves and stems of cocksfoot. This and other factors which could affect the estimates of digestibility of herbage eaten by the cattle are discussed together with possible sources of error in the herbage sampling methods.

The use of internal markers to estimate herbage digestibility and intake: 1. Potentially indigestible cellulose and acid insoluble ash

1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 127-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Penning ◽  
R. H. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Close Agreement ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Mean Differences ◽  
Internal Markers

SUMMARYConcentrations of potentially indigestible cellulose (PIC) and acid insoluble ash (AIA) were determined in samples of feed and faeces in a study to determine their value as internal markers. PIC and AIA were then used to predict the organic-matter digestibilities (OMD) of samples of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) and lucerne (Medicago sativa)of known OMD which had been determined using wether sheep. The mean values for OMD (%) measured in vivo were 67·2 and 62·8 for ryegrass and 58·0 and 55·8 for lucerne at intakes of 15 and 25 g D.M./kg live weight, respectively.The in vitro digestibility technique, using rumen liquor, gave OMD values of 69·5 and 57·4 for ryegrass and lucerne which are in close agreement with the in vivo values at the lower level of intake.The mean differences between OMD measured in vivo and that estimated using PIC were: -1·1 (± 0·65) and -1·6 (± 0·46) percentage units for ryegrass and lucerne respectively, and using AIA were: -1·4 (± 0·57) and -3·5 (± 1·61).For the two feeds tested, OMD was predicted more precisely by PIC than by AIA or the in vitro digestibility technique. However, the PIC technique required the use of rumen-fistulated animals and 10 days to digest samples of faeces; this may make the technique impractical if large numbers of determinations of PIC are required.

Errors associated with expressing pasture intake as dry rather than organic matter at high stocking intensities

1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-103
Author(s):  
P. B. O'Donovan
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Matter Basis

SUMMARYFollowing both a low and high plane of winter feeding two groups of 18 bullocks each were stocked at 2·5 (low), 4·3 (medium) and 6·2 (high) bullocks per hectare. The Hereford × Shorthorn bullocks averaging 350 kg live weight were rotationally grazed on ten plots, seven of which contained a H.I. white clover mixture and the remaining three contained permanent pasture. Pasture digestibility and intake were determined for 16 weekly periods between early April and late September. In vitro digestibility was determined on samples obtained by means of two rumen-fistulated bullocks. A gelatin capsule containing 10 g of chromic oxide was administered daily to each bullock to estimate faecal output. Digestibility, faecal output and intake were expressed on both a dry and organic-matter basis. Increasing the stocking rate resulted in a corresponding decrease in organic matter (OM) percentage of the faeces but the magnitude of the differences varied throughout the growing season. The average decline (all 16 periods) was linear, the OM percentage of faeces being 80·9, 76·8 and 72·6 for low, medium and high stocking rates, respectively. Faecal ash content of rectal samples and those taken from the pasture differed significantly only in a few instances, indicating that pasture faecal contamination may not be serious if careful sampling is practised. Higher ash intakes at high stocking intensities are reflected in herbage intake errors when results are expressed as dry matter instead of organic matter.

A study of the herbage intake and efficiency of feed utilization of grazing cattle previously fed two winter planes of nutrition

1972 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. B. O'Donovan ◽  
A. Conway ◽  
J. O'Shea
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Average Body

SUMMARYAn experiment was conducted using 36 Hereford × Shorthorn bullocks of about 350 kg initial live weight. Winter planes of nutrition 13 December to 23 March were ‘low’ (hay only) and ‘medium’ (hay plus 1·8 kg concentrate); the former group of 18 bullocks lost on average 21·5 kg while the latter gained 26·5 kg. Each group was then stocked at 2·5 (low), 4·3 (medium) and 6·2 (high) bullocks per hectare and rotationally grazed on 10 plots, 7 of which contained H.I.-white clover mixture and the remaining 3 contained permanent pasture. Pasture digestibility and intake were determined for 16 weekly periods between early April and the end of September. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) of grazed herbage was determined in vitro on samples obtained by means of two rumen-fistulated bullocks. One gelatin capsule containing about 10 g of chromic oxide was daily administered to each bullock to estimate organic matter output. Winter feeding planes had no significant effect on OMD, and increasing the stocking rate increased herbage OMD only during the final 6 weeks. Significantly more organic matter was ingested during the grazing season by animals which had previously been fed on a low plane of nutrition. Stocking rates also significantly affected OMI. Bullocks fed on a low plane during winter were slightly more efficient subsequently in converting herbage into live-weight gain but this was a reflection of their lower average body weight; when feed efficiency was expressed on the basis of metabolic size, bullocks fed on a medium plane were more efficient in converting feed to live-weight gain. It is concluded that the higher daily gains on pasture of bullocks previously fed on a low plane is largely the result of a significantly higher feed intake by these animals.

The influence of animal age and sward height on the herbage intake and grazing behaviour of Charolais cattle

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ferrer Cazcarra ◽  
M. Petit
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Biting Rate ◽  
Charolais Cattle ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

AbstractMature dry cows, 18-month-old heifers and 7-month-old female calves of the Charolais breed (eight animals of each age) were strip-grazed on moderate (15cm) or tall (52 and 32cm) cocksfoot swards over two 15-day experimental periods. The swards were leafy regrowths of 2 (short) and 8 (tall) weeks of age. Herbage intake was estimated by the alkane method, and grazing behaviour was visually recorded.Bite weight was lower, grazing time and biting rate greater, and organic matter in take of grass (OMIG) higher on shorter swards, the latter being related to a higher in vitro digestibility and nitrogen concentration. Average OMIG per kg live weight (M) was 15·2, 19·1 and 17·0 (s.e.d. 0·49)g in cows, heifers and calves respectively. The average allometric coefficient between OMIG and M was 0·88 (similar between swards), and close to that obtained with hay after the grazing trial.Faecal markers suggested a greater selectivity of calves compared with older cattle. Average bite weights (BW) were 310 (s.e. 40), 467 (s.e. 112) and 718 (s.e. 144)mg OM in calves, heifers and cows respectively. The allometric coefficient between BW and M was higher in short swards than in tall ones. Biting rates increased and grazing times tended to decrease with age of cattle.

Food intake and grazing behaviour of sheep varying in body condition

1977 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-353 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Arnold ◽  
H. A. Birrell
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Food Intake ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Under Nutrition ◽  
Mean Temperature ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Digestible Organic Matter ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Relative Differences ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

SUMMARYHerbage intake and grazing times were measured in four experiments in which adult sheep grazed short and long pastures. The digestible organic matter (DOM) intake of adult wooled Merino and Corriedale wethers was higher, both absolutely and per kg live weight, when they were lower in live weight due to prior under-nutrition. The relative differences were similar on both abundant and scant pasture and were proportional to the relative differences in live weight. The higher intakes were achieved by differences in the time spent grazing and in the rate of intake per hour of grazing. DOM intake of shorn sheep was increased by up to 44% per kg live weight within 5 weeks of shearing in two experiments when the mean temperature was 8°C but no increase in DOM intake was observed in four other experiments when the mean temperature was 11°C. Shorn sheep achieved higher intakes on both abundant and scant pastures by increasing intake per hour of grazing.

The effect of ammonia treatment on the intake of straw and hay when offered with rations of concentrates to ewes in late pregnancy

1985 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 101-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. Orr ◽  
T. T. Treacher ◽  
V. C. Mason
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Spring Barley ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Late Pregnancy ◽  
Barley Straw ◽  
Ammonia Treatment ◽  
Condition Score ◽  
Forage Intake

ABSTRACTFinnish Landrace × Dorset Horn ewes were offered 300, 600 or 900 g fresh weight per day of concentrates and forage ad libitum from day 105 of pregnancy until lambing. Spring barley straw (S) or hay (H) was offered either untreated (U) or following treatment with anhydrous ammonia in an oven (T). Organic matter digestibilities (in vitro) were 0·42, 0·58, 0·42 and 0·60 and nitrogen contents were 7·2, 18·6, 12·0 and 25·0 g/kg dry matter for US, TS, UH and TH respectively. Forage intake did not differ between ewes carrying two or more foetuses but the small number of ewes carrying one foetus ate more straw (6·8 v. 4·5 g organic matter (OM) per kg live weight) than ewes carrying two or more foetuses. Ammonia treatment increased intake; the increase was larger on straw (4·6 v. 100 g OM per kg live weight) than on hay (9·0 v. 10·7 g OM per kg live weight). Replacement rates of forage by concentrates were -0·21, +0·06, -0·48 and +0·08 kg forage per kg concentrates for treatments US, TS, UH and TH respectively; only the value for treatment UH differed significantly from zero. On most treatments forage intake decreased as pregnancy progressed and the declines were greater when treated forages were offered. Concentrate level had a large effect on most aspects of ewe performance. Ewes offered treated forage gained slightly more weight in pregnancy (138 v. 104 g/day), had a slightly smaller decrease in body condition score (-0·54 v. -0·68) between day 105 and lambing but did not have greater lamb birth weights than ewes on untreated forage.

The prediction of voluntary intake of grazing dairy cows

1986 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsey Caird ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Measurement Techniques ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Simple Equation ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Farm Planning ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Major Factors ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

SUMMARYInformation on the total organic matter intake, concentrates supplied (C), live weight (LW), week of lactation (WL), milk yield (MY), herbage organic matter digestibility (HOMD), herbage mass, sward height (SHT) or herbage allowance (HAL) measured individually for 357 cows at one of three sites was assembled. Observed intake was compared with intakes predicted by existing intake equations and new prediction equations based on regression models or regression and least-squares constants were developed. Major factors affecting intake were MY, LW, WL, C and HAL or SHT. Although HOMD was correlated with intake, better predictions were obtained when HOMD was omitted. There were differences between sites possibly associated with differences in measurement techniques.The predictive value of some existing equations and new equations were tested against independent sets of data. A simple equation (A) based on MY and LW (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, 1975) gave satisfactory average predictions but the mean square prediction error (MSPE) was high. The equations of Vadiveloo & Holmes (1979) adjusted for bias gave a relatively low MSPE. The preferred new equations for grazing cattle included MY, LW, WL, C and HAL or SHT, and their MSPE were similar to or lower than for indoor equations.The discussion indicates that a simple equation (A) would give adequate predictions for farm planning. The more detailed equations illustrate the inter-relations of animal with sward conditions and concentrate allowances. Predicted intakes may deviate from actual intakes because of short-term changes in body reserves.

Milk-fed calves: 5. The effect of a change in milk intake upon the herbage intake and performance of grazing calves

1979 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
pp. 443-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. L. P. Le Du ◽  
R. D. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Daily Weight Gain ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Milk Substitute ◽  
Metabolizable Energy Intake ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Reconstituted Milk

SummaryThe effect of the amount of milk consumed upon the herbage intake and performance of calves at pasture, following a standard rearing period, was investigated using 50 Hereford × Friesian calves purchased at 10–12 days ofage. All calves were offered 6 kg reconstituted milk substitute for a 58 day period indoors and for a subsequent 31 days at pasture. Ten calves were then allocated to each of five milk treatments (0, 2, 4, 6, 10 kg/day) and grazed for a further 63 days. The calves were offered a daily herbage allowance of 60 g dry matter/kg live weight.Daily weight gain was increased by 59 g for each additional kilogramme of reconstituted milk consumed, and herbage intake per unit live weight decreased by 1–24 g/g milk organic matter consumed, equivalent to a reduction in metabolizable energy intake of 9 kJ. Clear effects of both age and diet upon the consumption of herbage were demonstrated. An explanation of the mechanisms governing intake of herbage in milk–fed calves is offered.

The effect of winter feeding level on subsequent grazing behaviour and herbage intake of Charolais heifers

1995 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 211-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Ferrer Cazcarra ◽  
M. Petit
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Feeding Level ◽  
Sward Height ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Compensatory Gain ◽  
Winter Diets ◽  
Effect Of Feeding ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

AbstractTwo groups of eight Charolais heifers were used to examine the effect of feeding level during the post-weaning winter on the grazing behaviour and herbage intake over three periods during the first 2 months of grazing. The winter diets (L and H) were given to achieve a mean difference of 50 kg between groups at turn-out. The heifers were set-stocked together on a hill pasture where sward height was maintained at 12 cm.The winter live-weight gains were 0·31 and 0·70 (s.e. 0·032) kg/day for L and H heifers respectively, and spring gains 1·94 and 1·66 (s.e. 0·082) kg/day respectively. Intakes increased throughout the spring grazing for both groups. Absolute intakes were lower for L than for H heifers only during the first period (P < 0·05). Intake per kg live weight was higher in L than in H heifers (23·0 v. 21·1 (s.e. 0·54) g organic matter (OM) per kg live weight). Bite weights of H heifers were constant throughout (434, (s.e. 12·9) mg OM), while bite weights ofL heifers only reached those of H heifers in the last period. Bite weight was linearly related to live weight. Bite rates were not different between groups, but L heifers compensated for lower bite weight by grazing longer and they increased their grazing time after turn-out faster than H heifers. Grazing time was mainly responsible for higher relative intakes in L heifers, and thus, partly, for compensatory gain observed.

The relationship between the digestibility of a sward and the herbage consumption of grazing calves

1968 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Hodgson
Keyword(s):  
Food Intake ◽  
Linear Relationship ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Chromic Oxide ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Very High

SUMMARYNitro-chalk was applied to S.23 ryegrass swards, at approximately monthly intervals, at two contrasting levels in 1961 and three levels in 1962. Steer calves, 3–6 months old, grazed in rotation round a series of four paddocks on each treatment. Paddocks were trimmed and fertilizer applied after each grazing. The herbage intakes of the calves were determined on three occasions in 1961 and four occasions in 1962. Faecal output was estimated by chromic oxide dilution. In vitro digestibility determinations were carried out on samples of herbage clipped from the swards.There was a close linear relationship between the digestibility of the herbage and the amount eaten, over the full range of digestibility encountered (68–82%). Regression equations calculated within seasons and fertilizer levels, and within years, did not differ significantly. The regressions of faecal output on herbage digestibility were not significantly different from zero.The observed relationship between herbage digestibility and herbage intake may reflect (a) the greater sensitivity of young ruminants than adult stock to changes in the digestibility of the diet, and (b) the reduced importance of the chemostatic control of food intake, except at very high levels of digestibility, in young rapidly growing animals.

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