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.

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 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.

Faecal output and estimated voluntary dry-matter intake of grazing beef cows, relative to their live weight and to the digestibility of the pasture

1987 ◽  
Vol 45 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Bruckental ◽  
A. R. Lehrer ◽  
M. Weitz ◽  
J. Bernard ◽  
Hanna Kennit ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Grazing Cattle ◽  
Bean Meal ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Soya Bean Meal

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out with 12 non-pregnant, non-lactating beef cows (Simmental x Hereford cross), six in each experiment. In experiment 1, the cows were grazing stubble pasture and each cow was hand fed 750 g/day soya-bean meal. In experiment 2, the cows were grazing green pasture at the pre-blossom stage. Paraffin-coated magnesium ferrite (MF) was used as an external marker. A capsule containing 5 g marker was administered to each cow twice daily at about 08.00 and 14.00 h. At the same time the cows were also weighed and faecal grab samples (GS) were taken. Each experimental period lasted 18 days: a 10-day period for attaining steady state of the marker, followed by an 8-day period during which faecal GS were taken.Average live weight (LW, kg) and daily faecal output (DFO, kg dry matter (DM) per day) were, respectively 364·2 and 3·39 for cows in experiment 1, and 484·4 and 4·62 in experiment 2. DFO (g): LW (kg) ratios were 9·31: 1 and 9·53: 1 in experiments 1 and 2, respectively.In-vitro digestibilities were used for calculating the voluntary intake (kg DM per day), which was found to be 6·8 and 13·6 for cows grazing stubble and pre-blossom pastures, respectively. The relationships between LW of grazing cattle and their DFO and voluntary food intake are discussed.

Studies on the nutritive value of the diet selected by grazing sheep V. Further studies of the relationship between digestibility estimated in vitro from oesophageal fistula samples and from faecal and dietary composition

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-387 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYDigestibility was estimated in vitro from a total of 167 oesophageal fistula samples collected over a period of 16 to 24 months from adult sheep grazing eight Phalaris tuberosa-Trifolium repens pastures stocked continuously at rates of from 2·5 to 37·1 sheep per ha. Corresponding estimates of the nitrogen content of the faeces and of the fistula samples, the live weight and faecal output of the sheep, and of the herbage availability of the pasture were obtained.The observations were stratified on the bases of stocking rate, digestibility, month of the year, herbage availability or organicmatter intake. Relationships between digestibility estimated by the fistula technique and faecal nitrogen content (model B) and between digestibility and faecal nitrogen content, nitrogen content of the dietary dry and organic matter, and faecal output per unit live weight (model A) were calculated for each stratum.There were significant differences between relationships derived for the various stocking rates, levels of digestibility, times of year, levels of intake and levels of herbage availability; predicted values of digestibility for given values of the independent variables differed by as much as 20 units of digestibility. Model A was substantially more precise than model B.Differences between estimates of digestibility, derived by the fistula technique and by a general faecal nitrogen—digestibility relationship, established by Lambourne and Reardon (1963a) were calculated. The differences were related to digestibility and to herbage availability.The implications of these results are discussed and it is concluded that faecal nitrogen content is not a satisfactory index of the digestibility of the diet selected by grazing sheep.

Grazing studies on the Guadalcanal Plains, Solomon Islands. 2. Effects of pasture mixtures and stocking rate on animal production and pasture components

1981 ◽  
Vol 97 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Watson ◽  
P. C. Whiteman
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Green Leaf ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Stocking Rates

SummaryAnimal production was compared on three pastures, Brachiaria mutica (para), B. decumbens (signal) and Panicum maximum cv. Hamil (hamil) each sown with a common legume mixture of Centrosemapubescens (centro), Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro, and Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Endeavour (stylo), at four stocking rates, 1·8, 21·87, 31·86, and 41·85 animals/ha, over 4 years on the GuadalcanalPlains, Solomon Islands.Mean live-weight gain per head over the four stocking rates and 4 years on para pastures was 01·847, on signal pastures 01·838, and on hamil pastures 01·828 kg/head/day. Mean production per hectare at the optimum stocking rates were: para at 3.6 animals/ha, 607 kg; signal at 31·86 animals/ha, 442 kg; hamil at 21·87 animals/ha, 362 kg/ha/year.The high stocking rates of 31·86 and 41·85 animals/ha caused the hamil pastures to decline to the stage where they were destocked in the 4th year of grazing.Superior production on para pastures was not simply related to green dry matter (GDM) on offer. In the 1st year of grazing, GDM was highest in hamil pastures, but in the 2nd year highest in para, and in the 3rd year mean yields were similar in all pastures, but were very low at the 31·86 and 41·85 animals/ha stocking rate in the hamil pastures.Para pastures maintained highest legume contents. The quadratic relationship between live-weight gain/head and legume content was significant over all pastures and stocking rates. Live-weight gain (LWG) per head increased up to 15% legume content, after which there was little change. Yield of green leaf, percentage green leaf, and sward bulk density did not appear to be related to LWG/head. Para pastures had lower values for all these components than the other pastures.Chemical factors contributed to the higher animal production from para pastures. Para leaf maintained consistently higher in vitro dry-matter digestibility values. Na content of para averaged 01·812%, whereas other species were 01·801 to 01·802%, and below the critical level (01·805%) for animal intake. N and S in leaf material, and Cu in total tops were also consistently higher in para grass.Results of this grazing trial suggest that selection of grass species on the basis of quality including dry-matter digestibility and mineral content, on ability to persist with increasing stocking rate, on compatibility with legumes, and on growth habit are more important than selection for dry-matter yield.

Herbage intake and performance of grazing ewes and of their lambs when weaned at 6, 8, 10 or 14 weeks of age

1981 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-232 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. J. Gibb ◽  
T. T. Treacher ◽  
V. S. Shanmugalingam
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
The Body ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Body Weights ◽  
Body Components ◽  
And Performance

ABSTRACTTwin lambs grazing with their dams at herbage allowances of 30 or 60 gdry matter per kg live weight per day (low and high, respectively) were weaned at 6, 8, 10 or 14 weeks of age. After weaning, the lambs were given a herbage allowance of 160 g dry matter per kg live weight per day.Ewes on the low allowance ate less herbage, produced less milk and lost more weight than those on the high allowance. The lambs on the low allowance were lighter at weaning than those on the high allowance (137 v. 168, 16·2 v. 20·5, 17·9 v. 24·2 and 21·9 v. 30·4 kg at 6, 8, 10 and 14 weeks respectively).Lambs weaned from ewes on the low allowance grew more slowly than the unweaned lambs when removed at 6 weeks, but not when weaned at 8 and 10 weeks of age. Weaning lambs from ewes on the high allowance reduced their growth rates at all weaning ages, despite the weaned lambs being grazed at an allowance which would not limit their intake of herbage. The intake of herbage per unit live weight by weaned lambs reached its maximum at approximately 8 weeks of age. After weaning, intake was higher for lambs from ewes on the low allowance than for those on the high allowance (38 v. 33 g organic matter per kg live weight per day). Lambs slaughtered at 17 weeks of age were heavier from the high allowance than from the low allowance. However, after 17 weeks of age the remaining lambs from the low allowance grew more rapidly than those from the high allowance, and when slaughtered at 25 weeks of age had similar weights. Treatments had no effect on the weights of the body components or carcass dimensions independent of their effect on empty-body weights at slaughter.

Grazing studies on the Guadalcanal Plains, Solomon Islands

1985 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 181-189
Author(s):  
M. A. Smith ◽  
P. C. Whiteman
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Solomon Islands ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Macroptilium Atropurpureum ◽  
Native Pastures ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Flooded Areas ◽  
Brachiaria Mutica

SummaryPastures of a mixture of Brachiaria mutica(para) and B. decumbens(signal) grown with Gentrosema pubescens(centro) and Macroptilium atropurpureumcv. Siratro and grazed at three stocking rates 1·8, 2·1 and 3·6 animals/ha for 5 and 6 years of grazing were compared with B. humidicolacv. Tully (Koronivia) oversown with centro and siratro and grazed at 3·0, 3·6 and 4·5 animals/ha and native pastures of Themedaaustralis and Pennisetum polystachyon oversown with Stylosanthes guianensis cv. Schofield after burning, and grazed at 1·3, 2·0 and 2·7 animals/ha. All pastures were given 20 kg/ha of sulphur.The para and centro pasture gave the highest live-weight gain with 731 kg/ha/year when stocked at 3·6 animals/ha in 1979–80. and 592 kg/ha/year in 1980–1. Signal grass gave 621 and 493 kg/ha/year in 1979–80 and 1980–1 at 3·6 animals/ha. Koronivia grass gave similar production as signal: 639, 466 and 406 kg/ha/year at 3·6 animals/ha stocking rate from 1979 to 1982. On the natural pastures 1st year gains were high, 412 kg/ha/year at 2·7 animals/ha, but declined to 224 kg/ha/year at 2·0 animals/ha in year 2.In the para pastures, centro increased up to 50%, while with signal it increased to 25% of the botanical composition, owing to a decline in grass dry matter. In koronivia pastures, centro and siratro declined, inversely with stocking rate, and M.pudica increased in the high stocking rate. In the natural pastures T. triandra declined with increasing stocking, to 1% at 2·7 animals/ha. P. polystachyon remained approximately stable. M. pudica became important as grazing increased, and weeds also increased. Para grass was high in N, P, S and Na. N was low in signal, koronivia and T. triandra while the concentration of Na (0·41%) was high in koronivia, but it was extremely low in signal and T. triandra(0·02%).The trials suggest that landholders could commence grazing of existing natural pastures for up to 2 years at about 2·0 animals/ha in the 1st year and 1·3 animals/ha in subsequent years to obtain 350 kg LWG/ha in year 1 and the 200 kg LWG/ha thereafter. With cultivated pastures much higher yield can be obtained using para plus centro on the low-lying aieas, and signal plus centro plus siratro on non-flooded areas. Koronivia can be used in occasionally intensively stocked areas. All pastures require S fertilizer every 2 years.

The influence of size of animal and stocking rate on the herbage intake and grazing behaviour of cattle

1983 ◽  
Vol 100 (1) ◽  
pp. 139-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. F. Zoby ◽  
W. Holmes
Keyword(s):  
Weight Gain ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Small Animals ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Live Weight Gain ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Large Animals ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Friesian Cattle ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

SUMMARYTwenty-four Friesian cattle classed as large, medium or small and from 776 to 163 kg initial live weight (LW) were grazed over two successive 8-week periods. Two stocking rates were imposed and there were four replicates. Trios of animals, including one of each size, grazed in each paddock. Cattle changed stocking rate in mid-season. Herbage intake, live-weight gain and grazing behaviour were recorded.The stocking rates resulted in large differences in herbage allowance and consequent differences in intake, live-weight gain and grazing behaviour. The large cattle were least able to compensate for the higher stocking rate by increasing grazing time or frequency of biting. Average herbage organic-matter (OM) intakes ranged from 13 g OM/kg LW for large animals to 28 g OM/kg LW for the small animals.

The feed intake of sheep supplemented with varying quantities of wheat while grazing pastures differing in herbage availability

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 919 ◽  
Author(s):  
JP Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Regression Coefficient ◽  
Latin Square ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Supplementary Feeding ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Partial Regression Coefficient ◽  
Faecal Output ◽  
Herbage Intake ◽  
Daily Intakes ◽  
Stocking Rates

Diets containing various quantities of lucerne chaff and wheat grain were given to three sheep in a digestibility trial. Daily faecal output was related to daily intakes of chaff and wheat by regression analysis. The partial regression coefficient for wheat was used to estimate the faecal output attributable to wheat in a grazing trial in which flocks of five sheep grazed at five stocking rates and received either 0, 100, 200, 300, or 400 g wheat per day. The sheep were allocated to treatments and periods at each stocking rate in a Latin square design. Herbage intake was estimated in each period. Herbage intake decreased when supplementary feeding or stocking rate was increased. Supplementary feeding increased the nutrient intake of grazing sheep by an average of 54% of the nutrient content of the wheat given. This percentage was greater when pasture availability was low. At high stocking rates the decline in herbage intake was less than at low stocking rates in absolute terms although greater when expressed as a percentage of the herbage intake of the unsupplemented sheep

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