Estimated intake and nutritive value of range forage grazed by Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows

Title	Estimated intake and nutritive value of range forage grazed by Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows
Publication Type	Thesis
Year of Publication	1965
Authors	Hill KR
Number of Pages	33
Date Published	1965
University	New Mexico State University
City	Las Cruces, New Mexico
Thesis Type	M.S. Thesispp
Call Number	00527
Keywords	cattle, food habits, cattle, management, cattle, nutrition, cattle, range forage, dissertation, dissertations, food habits, cattle, theses, thesis
Abstract	Organic matter intake and digestibility of range forage by Hereford and Santa Gertrudis cows were studied in the desert grassland area of southern New Mexico using lignin as an indicator over a 3-yr. period. Feces were collected monthly from two cows of each breed for a 4-hr. and 6-hr. period using fecal collection bags and harnesses. The use of the lignin content of hand-plucked forage samples provided better estimates of organic matter intake than did the lignin content of forage samples collected by the rumen evacuation method. When using hand-plucked forage samples the estimated intake of Herefords was slightly above the dry matter requirements but the intake for Santa Gertrudis was below requirements. Forage intake estimates based on rumen samples were not satisfactory for either breed. Forage sampling methods were significantly (p<.01) different for the nutritional components: organic matter, protein, fiber and lignin. Hand-plucked samples were highest in organic matter but rumen samples contained higher levels of protein, fiber and lignin. Chemical composition was not significantly different between breeds. Within breeds, monthly variation of protein content was not consistent, thus a significant (P<.01) breed x months interactions. For protein the breed x method interaction was significant (P<.05) but there were no monthly differences within hand-plucked or rumen samples.