Estimation of Forage Mass, Dry Matter Intake and Digestibility

Forage mass is required to estimate important
attributes in grazing studies, e.g., total amount of
available nutrients, effect of management practices
on the pastures, crop growth rate, and forage
production, utilization, and degradation. Dry matter
intake and digestibility represent the most important
and useful estimates of the forage nutritive value.
Unfortunately, in trials under grazing conditions,
forage mass is difficult to measure because the crop
cannot be harvested without affecting both animal and
pasture performance. Likewise, the actual feed intakeand nutritive value of the forage consumed are also
unknown. In this work, the author reports results
from different methods to estimate forage mass of
tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, Schreb) pastures,
and dry matter intake, fecal output and digestibility
in beef steers under indoors and grazing conditions.
Anybody related to animal production under grazing
conditions could benefit by reading this essay.

Autorentext

Isaías López-Guerrero, PhD: Studied Ruminant Nutrition andForages at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University,Blacksburg VA USA. Scientist and Extensionist of AnimalProduction Under Grazing Conditions at Research Center "La Posta"INIFAP-CIRGOC in Paso del Toro, Ver. México.

Klappentext

Forage mass is required to estimate importantattributes in grazing studies, e.g., total amount ofavailable nutrients, effect of management practiceson the pastures, crop growth rate, and forageproduction, utilization, and degradation. Dry matterintake and digestibility represent the most importantand useful estimates of the forage nutritive value.Unfortunately, in trials under grazing conditions,forage mass is difficult to measure because the cropcannot be harvested without affecting both animal andpasture performance. Likewise, the actual feed intakeand nutritive value of the forage consumed are alsounknown. In this work, the author reports resultsfrom different methods to estimate forage mass oftall fescue (Festuca arundinacea, Schreb) pastures,and dry matter intake, fecal output and digestibilityin beef steers under indoors and grazing conditions.Anybody related to animal production under grazingconditions could benefit by reading this essay.