Chemical Composition of the Diet, Intake and Gain of Yearling Cattle on Different Grazing Intensities

Abstract

Esophageal fistulated yearling cattle were used to collect diet samples and to measure intake during the summers of 1969 and 1970. Samples were taken from 128 hectare pastures grazed at heavy and light intensities. No great differences were observed between pastures for crude protein, gross energy, acid detergent fiber, lignin and cellulose levels in the diets. Heavy grazing resulted in somewhat lower values for dry matter digestibility and intake. The differences in intake were greater later in the season when total forage available may have become limited on the heavy grazed pasture. Individual livestock gains reflected the greater digestibilty and intake observed on the light use pasture.Gain per animal was greatest on the light use pasture. However, more gain per hectare was produced on the heavy use pasture.