Estimation of Forage Mass, Dry Matter Intake and Digestibility

ISBN-13: 9783639154542 / Angielski / Miękka / 2009 / 144 str.

Isaias Lopez-Guerrero

Opis

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.

O autorze

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