Session 8: Improved Grassland Machanization and Cropping Systems Including a Section Dealing with Improved Research Techniques for Laboratory and Field Evaluation of Forages
Publication Date
1985
Location
Kyoto Japan
Description
The quantity of forage consumed over a given time by livestock is an extremely important measurement of the quality of that forage. Intake differences may reflect differences in palatability, digestibility, forage chemical composition, rate of passage and overall animal performance. Although forage intake is a critical measurement, much more emphasis has been placed on improving parameters such as forage yield, persistence, and winter hardiness. One reason for this is that the above parameters can be measured with accuracy and relative ease while forage intake measurement of grazing livestock is difficult, expensive and often-times inaccurate. In an attempt to directly and accurately measure intake, we modified an esophageal cannula for cattle with electrodes designed to signal bolus swallowing events on a stripchart recorder. Known quantities of hay were fed to confined cattle implanted with the device. We found a positive relationship between number of swallows and dry matter intake of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) hay (r2 = 0.81) and chopped big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman) grass (r2 = 0.99). As a result, the CTC device appears accurate enough for further modification and trials in confined and free-grazing situations. If successful, this device could provide an accurate measurement of forage intake by free-roaming livestock at practically any location provided an esophageally fistulated animal was available.
Citation
Forwood, J R., "Development of a Conductivity Transducing Cannula for Measuring Forage Intake of Grazing Livestock" (1985). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 2.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1985/ses8/2)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Development of a Conductivity Transducing Cannula for Measuring Forage Intake of Grazing Livestock
Kyoto Japan
The quantity of forage consumed over a given time by livestock is an extremely important measurement of the quality of that forage. Intake differences may reflect differences in palatability, digestibility, forage chemical composition, rate of passage and overall animal performance. Although forage intake is a critical measurement, much more emphasis has been placed on improving parameters such as forage yield, persistence, and winter hardiness. One reason for this is that the above parameters can be measured with accuracy and relative ease while forage intake measurement of grazing livestock is difficult, expensive and often-times inaccurate. In an attempt to directly and accurately measure intake, we modified an esophageal cannula for cattle with electrodes designed to signal bolus swallowing events on a stripchart recorder. Known quantities of hay were fed to confined cattle implanted with the device. We found a positive relationship between number of swallows and dry matter intake of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) hay (r2 = 0.81) and chopped big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman) grass (r2 = 0.99). As a result, the CTC device appears accurate enough for further modification and trials in confined and free-grazing situations. If successful, this device could provide an accurate measurement of forage intake by free-roaming livestock at practically any location provided an esophageally fistulated animal was available.
