Publication Date
1993
Description
Patches of different height and/or bulk density were created in ryegrass pasture to study selective responses of steers to horizontal variability in patch structure. The experiment involved 3 heterogeneity treatments with 2 patch types each. Steers encountered and entered both patch types available in each treatment with the same frequency. In contrast, they grazed for a longer time (T,) at; and removed more bites (B) from the patch type that yielded greater intake rates. While T, and B varied for a patch type depending on the alternative patch, bite rate and likely bite size were constant for a given patch type. Animals responded more to differences in height than density, Grazers respond to horizontal heterogeneity in patch height and bulk density by concentrating grazing on patches offering greater intake rate potential, Patchy environments are beneficial relative to homogeneous conditions of similar average characteristics.
Citation
Demment, Montague W.; Distel, R A.; Griggs, T C.; Laca, E A.; and Deo, G P., "Selective Behaviour of Cattle Grazing Ryegrass Swards with Horizontal Heterogeneity in Patch Height and Bulk Density" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 16.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session18/16
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Selective Behaviour of Cattle Grazing Ryegrass Swards with Horizontal Heterogeneity in Patch Height and Bulk Density
Patches of different height and/or bulk density were created in ryegrass pasture to study selective responses of steers to horizontal variability in patch structure. The experiment involved 3 heterogeneity treatments with 2 patch types each. Steers encountered and entered both patch types available in each treatment with the same frequency. In contrast, they grazed for a longer time (T,) at; and removed more bites (B) from the patch type that yielded greater intake rates. While T, and B varied for a patch type depending on the alternative patch, bite rate and likely bite size were constant for a given patch type. Animals responded more to differences in height than density, Grazers respond to horizontal heterogeneity in patch height and bulk density by concentrating grazing on patches offering greater intake rate potential, Patchy environments are beneficial relative to homogeneous conditions of similar average characteristics.
