Offered Papers Theme A: Efficient Production from Grassland
Archived
This content is available here strictly for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping and as such it may not be fully accessible. If you work or study at University of Kentucky and would like to request an accessible version, please use the SensusAccess Document Converter.
Publication Date
2005
Location
Dublin Ireland
Description
The management of extensively grazed pastures requires an understanding and prediction of the diet choices of herbivores grazing on vegetation that is qualitatively (maturity stage) and quantitatively (biomass, sward height) heterogeneous. The Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT, Stephens & Krebs, 1986), bases its predictions on the relative energy intake rate (EIR) of forages. However, as EIRs are difficult to assess at pasture and are subject to wide intra- and inter-individual variations, another vegetation criterion was sought (accessibility, quality), by-passing the animal's influence, to predict cattle diet choices quantitatively.
Citation
Ginane, Cécile and Baumont, R., "A Simple Vegetation Criterion (NDF Content) May Account for Diet Choices of Cattle Between Forages Varying in Maturity Stage and Physical Accessibility" (2005). IGC Proceedings (1985-2023). 400.
(URL: https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/20/themeA/400)
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
A Simple Vegetation Criterion (NDF Content) May Account for Diet Choices of Cattle Between Forages Varying in Maturity Stage and Physical Accessibility
Dublin Ireland
The management of extensively grazed pastures requires an understanding and prediction of the diet choices of herbivores grazing on vegetation that is qualitatively (maturity stage) and quantitatively (biomass, sward height) heterogeneous. The Optimal Foraging Theory (OFT, Stephens & Krebs, 1986), bases its predictions on the relative energy intake rate (EIR) of forages. However, as EIRs are difficult to assess at pasture and are subject to wide intra- and inter-individual variations, another vegetation criterion was sought (accessibility, quality), by-passing the animal's influence, to predict cattle diet choices quantitatively.
