The Influence of Certain Factors upon the Digestibility and Intake of Pasture Herbage by Beef Steers

Abstract

During the summer of 1952 the digestibility and intakes of pasture herbage by six beef steers were determined by the use of chromogen and chromium oxide indicators. All steers continuously grazed a 9-acre pasture. Two of the steers obtained their entire ration from pasture herbage, while two others received cane molasses and two received ground, yellow corn in addition to the herbage. Live weight gain records were kept on these animals. The accuracy of the chromogen-chromium oxide method for measuring dry matter intakes was tested by comparison of intakes so determined with intakes determined from total fecal collections. The method gave highly satisfactory results. The digestibility of the pasture forage dropped as the forage matured and rose when aftermath growth appeared. There was an indication that molasses depressed the digestibility of consumed herbage. The trend of herbage intakes paralleled the pattern of digestibility. The intakes of supplemental feeds varied inversely with the intakes of herbage, and were greatest when the digestibility of the herbage was lowest. Total digestible dry matter intakes were calculated and related to total live weight gain. The corn-fed pair of steers consumed the most total feed and made the greatest gain, the molasses-fed steers being next and the pasture-only steers last in these respects. The results of this study suggest that the size of growing steers influences the amount of herbage consumed. Copyright © . .