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Relationship of Animal Preference to Botanical Composition of Irrigated Pastures¹

Departments of Plant Science and Animal Science, University of Nevada, Reno

ABSTRACT

Botanical composition of herbage selected by rumen-fistulated heifers was related to botanical composition of two irrigated-pasture mixtures. More selective grazing was demonstrated on the tall fescue—Kentucky bluegrass pastures than on the orchardgrass—Kentucky bluegrass pastures. Differences were attributed to the lower palatability of tall fescue.

Botanical composition of the pastures studied was not highly correlated to the botanical composition of the forage selected by the animal.

It is suggested that management factors may influence the relative palatability of different pasture species and these changes in palatability may be readily measured by animal sampling.

¹ Contribution from the Departments of Plant Science and Animal Science, University of Nevada, Reno. Part of a thesis presented by the senior author in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the M.S. degree at the University of Nevada.

² Graduate Research Assistant, Assistant Nutritionist, Associate Agronomist and Associate Animal Nutritionist, respectively.