Technical note: a simple model to estimate changes in dietary composition of strip-grazed cattle during progressive pasture defoliations

Journal of Dairy Science
A J RomeraP C Beukes

Abstract

Methodological problems occur in measuring herbage intake and diet quality during short-term (4-24h) progressive defoliations by grazing. Several models were developed to describe pasture component selection by grazing ruminants, particularly sheep. These models contain empirical coefficients to determine preferences that require laborious and data-demanding calibration. The objective was to develop a simple and practical model of changes in diet composition (green:dead) of pastures strip-grazed by dairy cows. The model was based on 3 premises when cows are strip-grazed in relatively homogeneous swards: 1) cows eat dead material only when green leaf and uncontaminated material have been removed; 2) dead material increases toward the bottom of the sward canopy; and 3) cows progressively defoliate pasture in layers. The main simplification in this model was assuming a linear decrease of green mass from the top to the bottom of the sward canopy. Thus, the proportion of green mass in the stratum eaten depended on the proportion of green in the entire sward canopy and its vertical profile. The model offers a simple solution to estimate changes in dietary compositions in pastures strip-grazed by dairy cattle during progressive pastur...Continue Reading

References

Aug 18, 2009·Journal of Animal Science·P GregoriniW K Coblentz

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Citations

Jun 28, 2011·Meat Science·Valentina VastaMarcella Avondo
Sep 25, 2021·Tropical Animal Health and Production·Antonio Leandro Chaves GurgelHenrique Rocha de Medeiros

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