Determination of Diet Protein and Digestibility of Native Sandhills Upland Range

Authors

• Bobbi Gene Geisert, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
• Terry J. Klopfenstein, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Don C. Adams, West Central Research and Extension Center, North Platte, NebraskaFollow
• Jacqueline A. Musgrave, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
• Walter H. Schacht, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1-1-2008

Comments

Published in 2008 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2007 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

A significant year by grazing level effect was detected on CP content of diet samples collected from 2003 to 2005 at the Gudmundsen Sandhills Laboratory. During drought years (2003 and 2004) cows selected plants which were higher in CP and lower in digestibility. High levels of grazing pressure decreased diet IVOMD compared to diets from ungrazed and moderately grazed pastures. Prediction models generated from these data predict dietary CP and organic matter disappearance (OMD) of cattle grazing native Sandhills range pastures.