Comparison of diets collected from esophageally fistulated cows to forage quality estimated from fecal analysis

Authors

Bethany M. Johnston, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Jay D. Jenkins, University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Jacqueline A. Musgrave Musgrave, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow
L. A. Stalker, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Mitchell B. Stephenson, University of Nebraska - LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

2017

Citation

2017 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. University of Nebraska Extension MP104. Lincoln, NE.

Comments

© 2016 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Differences in forage quality (crude protein and energy) were analyzed between esophageally fistulated diets, analysis of fecal samples with Nutrition Balance Analyzer (NUTBAL) analysis, and analysis of handclipped forage samples. On upland range sites, hand- clipped samples provided forage quality estimates that were closer to esophageally fistulated diets than samples analyzed with the NUTBAL analysis. Aft er one year of data collection, it appears that there may be some inconstancies with the NUTBAL analysis for estimates on rangeland forage quality in the Nebraska Sandhills. More data is needed to verify these results; however, making management supplementations decisions solely on the NUTBAL analysis may not always be accurate on Sandhills rangeland.