Cattle Diets on Seeded Clearcut Areas in Central Interior British Columbia

Abstract

The bite count technique was used to estimate the botanical composition of cattle diets for deferred rotation and continuous grazing systems on seeded forest range previously clearcut of spruce and pine. There was more variability in diets among grazing periods and years within grazing systems than between grazing systems. Grass, forbs, and shrubs averaged 58.5%, 33.5%, and 9% of the diet, respectively. Orchardgrass, timothy, bromegrass, horsetail, lupine, aster and willow were the major forage species consumed. Diets changed moderately from July through August with a more pronounced change in September. With advanced maturity of grass during dry years, forb usage increased, with some instances of use as high as 54% of the diet.