Mastication Effects on Cattle Diet Determined by Microhistological Analysis

Abstract

This study examined the influence of mastication on the composition of several hand compounded diets fed to esophageally fistulated cattle. Microhistological analysis was used to determine diet sample botanical composition. Mastication had no effect on diet botanical composition. However, considerable variation existed between observers. The use of observers demonstrating high accuracy with hand compounded mixtures and replication of observers are possible ways to maintain accuracy when microhistological analysis is used to evaluate herbivore diets.