Nutritive Value and Intake of Kleberg Bluestem by Beef Cattle

Abstract

Four cuttings of Kleberg bluestem (Dicanthium annulatum) were fed to 15 Santa Gertrudis steers to develop prediction equations for intake based on nutrient analyses of the forage with 4 replications. The 4 forages were found to differ in nutrient content (P<.05) and intake (P<.005). DE and DMD of Kleberg bluestem can be accurately predicted by laboratory means; however, prediction of intake of this forage with present analysis is impractical.