Botanical Composition of Summer Cattle Diets on the Wyoming High Plains

Abstract

Botanical composition of the summer diet was determined for cattle grazing semiarid grassland in southeastern Wyoming. Diet samples from beef cattle with esophageal fistulas were examined using a microscope technique. Western wheatgrass was the most abundant single species. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, sedges, and needleandthread made up 70% of the diet. Western wheatgrass and needleandthread were found in the diet at proportions greater than the relative amount available; conversely, blue grama was found at proportions less than the relative amount available.