Esophageal, Fecal and Exclosure Estimates of Cattle Diets on a Longleaf Pine-Bluestem Range

Abstract

Microhistological analysis of esophageal or fecal materials provides an accurate and efficient method for evaluating botanical compositions of cattle diets on native longleaf pine-bluestem range. For practical purposes fecal analysis is the preferred method. Plant species that were most important to cattle during the present study were the bluestems and panicums.