Cattle Diets on Irrigated Pasture

Abstract

Chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility of grazed forages collected during June, July, and August were compared. Protein in grazed orchardgrass was usually higher than that from alta fescue and forages representing either orchardgrass or fescue were higher in protein than tall wheatgrass forage. During August, protein in grazed forages from all pastures was higher and fiber content lower than during June or July. Lignin content in grazed forage was highest for orchardgrass, intermediate for wheatgrass, and lowest for fescue. Digestibility favored orchardgrass over either fescue or wheatgrass. During the 7-day sampling periods of each month, the quality of diets selected by cattle decreased as sampling period progressed. Suggestions are offered as to when irrigated pasture might be more beneficially used in an integrated system with native range.