Chemical Composition of Bighorn Winter Forages

Abstract

Chemical analysis revealed that the principal forage species which comprised more than 95% of the California bighorn winter diet in the Ashnola watershed (British Columbia) contained sufficient crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, nitrogen-free extract, and calcium for maintenance. However, by the same standards, all species and notably the grasses, were deficient in phosphorus. Low phosphorus and moderate calcium levels produced unfavorable calcium: phosphorus ratios by mid winter. Columbia needlegrass, a principal increaser species and an unimportant item in the bighorn winter diet, was inferior to the other species investigated. Bluebunch wheatgrass, a decreaser species and the most important bighorn food species, appeared to be the most nutritious grass.