Forage Intake by Cattle on Forest and Grassland Ranges

Forage intake was determined with steers using total fecal collections on forest and grassland vegetation types on mountain range in northeastern Oregon in 1976, 1977, and 1978. Forage intake varied from 1.6 to 2.5% of body weight (BW) on dry matter basis with a mean value of 2.1%. Forage intake did not differ (P>.05) between the two vegetation types when data were pooled across periods and years. During the summer grazing periods cattle on the forest had higher (P<.05) intakes than cattle on the grassland vegetation type. This is explained by higher forb and shrub consumption, more shade and less advanced plant phenology on the forest compared to the grassland vegetation types. Fecal collections from 5 steers for 3 days were needed to estimate fecal dry matter output with 90% confidence that the estimate was within 10% of the mean.