Relationship of Animal Preference to Botanical Composition of Irrigated Pastures

Summary Botanical composition of herbage selected by rumen-fistulated heifers was related to botanical composition of two irrigated-pasture mixtures. More selective grazing was demonstrated on the tall fescue—Kentucky bluegrass pastures than on the orchardgrass—Kentucky bluegrass pastures. Differences were attributed to the lower palatability of tall fescue. Botanical composition of the pastures studied was not highly correlated to the botanical composition of the forage selected by the animal. It is suggested that management factors may influence the relative palatability of different pasture species and these changes in palatability may be readily measured by animal sampling.