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. Southern pine ecosystems serve as range for livestock and wildlife. These forest ranges have potential for high production of red meat with minimum inputs (Pearson and Whitaker 1974; Pearson 1975; Sternitzke and Pearson 1975). Cattle impact on ecosystems is related to the animal's dietary needs, preferences, and available forage. The purpose of this study was to estimate cattle diets on longleaf pine-bluestem range. Specific objectives were to contrast cattle diets estimated from esophageal and fecal samples with estimates obtained from exclosures. Study Areas This study was conducted from April 1971 through March 1974 on the Palustris Experimental Forest in central Louisiana. A stand of second growth longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) (= 15-years-old) existed on the area. Predominant herbaceous vegetation was pinehill bluestem (Andropogon scoparius). Other bluestem grasses were prominent, as were the panicums (Panicum spp.) and paspalums (Paspalum spp.). Principal browse included southern waxmyrtle (Myrica ceriferu), oaks (Quercus spp.), blackberries (Rubus spp.), and blueberries (Vuccinium spp.).

Feeding patterns of capybara Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris (Rodentia, Hydrochaeridae) and cattle in the non-insular area of the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, Argentina

“…According to Hansen and Lucich (1978), this number of faeces can be considered sufficient to obtain a highly accurate estimation of the diet. In addition, other authors (Stewart 1967 ;Free et αϊ 1970 ;Sanders et al 1980 ;Johnson and Pearson 1981) have found the best results about diet estimation with grazer herbivores using this technique. For this reason, and because of the role of capybaras as grazer herbivores (Ojasti 1991), we consider that our diet determination have been done with a good precision.…”

Effect of breed of cattle and season on diet selection and defoliation of competitive plant species in semi‐natural grasslands

“…Seasonal and breed effects on the composition of faecal plant fragments could have been biased by changes in digestion across the grazing season and between breeds. It is considered, however, that these latter effects were small as there is little evidence for differences in digestibility of the same diet between seasons and within breeds of cattle (Johnson and Pearson, 1981; Badsberg et al. , 2003).…”

Variation in nutria diets in selected freshwater forested wetlands of Louisiana

“…(Anthony and Smith 1974), pronghorn (Antilocapra americana Ord) (Smith and Shundruck 1979), cattle and sheep (Free et al 1969), and cattle (Johnson and Pearson 1979). These researchers demonstrated that rumens generally contain a slightly higher percentage of forbs and a slightly lower percentage of fragments from evergreen trees and shrubs, than do fecal pellets.…”