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The effect of species complexity and sodium fertilizer application on the grazing behaviour of calves

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 November 2017

M. Youssef ,
P.C. Chiy ,
C.J.C. Phillips  and
M. Metwally
M. Youssef
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW
P.C. Chiy
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW
C.J.C. Phillips
Affiliation:
School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW
M. Metwally
Affiliation:
Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt
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Extract

Cattle exhibit preferences not only for certain sward species but for the same species at different stages of growth, and the various parts of an individual plant and for individual plant of preferred composition. This tendency is termed selective grazing (Fontenot and Blaser, 1965). For example ruminants will select a high Sodium diet. Calves tend to be more selective than adult cattle, muzzling herbage before eating.

The aim of the present experiment was to investigate the effect of sward complexity, species and sodium fertilizer on the grazing behaviour of calves.

Sixteen dairy Friesian calves, aged 5 to 6 months, with no previous grazing experience, were allocated to groups of 4 similar calves, and then at random to four pasture treatments of 3480m2 each with one (Perennial Ryegrass, P), two (P and Timothy, T), three (P, T and Cocksfoot, C) and four (P, T.C and Red Fescue, R) grass species in a balanced change over design. Each species was sown in plots of 290m2 and one half of each plot received 48Kg/ha. nacl.

Type
Silage and Feeding Behaviour
Information
Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) , Volume 1993: Winter meeting , March 1993 , pp. 142
Copyright
Copyright © The British Society of Animal Production 1993

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References

Fontenot, J.P. and Blaser, R.E. (1965). Symposium on factors influencing the voluntary intake of herbage by ruminants: Selection and intake by grazing animals. J. Anim. Sci., 24, 1020–1208.Google Scholar