Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-cfpbc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-24T07:03:53.361Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) Use by Cattle Grazing on Irrigated Pasture

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 June 2017

Peter Bergen
Affiliation:
Alberta Sugar Co., Box 1209, Taber, AB, TOK 2GO, Canada
James R. Moyer
Affiliation:
Alberta Sugar Co., Box 1209, Taber, AB, TOK 2GO, Canada
Gerald C. Kozub
Affiliation:
Res. Stn., Agric. Canada, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 4B1, Canada

Abstract

Hereford cows and their spring-born calves grazed an irrigated grass pasture containing about 13% dandelion based on dry weight yield. Grazing treatments were 1) no grazing, 2) 4 days of grazing just before clipping, and 3) long-term grazing just before clipping. In clippings taken in June and July after the grazing treatments, the percentage dandelion in the forage was similar in all three grazing treatments, indicating that cattle used dandelion as readily as grass. The protein and mineral contents of dandelion were at appropriate levels to meet the established requirements of beef cattle.

Type
Research
Copyright
Copyright © 1990 Weed Science Society of America 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Literature Cited

1. Bliss, C. I. 1967. Statistics in Biology. Vol. 1. McGraw-Hill Book Co., Toronto.Google Scholar
2. Bowns, J. E., and Bagley, C. F. 1986. Vegetation responses to long-term sheep grazing on mountain ranges. J. Range Manage. 39:431434.Google Scholar
3. Coleman, S. W., and Barth, K. M. 1973. Quality of diets selected by grazing animals and species composition of pastures. J. Anim. Sci. 36:754761.Google Scholar
4. De Groot, T. 1963. The influence of heavy nitrogen fertilizer on the health of livestock. J. Br. Grassl. Soc. 18:112118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5. Dietl, W. 1982. Weeds of pastures and meadows in the European Alps. in Biology and Ecology of Weeds. Holzuer, W. and Numata, N., ed. Hingham, MA.Google Scholar
6. Doll, J. D. 1986. Do weeds affect forage quality? p. 161170 in Proc. 16 Natl. Alfalfa Symp. Ft. Wayne, IN.Google Scholar
7. Goering, H. K., and Van Soest, P. J. 1970. Forage fiber analysis. p. 8 in U.S. Dep. Agric., Agric. Res. Serv. Agric. Handb. No. 379.Google Scholar
8. MacKay, D. C., and Carefoot, J. 1987. Potassium status of irrigated brown chernozemic soils of southern Alberta. Can. J. Soil Sci. 67:877891.Google Scholar
9. Moyer, J. R. 1984. Yield and nutrient composition of orchardgrass hay as affected by dandelion control. Can. J. Plant Sci. 64:295302.Google Scholar
10. National Academy of Science–National Research Council (NAS-NRC). 1984. Nutrient requirements of beef cattle, 6th ed. NAS-NRC. Washington, DC.Google Scholar
11. Olsen, O. E. 1969. Fluorimetric analysis of selenium in plants. J. Assoc. Off. Agric. Chem. 52:627634.Google Scholar
12. Schwartz, C. C., and Ellis, J. E. 1981. Feeding ecology and niche separation in some native and domestic ungulates on shortgrass prairie. J. Appl. Ecol. 18:343353.Google Scholar
13. Sheaffer, C. C., and Wyse, D. L. 1982. Common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) control in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Weed Sci. 30:216220.Google Scholar
14. Stoddart, L. A., Smith, A. D., and Box, T. W. 1975. Range Management, 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. p. 257.Google Scholar
15. Vengris, J., Drake, M., Colby, W. G., and Bart, J. 1953. Chemical composition of weeds and accompanying crop plants. Agron. J. 45:213218.Google Scholar