Methodology Research for Range Forage Evaluation

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Abstract
Range livestock nutrition involves the nutritional evaluation of a heterogenous plant cover which is modified continually by plant growth patterns and widely diverse environmental conditions. Plant analyses, animal growth and tissue composition indicates that energy, protein, P and vitamin A are the nutrients most apt to be deficient in the diet of grazing range livestock, although other deficiencies, toxicities and metabolic malfunctions occur on a less extensive basis. Techniques were developed utilizing esophageal and ruminal fistulated animals as biological sampling agents. Although further refinements are indicated, these techniques represent the best methods for obtaining an Unbiased sample of ingested forage. The preparation of a fistula sample for subsequent analyses is most critical because the apparent composition, especially the carbohydrate fraction, changes during subsequent drying.