Botanical Composition of Summer Cattle Diets on the Wyoming High Plains

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Abstract
Botanical composition of the summer diet was determined for cattle grazing semiarid grassland in southeastern Wyoming. Diet samples from beef cattle with esophageal fistulas were examined using a microscope technique. Western wheatgrass was the most abundant single species. Western wheatgrass, blue grama, sedges and needleandthread made up 70% of the diet. Western wheatgrass and needlelandthread were found in the diet at proportions greater than the relative amount available; blue grama was found at proportions less than the relative amount available.