Growsafe equipment is used for feedlot animals to measure individual animal's feed intake....I am wondering there is such a probable system for grazing animals
Hi Robert
I fear that such equipment is still to build.
assessment of intake in grazing animals is possible, with lot of manpower, basic lab facilities...
methods rely on inert markers (chromic oxide, colour-coded polyethylene pellets) recovered in faecal pats, but often accuracy remain poor
Benvenutti, M. A., D. B. Coates, J. Bindelle, D. P. Poppi and I. J. Gordon (2014). "Can faecal markers detect a short term reduction in forage intake by cattle?" Animal Feed Science and Technology 194: 44-57. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2014.05.002
Ruiz, R., P. J. Soest, M. E. Amburgh, D. G. Fox and J. B. Robertson (2001). "Use of chromium mordanted neutral detergent residue as a predictor of fecal output to estimate intake in grazing high producing Holstein cows." Animal Feed Science and Technology 89(3/4): 155-164. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0377-8401(00)00229-7
Dear Robert,
Divide one plot into two of the same size and characteristics (shadow, slope, etc.), then let one without being grazed and the other grazed. Just assess the difference in grass presence after grazing in the grazed plot-grazed plot. and divide this difference by the number of animals that were grazing. This will you a quite approximate value of the grass (or the feed material under question) per head.
If you are also going to evaluate grazing resources, the study attached may help you (I hope so).
Regards and good luck with your research!
Conference Paper Valuation of grazing resources in agroforestry systems: an e...
The best method for estimating the pasture DM intake is through internal or external indicators. Silica lignin can serve as internal indicator. And cromic oxide can be used as external indicator. By measuring their levels in feed and faeces we can measure the DMI.
Dear Robert,
This is not an easy task. The sward methods are often not accurate, mainly with multispecies prairies. Please have a look at publications on the use of n-alkanes as internal markers to estimate diet composition, intake and digestibility. The technique has its odds, but could be used under well defined conditions.
Best regards
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