@article{Darambazar:230527,
      recid = {230527},
      author = {Darambazar, Enkhjargal and DelCurto, Timothy and Damiran,  Daalkhaijav},
      title = {The Influence of Cow Age on Botanical Composition of Diets  in Mountain Riparian Areas in Eastern Oregon of the United  States},
      journal = {Sustainable Agriculture Research},
      address = {2014},
      number = {526-2016-37789},
      year = {2014},
      abstract = {The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of  cow age on botanical composition of diets in mountain  riparian areas. Treatments consisted of 30 first-calf  heifers, and 30 mature cows randomly assigned to four  pastures (2 pastures/treatment, average 21.5 ha) in a  2-year study with a cross-over design. Botanical  composition of diets was determined in fecal samples  obtained from 10 animals in each treatment (5 per pasture)  on the fourth week of 35 to 42-days grazing periods using  the microhistological technique. Crude protein (CP) content  and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) were  determined, and correction factors were calculated for 22  major plant species. In digested samples, grasses were  overestimated, whereas, all forbs but northern bedstraw  (Galium boreale L.), were underestimated, and all shrub  species were overestimated except common snowberry  (Symphoricarpos albus L.). Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa  Dougl.) was highly overestimated after digestion. There was  no difference between cattle age class in the total number  of plant species found in the diets (p > 0.10) averaging in  41 species. Most individual grass and grasslike species  made up more than 5% of the diets, while all individual  forb, shrub, and tree species were minor components, not  exceeding 5%, except ponderosa pine. Western wheatgrass  (Agropyron smithii Rybd.) and tufted hairgrass (Deschampsia  caespitosa (L.) Beauv.) accounted for over 10% of the  diets. Heifers consumed more (p < 0.05) grasses and fewer  (p < 0.10) shrubs and trees compared to mature cows. The  diet of heifers contained more western wheatgrass, Baltic  rush (Juncus balticus Willd.), and pinegrass (Calamagrostis  rubescens Buckl.) (p < 0.10), but less Kentucky bluegrass  (Poa pratensis L.) (p < 0.01), than the diet of mature  cows. The proportion of ponderosa pine needles was higher  in the diet of mature cows (p < 0.10), than in the diet of  first calf heifers. In summary, mature cows appeared to  have selected a diet that contained less grasses and more  shrubs and trees compared to younger cows.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/230527},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.230527},
}