Author
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Gregorini, Pablo |
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Submitted to: Extension Fact Sheets
Publication Type: Other Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2008 Publication Date: 4/20/2008 Citation: Gregorini, P. 2008. Linking pasture and animal processes. Why graze cattle at dusk?. Extension Fact Sheets. Interpretive Summary: An interpretive summary is not required. Technical Abstract: This work aimed and designed to assess the impact of timing of herbage allocation and fasting on patterns of ingestive behavior, herbage intake, ruminal fermentation, and nutrient flow to the duodenum. Treatments were daily herbage allocation in the afternoon (1500, AHA), morning (0800, MHA), AHA after 20 h of fasting (AHAF), and MHA after 20 h of fasting (MHAF). Treatments did not affect daily herbage dry matter intake. However, they altered the eating pattern; evening grazing bout of AHA and AHAF was greater and more intense (bite mass and bite, eating step, and intake rates). Non glucogenic/ glucogenic volatile fatty acids ratio and ruminal pH were lower for AHA and AHAF during the evening. The flow of organic matter, nitrogen, microbial protein and non-microbial organic matter to the duodenum did not vary among MHA, MHAF and AHAF; however, it was greater for AHA. These results demonstrate the strong link between ingestion and digestion patterns, and its impact on nutrient supply. At the same amount of resource allocation, nutrient supply to grazing cattle can be modified through strategic grazing management. |
