Abstract

Six ruminally and eight bi-fistulated (ruminal and esophageal), 2-yr-old beef heifers were used to study the effects of pregnancy on forage intake and utilization under grazing conditions. During the third trimester of gestation, pregnant heifers ate more (P<.05) forage than nonpregnant heifers and maintained similar (P>.10) levels of organic matter and fiber digestibility. As calving neared, pregnant animals had higher (P<.05) rates of passage and tended to have lower ruminal capacity "¢(P=.15) and digesta fill (P=.14) than nonpregnant animals. Differences in quality of diet selected by the two groups were minimal.

Keywords: Cattlemen's Day, 1990, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station contribution, no. 90-361-S, Report of progress (Kansas State University. Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service), 592, Beef, Heifers, Pregnancy, Intake, Digestibility, Winter range

How to Cite:

Vanzant, E. & Cochran, R., (1990) “Effect of pregnancy on forage intake and utilization in spring-calving beef heifers wintered on Flint Hills range”, Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station Research Reports 1(1), 84-86. doi: https://doi.org/10.4148/2378-5977.2265