A series of experiments was conducted to determine the validity of ratio technique, by using the chromogen and the chromium oxide as indicators, for estimation of forage intake of grazing animals,
Trial 1: The recovery of the chromogen in feces was determined by using two steers fed red clover as the experimental ration.
Nearly 100% of recovery was obtained.
Trial 2: The estimation of forage intake of tethering goat and sheep was made by the following three methods:
A. Green forage intake (g) = Estimated amount of forage in tethered grazing area before tethering by small plots clipping (g) -Forage residue after thered grazing (g).
B. Green forage intake (g) =Wet feces voided (g)×Chromogen units per gram of wet feces/Chromogen units per gram of green forage.
C. Green forage intake (g)=Cr2O3 administered(g)/Cr2O3(g)per gram of wet feces×Chromogen units per gram of wet feces/Chromogen units per gram of green orage.
The better results were obtained by the method B and C than the method A. The considerable daily variation of the intake of forage was noted by the method A.
Trial 3: The excretion pattern of Cr2O3 in feces was examined by using two lactating cows. Fecal grab samples were collected from rectum every three hours and Cr2O3 content was determined. Chromium oxide was administered once a day (at 3: 00 pm, 10g) or twice a day (at 6: 00 am and 3: 00 pm, 10g each). The hourly variation of Cr2O3 content in dry feces was less when administered twice a day than did once a day. There was no definite trend during 24 hours on the changes of Cr2O3 concentration in dry feces collected every three hours.
Trial 4: The determination of forage intake by a lactating cow was conducted by the simultaneous use of the chromogen and Cr2O3 as indicators. Two ctating cows were grazed on the orchard grass pasture. Chromium oxide was administered once a day (at 3: 00 pm, 10g) and fecal grab samples were llected twice a day (at 9: 00 am and 4: 00 pm). The method C in Trial 2 was applied to determine the forage intake. The better results were obtained as compared to conventional methods.
View full abstract