Relationship of Size of Growing Cattle to Pasture Intake and its Use as an Index of Palatability

Abstract

An examination of the relationship of the body weight of growing cattle grazing 4 pastures to the dry matter intake revealed a highly significant correlation (0.83) between these 2 variables. In addition, it was found that the dry matter intake increases by 3.5 lb./day for a body weight increment of 100 lb., provided that sufficient herbage is available to satisfy the appetite. The relative constancy of the rate of change in intake with changing body weight suggests that an accounting for the influence of varying body weights upon the absolute dry matter intake provides an index of palatability. Although this approach to an objective measurement of palatability needs much more study, it would appear to be particularly useful in comparisons of different kinds of pastures and their responses to various treatments.