Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Value of multiple fecal indices for predicting diet quality and intake of steers
Author
Leite, E. R.
Stuth, J. W.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
1990-03-01
Body

The relationship of fecal nitrogen fractions and condensed tannins dietary crude protein, in vitro organic matter digestibility, and intake of steers was assessed to determine the suitability of these multiple fecal indices for predicting quality of animal diets under free-roaming conditions. Research was conducted on the Texas A&M Native Plant and Animal Conservancy near College Station, located in the Post Oak Savannah region of Texas. Regression equations were used to evaluate relationships between dietary intake and quality to fecal variables. Dietary crude protein, digestible organic matter, organic matter intake, crude protein intake, and digestible energy intake were determined from previous studies. Corresponding fecal samples were analyzed for absolute output, proportions, and concentrations of nitrogen and selected fractions of fecal organic matter, as well as fecal condensed tannins, proportions of fecal monocot and dicot fragments, and fecal organic matter. In general, no fecal parameter by itself had a high correlation with dietary variables when expressed on a proportion or concentration basis. A combination of fecal indexes accounted for more variation in dietary parameters than fecal nitrogen. Fecal nitrogen fractions did not improve the predictive power of multiple variable models. Equations predicting dietary crude protein (%) and crude protein intake yielded the highest coefficients of determination (R2 = .57 and .51, respectively). Multiple fecal indices used in this study were of limited value in predicting diet quality and intake. This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020

Language
en
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Journal Issue/Article
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.2307/3899032
Additional Information
Leite, E. R., & Stuth, J. W. (1990). Value of multiple fecal indices for predicting diet quality and intake of steers. Journal of Range Management, 43(2), 139-143.
IISN
0022-409X
OAI Identifier
oai:repository.arizona.edu:10150/644955
Journal Volume
43
Journal Number
2
Journal Pages
139-143
Journal Name
Journal of Range Management
Keywords
organic matter
digestible energy
nutrient intake
prediction
feces
steers
crude protein
diets
in vitro digestibility
nitrogen content
Texas
nutritive value