The diet selected and liveweight (LW) change of 4 drafts, each comprised of 3 age groups of Bos indicus cross steers grazing a native pasture paddock over 4 years in the southern speargrass pasture region, were estimated using faecal near infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Diet non-grass % (mean 10, s.d. 5) was apparently not related to season. Diet crude protein (CP) averaged 8.4% (s.d 2.1) during the summer and 5.8% (s.d 1.2) during the winter. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) averaged 56% (s.d. 3.3) in the summer and 51% (s.d. 2.6) in the winter. Liveweight (LW) gain was influenced by age group: bullocks < yearlings < weaners. ...
Anderson, L., van Klinken, R. D., and Shepherd, D. (2008). Aerially surveying Mesquite (Prosopis spp.) in the Pilbara. In: 'A Climate of Change in the Rangelands. Proceedings of the 15th Australian Rangeland Society Biennial Conference'. (Ed. D. Orr) 4 pages. (Australian Rangeland Society: Australia).
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