Dry matter disappearance (DMD) of native forages collected from the Slave River Lowlands (SRL), Northwest Territories, was consistently greater in bison (Bison bison) than in Hereford cattle (Bos taurus) when measured with a nylon bag technique. Overall average DMD values were 52% and 39% for bison and cattle, respectively. Mean percent DMD values for each plant species were: willow (Salix spp.), 56; slough sedge (Carex atherodes), 50; baltic rush (Juncus balticus), 47; aleppo avens (Geum aleppicum), 44; and northern reedgrass (Calamagrostis inexpanse), 39. Dry matter disappearance was inversely correlated (P < 0.05) with crude fiber content of the sample. Dependence of DMD on crude fiber content was less (P < 0.001) in cattle than in bison. Based on relative digestibilities and data on forage intake, we concluded that slough sedge was the most important bison forage in the study area. Average DMD was 44% greater (P < 0.01) in a Hereford fed hay than in a Hereford fed hay plus a concentrate supplement. There was no difference (P>0.05) in DMD between two bison fed the hay ration and two fed hay plus the supplement. 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
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.