Botanical Composition of Central Texas Rangeland Influences Quality of Winter Cow Diets

Abstract

Winter diets of dry, pregnant cows were investigated on a Blackland range site in mid- and high-poor condition. Under similar amounts of available forage, an advanced successional stage, i.e. change in species composition within a range condition class, resulted in increased dietary protein (CP), digestible organic matter (DOM) and phosphorus (P). A slightly larger abundance of cool-season grasses on the pasture in higher poor condition allowed the animals to select a diet adequate in CP, DOM and P approximately 3 weeks earlier in spring than on the mid-poor condition pasture.