Range Forage and Animal Nutrition

Forage resources were inventoried, both quantitatively and qualitatively, to establish a base for developing a range livestock and forage management program. Range forage was evaluated both chemically and in terms of animal production throughout the grazing season. Methods of managing livestock, with respect to seasonal change in forage quality, for optimum production were studied. Evaluating the forage in terms of livestock production requirements provides a basis for managing livestock to gain optimum production from the forage resources. The factors and options considered and evaluated in these studies included: supplemental feeding; fall calving to provide an animal capable of capitalizing on high-quality spring forage; and removal of saleable classes of livestock before economic production from range forage ceases. This chapter indicates that it is feasible to manipulate livestock management, based on the knowledge of forage quality relative to livestock performance, for increased livestock production.