Date of Award:

5-1988

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Wildland Resources

Department name when degree awarded

Range Science

Committee Chair(s)

Philip J. Urness

Committee

Philip J. Urness

Committee

John Malechek

Committee

Frederick Provenza

Committee

James Gessaman

Abstract

Fresh-harvested Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) browse was mixed with chopped alfalfa hay to formulate six diets, varying in oak content at two phenological stages. Diets included juvenile oak (65,80,95%), mature oak (40,80%), and an alfalfa control. Diets were evaluated for goats using a series of total-collection digestion balance trials. Dry matter intake was highest for animals on mature oak diets, and lowest on diets containing a high percentage of juvenile oak, possibly due to differences in diet dry matter content. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and cell wall components was lowest for mature oak diets, and highest for diets high in juvenile oak. Nitrogen and energy balances were positive in all cases, and all diets provided nitrogen and energy in excess of maintenance requirements. This was reflected by weight gains for all animals in every trial. Fecal and urinary nitrogen losses did not appear to be related to tannin content of the diets, because high-percentage juvenile oak diets resulted in reduced nitrogen outputs, presumably due to reduced nitrogen intakes for these diets. In comparison with previous data using pelleted formulations, the fresh-fed material was consistently higher in digestibility of the various fractions, and associated with lower dry matter intakes.

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