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Articles 91 - 120 of 10791

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

A Silvopastoral System In The North Atlantic Zone Of Costa Rica: Combining Indigenous Timber Species With Dairy Pasture Swards, A Moulaert- Quiros, J P. Mueller, M Villarreal, R Piedra, L Villalobos Mar 2024

A Silvopastoral System In The North Atlantic Zone Of Costa Rica: Combining Indigenous Timber Species With Dairy Pasture Swards, A Moulaert- Quiros, J P. Mueller, M Villarreal, R Piedra, L Villalobos

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to design, establish and monitor a silvo pastoral experiment on a dairy farm in the northern Atlantic region of Costa Rica. Indigenous timber species, Vochysia guatemalensis and Hyeronima alchorneoides were used together with or without the tropical pasture legume, Arachis pintoi in a split plot design with a 4 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. First year establishment was good for the tree component (2.3 to 10 % mortality) but poor for A. pintoi (4 to 5 % of sward). Poor legume establishment was attributed to lax grazing management and excess competition from existing …


Productivity Of Three Tree Legumes Grazed By Cattle, R C. Gutterridge Mar 2024

Productivity Of Three Tree Legumes Grazed By Cattle, R C. Gutterridge

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Three tree legumes Albizia chinensis, Leucaena leucocephala K 636 and Tipuana tipu were grown in conjunction with the grass Brachiaria decumbens and grazed by weaner cattle at a stocking rate of 2.5 animals per hectare for a total of 447 days. Albizia was best adapted to this acidic, poorly drained site in south east Queensland giving the highest yields of edible dry matter, high survival rate and moderate liveweight gains of 0.45 kg/head/day. The productivity of L. leucocephala K 636 was always poor but it gave the highest liveweight gains of all treatments in the first 280 days of grazing, …


Morphological And Physiological Response Of Planeleaf Willow (Salix Planifolia Pursh.) To Simulated Browsing, L Xu, J L. Dodd, M A. Smith, Q D. Skinner, W A. Laycock Mar 2024

Morphological And Physiological Response Of Planeleaf Willow (Salix Planifolia Pursh.) To Simulated Browsing, L Xu, J L. Dodd, M A. Smith, Q D. Skinner, W A. Laycock

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Morphological and physiological responses of planeleaf willow (Salix planefolia Pursh.) to simulated browsing were studied under controlled conditions. The treatments consisted of every combination of three clipping intensities (30%, 60% and 90% of current twigs length removal) and three clipping timings (late winter, early spring and mid-summer). Increased clipping intensity stimulated bud activation; increased total leaf area and leaf size and increased the length of current year’s twigs. Mid-summer browsing increased the total number of leaves, the number of current twigs and decreased the length of current twigs. Higher browsing intensity resulted in higher photosynthetic rate of recently matured …


Psyllid Resistance In The Leucaena Genus, B F. Mullen, H M. Shelton, F Gabunada, W W. Stur Mar 2024

Psyllid Resistance In The Leucaena Genus, B F. Mullen, H M. Shelton, F Gabunada, W W. Stur

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Leucaena species varied from highly susceptible to highly resistant in their response to the psyllid insect (Heteropsylla cubana) at 2 sites, a high psyllid environment at Brisbane, Australia and a moderate psyllid environment at Los Baños, Philippines. L. leucocephala was the most susceptible species. There was considerable intraspecific variation in psyllid resistance within L. collinsii, L. diversifolia and L. pallida. Plant reponse to psyllid challenge between environments was highly correlated but not linear. The higher psyllid challenge environment at Brisbane permitted greater discrimination between species and fewer Leucaena species were ranked as psyllid resistant.


Fodder Production Of Multipurpose Trees In A Maize Farming System Of Subhumid Southern Africa, B H. Dzowela, L Hove, P L. Mafongoya Mar 2024

Fodder Production Of Multipurpose Trees In A Maize Farming System Of Subhumid Southern Africa, B H. Dzowela, L Hove, P L. Mafongoya

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Ways to integrate fodder production into maize production systems under Southern Africa’s subhumid conditions have been studied. One way involves the planting of tree and grass fodder hedges along soil conservation contour-bunds in maize fields. Management factors that influence the productivity of maize and fodder components in the system are fodder spp., side-pruning and deferment of wet season cutting. The other option involves interplanting tree fodders with maize through the use of a coppicing tree such as Acacia angustissima. Practical applications of these methods in mixed crop-livestock production systems are discussed.


Differences In Chemical Composition Among Provenances Of Browse Species In A Subhumid Environment: Relation To Use As Supplements, B H. Dzowela, L Hove, P L. Mafongoya Mar 2024

Differences In Chemical Composition Among Provenances Of Browse Species In A Subhumid Environment: Relation To Use As Supplements, B H. Dzowela, L Hove, P L. Mafongoya

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Studies were initiated in a subhumid Southern African environment to assess the chemical composition and nutritive value of Acacia angustissima (Mill.) Kuntze, Calliandra calothyrsus Meiss. and Leucaena species. The objective was to determine variability in crude protein (CP) concentration, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and soluble and insoluble proanthocyanidins from fodder samples of species, subspecies and provenances. A wide range was found in these parameters. The implications of these chemical composition factors, especially proanthocyanidins, on the use of these browse fodders in livestock feeding systems are discussed.


Tree Forages As Nitrogen Source For Ruminants In Sahelian Agro-Silvipastoral Systems, S T. Fall, B M. Doreau Mar 2024

Tree Forages As Nitrogen Source For Ruminants In Sahelian Agro-Silvipastoral Systems, S T. Fall, B M. Doreau

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Tree forages contribute up to 80% DM and 100% nitrogen content in the ruminants diet in the Sahel during the dry season. However, crude protein (CP) concentration in browse within a wide range and variation factors remain to be elucidated for better integration of browses in ruminants feeding systems. Variation factors of CP content and in vivo digestibility of four Sahelian browse species were investigated to appreciate the potential as nitrogen sources in Sahelian ruminant feeding systems. Seasonal variations in nitrogen content were evaluated in different plants part of A. raddiana, B. rufescens, B. aegyptiaca and G. senegalensis harvested in …


Introduction Of Multipurpose Tree Species For Improving The Productivity Of Grasslands In The Tropics, N G. Hegde, C Sall, T Nolan, J Connolly Mar 2024

Introduction Of Multipurpose Tree Species For Improving The Productivity Of Grasslands In The Tropics, N G. Hegde, C Sall, T Nolan, J Connolly

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

To improve the productivity of the Sahelian pastures, 10 different tree species were introduced and cattle, sheep and goats were allowed to graze. After a year of establishment, survival rate of different species ranged from 6% to 68%. Acacia senegal, Acacia seyal, Acacia nilotica, Combretum aculeata and Prosopis cineraria performed well and the impact of browsing by goats was severe.


Evaluation Of Animal Productivity In A Sustainable Grazing System Based On The Use Of Trees In Association With Pastures, J M. Iglesias Gomez Mar 2024

Evaluation Of Animal Productivity In A Sustainable Grazing System Based On The Use Of Trees In Association With Pastures, J M. Iglesias Gomez

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Young bulls of different breeds ( Zebu, Holstein and F-1 strain Holstein Zebu) were grazing together on a meadow composed of Guinea grass (Panicum maximum), Brachiaria (Brachiaria decumbens) and a mixture of natural pastures, all in association with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) sown at a density of 555 plants per ha in order to evaluate the potential of that system for beef production. A completely randomized design was used. The meadow was rotationally grazed at stocking rate of 3.6 animal per ha. During the 18 months of fattening the best results were obtained with the Zebu type. …


Changes In Understorey Pasture Composition In Agroforestry Regimes In New Zealand, M F. Hawke, A G. Gillingham Mar 2024

Changes In Understorey Pasture Composition In Agroforestry Regimes In New Zealand, M F. Hawke, A G. Gillingham

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Long term Agroforestry trials were established in the North and South Islands of New Zealand between 1971-76. They compared a range of final tree stockings of Pinus radiata planted into pasture with open pasture control plots and were measured for tree growth parameters and agricultural production. This paper presents the results of pasture species changes over the period of tree age 10-22 years. Pasture species composition under Pinus radiata changed with time, dependent primarily on the rate of canopy closure. Changes occurred relatively rapidly in high tree stocked areas of 400 stems per hectare (sph) in the North Island trials …


Forestry, A Valuable Crop For The Pastoral Farmer, N M. Shadbolt Mar 2024

Forestry, A Valuable Crop For The Pastoral Farmer, N M. Shadbolt

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The integration of forestry into a pastoral system (sheep & beef cattle) will be discussed with respect to the economic sustainability of the system. The cash flow implications for a case study farm of forest development, and methods used through forestry right agreements to facilitate these by reducing risk, will be developed.


The Effects Of Tree Density On Pasture Production Under Acacia Melanoxylon, B S. Thorrold, I L. Power, M B. Dodd Mar 2024

The Effects Of Tree Density On Pasture Production Under Acacia Melanoxylon, B S. Thorrold, I L. Power, M B. Dodd

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Silvi-pastoral systems could contribute to greater total productivity and more sustainable land management of grazed pastures in New Zealand. Despite this potential, little is known of the interactions of tree species and environment on pasture growth. In this paper we report the effects of tree density on pasture yield in an Acacia melanoxylon silvi-pastoral system. The results show decreasing pasture yield with increasing tree density, although the extent of the reduction is less than would be expected under Pinus radiata. Results suggest that shade is the dominant factor causing yield decline in this study, while reduced N availability is …


Long-Term Impact Of Leucaena-Based Grazing Systems On Soil Acidity, A D. Noble, R J. Jones Mar 2024

Long-Term Impact Of Leucaena-Based Grazing Systems On Soil Acidity, A D. Noble, R J. Jones

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Soil acidification and land degradation issues are assuming increasing importance in Australia and challenging the concept of sustainablity of current land management systems. In this study the impact of a 22 year old Leucaena leucocephala / Urochloa mosambicensis (Leucaena) pasture production system on soil acidification and selected soil chemical properties was compared to an adjacent Urochloa mosambicensis (Sabi) area. Significant acidification and cation depletion was observed to 70 cm under the Leucaena when compared to the Sabi system. The net acidification rate for the Leucaena system was estimated to be 2.73 kmol H+ ha-1 yr-1 of which 0.17 kmol …


Farmers' Screening Of Indigenous Fodder Trees And Shrubs In Kenya, R L. Roothaert, H K. Arimi, E N. Kamau Mar 2024

Farmers' Screening Of Indigenous Fodder Trees And Shrubs In Kenya, R L. Roothaert, H K. Arimi, E N. Kamau

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The lack of fodder quantity and quality is a constraint for small scale livestock production systems in central Kenya which are intensive or are rapidly becoming so. This study examined farmers’ knowledge about indigenous fodder trees and shrubs (IFTS) which are fed to livestock. The study consisted of a formal survey in three agroecological zones with mean annual rainfall varying from 750 to 1400 mm. Farmers rated IFTS for different qualities, which were analysed by Chi square. Differences of ratings among species for these qualities were significant (p<0.05). The most promising species for the sub-humid zone, in terms of what farmers want to plant and in terms of preliminary nutritive analysis, were: Tithonia diversifolia, Commiphora zimmermanii, Ficus spp. and Trema orientalis. The species …


Scale Of Patchiness Affects The Relation Between Forage Quality And Patch Choice By Cattle, Wallis Devries, M F. Laca, E A. Laca Mar 2024

Scale Of Patchiness Affects The Relation Between Forage Quality And Patch Choice By Cattle, Wallis Devries, M F. Laca, E A. Laca

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

We predicted and tested the effects of scale of heterogeneity on movements and selectivity of a large grazer in a controlled field experiment. We created random mosaics of short/high quality and tall/low quality grass patches in equal proportion at grid sizes of 2x2 m and 5x5 m. Subsequently, we monitored the foraging behavior of four steers in 16 20x40 m plots over 30-minute periods. As predicted, the animals selected the short patches both by walking in a nonrandom manner and by concentrating their grazing time. Selectivity was more pronounced in large patches than in small ones. In contrast, the number …


Spatial Analysis Of Land Use By Cattle Herds In A Village Of The Sudanese Zone In Senegal. Application For Grazing System Improvement, A Ickowicz, J C. Usengumuremyi, D Bastien, N De Choudens Mar 2024

Spatial Analysis Of Land Use By Cattle Herds In A Village Of The Sudanese Zone In Senegal. Application For Grazing System Improvement, A Ickowicz, J C. Usengumuremyi, D Bastien, N De Choudens

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Spatial analysis of land use by cattle herds in the sub-humid area of Senegal is conducted through the utilisation of a Geographic Information System. This tool allows us to establish relationships between spatial practices, ruminant nutrition and performances. It gives leads to proposals for the improvement of the extensive ruminant feeding system.


Using Cuticular Wax Alkanes And Computer Simulation To Estimate Diet Selection, Herbage Intake And Nutrient Cycling In Grazing Sheep, H Dove, R J. Simpson Mar 2024

Using Cuticular Wax Alkanes And Computer Simulation To Estimate Diet Selection, Herbage Intake And Nutrient Cycling In Grazing Sheep, H Dove, R J. Simpson

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In grazing ewes, plant cuticular wax alkanes were used as markers to estimate diet selection, herbage intake, N intake and N excretion in faeces. Pasture and animal data were then used as inputs to the decision-support system GrazFeed, which simulates grazing and digestion to predict herbage intake, N intake and N excretion. Estimated and predicted intakes agreed closely, especially for N intake, and it is concluded that, subject to further investigation of the possibility that GrazFeed slightly under-estimated faecal N excretion, the close agreement between estimated and predicted OM and N intakes suggests that this combined use of alkane methods …


Effect Of Species Horizontal Distribution On Defoliation Of Ryegrass-Clover Swards Grazed By Sheep, P C. De Faccio Carvalho, F Louault, M Lafarge Mar 2024

Effect Of Species Horizontal Distribution On Defoliation Of Ryegrass-Clover Swards Grazed By Sheep, P C. De Faccio Carvalho, F Louault, M Lafarge

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Defoliation events on labelled white clover (Trifolium repens) growing points or ryegrass (Lolium perenne) tillers were measured during grazing tests by sheep with swards consisting of mixed ryegrass-clover (MIX) or alternate strips of clover and ryegrass (STRIP). Sward surface height was maintained at 6.4 cm by lawnmower cuts in order to obtain a similar surface height for both species. On average, during 13 grazing tests in STRIP and 11 in MIX swards, clover was the more defoliated species : 23.3% of the growing points in STRIP and 26.5% in MIX swards were defoliated compared to 16.2% …


Foraging Behavior Of Zebu Cattle Grazing Deciduous Forest, L Ortega, J Castillo, F Rivas Mar 2024

Foraging Behavior Of Zebu Cattle Grazing Deciduous Forest, L Ortega, J Castillo, F Rivas

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective of this study was to determine whether the foraging behavior of Zebu cattle in deciduous forest was affected by time of the year. Data were recorded during the wet, nortes and dry seasons. Ten Zebu cows were used to record biting rate. Intake and bite size was estimated using three esophageally fistulated animals. Cattle browsed shrubs and trees in the wet season and ingested litter leaves in the dry season which resulted in differences of ingestive behavior. In general, bite size and intake were higher in the wet season and decreased during the nortes and dry seasons.


Behaviour Of Cattle On Two Different Types Of Upland Pastures, D Macesic, M Knezevic Mar 2024

Behaviour Of Cattle On Two Different Types Of Upland Pastures, D Macesic, M Knezevic

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The purpose of this research was to study the influence of the quality of pastures on the behaviour of cows in a 'cow-calf' system. The behaviour was measured by the four principal activities of the herd: grazing, lying, 'roaming' and insect repelling, and it is presented with relative indicators. The trial was conducted on pasture areas of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, at the altitude of 650- 850 m. The influence of the pasture quality on the behaviour of cattle on pasture was studied on two different types of pastures: a natural unreclaimed pasture belonging to the Arrhenatheretum …


Foraging Behaviour Of Heifers, Sheep And Goats In Grass-Legume Cafeteria, J P. Singh, Vinod Shankar, V S. Upadhyay Mar 2024

Foraging Behaviour Of Heifers, Sheep And Goats In Grass-Legume Cafeteria, J P. Singh, Vinod Shankar, V S. Upadhyay

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The paper reports findings of a grazing trial with heifers, sheep and goats in a grass–legume cafeteria involving 45x10 m alternate strips of 18 grasses and 18 legumes. In the first year heifers were grazed. Sheep were introduced in the second year and goats in the third year. The stocking rate was 1.5 ACU/ha. Foraging behaviour of three kinds of animals differed in many respects with grazing and rest durations, choice of species in the forenoon and afternoon and in different seasons. Heifers, by and large, preferred grasses over legumes and browse. Sheep, on the contrary, preferred legumes over grasses …


Effects Of Defoliation Frequency On Foraging Selective Behaviour In Pasture With Paspalum Dilatatum, G L. Acosta, A T. Ayala Torales, V A. Deregibus Mar 2024

Effects Of Defoliation Frequency On Foraging Selective Behaviour In Pasture With Paspalum Dilatatum, G L. Acosta, A T. Ayala Torales, V A. Deregibus

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective was to assess defoliation effects exerted by sheep grazing on a pasture composed by falaris and dallisgrass, at two phenological stages during spring and summer. A sown pasture of Phalaris aquatica and Paspalum dilatatum were grazed at two phenological stages: stage I (SI), with no more than 5% of reproductive tillers, and stage II (SII), with at least 70% of reproductive tillers. Tillers of both grass species were marked with plastic colour rings along two transects in each plot. Phenological stage of tillers, and the number, age and length of each leaf per tiller were registered. Tiller defoliation …


Characterization Of Grazing Patterns In Cool-Season Annual And Warm-Season Perennial Grass Pastures, G E. Aiken, M S. West, D I. Bransby Mar 2024

Characterization Of Grazing Patterns In Cool-Season Annual And Warm-Season Perennial Grass Pastures, G E. Aiken, M S. West, D I. Bransby

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Pastures are often either under- or over-grazed, which can affect both pasture sustainability and livestock performance. Disk meter heights were measured for rye (Secale cereale L.) -ryegrass (Lolium L. multiflorum Lam.) pasture to characterize stocking rate (2.5, 3.7, and 4.9 steers/ha) effects on grazing patterns. In another study, grazing indices were calculated for bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] to describe pasture utilization over time for three stocking rates (3.0, 5.9, 8.9 steers/ha). Distributions of DMH for rye-ryegrass showed distinct grazing patterns for each stocking rate, with the distributions changing from bimodal to multi-modal from heavy to light …


Border Effects On Cattle Grazing Preference, G E. Shewmaker, H F. Mayland, S B. Hansen Mar 2024

Border Effects On Cattle Grazing Preference, G E. Shewmaker, H F. Mayland, S B. Hansen

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The objective was to examine the effect of row position on cattle grazing preference. Grazing preference of eight tall fescues [Festuca arundinacea (Schreb.)] was evaluated by ocular preference scores at 30 hr (PS30) and 48 hr (PS48). Six rows of a cultivar—numbered consecutively within each plot from left to right—formed one plot. Rows 1&6 were on the outside edges of the plot and rows 3&4 were in the middle. Within a replication, rows 1 and 6 were adjacent to rows 6 and 1 of adjacent plots, respectively. During the first year, row position was not a significant effect. However, …


Intake And Diet Selection By Sheep Grazing Grass/Clover Patches, I J. Gordon, A W. Illius Mar 2024

Intake And Diet Selection By Sheep Grazing Grass/Clover Patches, I J. Gordon, A W. Illius

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The effects of the spatial dispersion of ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) and clover (Trifolium repens L), at the feeding station scale, on diet composition and feeding behaviour were studied for sheep. There were no significant changes in diet composition with changes in the spatial dispersion of sward components. Bite size, bite rate and intake rate did increase as the species became more aggregated.


Relationships Between The Nutrient Content Of Irrigated Pasture On Offer And That Selected By Grazing Dairy Cows, W J. Wales, C R. Stockdale, P T. Doyle Mar 2024

Relationships Between The Nutrient Content Of Irrigated Pasture On Offer And That Selected By Grazing Dairy Cows, W J. Wales, C R. Stockdale, P T. Doyle

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

An experiment was conducted to determine the dry matter, energy, crude protein and fibre intake by dairy cows in late lactation when grazing perennial pasture offered at allocations of 15, 20, 30 and 40 kg DM/cow.day. The cows consistently selected a diet 10% higher in digestibility than that on offer. In contrast, cows selected diets with crude protein levels increasing from 22% to 40%, above that in pasture on offer, as pasture allocation increased. A similar pattern was observed for the intake of white clover (Trifolium repens L). The increase in the concentration of crude protein in the diet …


Species Preference Influences On Cattle Grazing Behaviour, G P. Cosgrove, C B. Anderson, R H. Fletcher Mar 2024

Species Preference Influences On Cattle Grazing Behaviour, G P. Cosgrove, C B. Anderson, R H. Fletcher

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Lotus corniculatus offers specific nutritional benefits to animals, but exploiting these advantages in grazing systems depends on the proportion of lotus in the feed offered and the animals' preference, hence desire to select for it. To determine preference for lotus, heifers were offered free-choice in contrasting, spatially separated but adjacent monocultures of ryegrass-lotus or red clover-lotus. Following a one-week period to adjust to the species offered and their arrangement, 10 young heifers were observed at 10-minute intervals during daylight hours, and the species they were on and whether or not they were grazing was recorded. This procedure was conducted in …


Partial Preference Of Grazing Cattle For Contrasting Legume Swards, C.H. E.C. Poli, J Hodgson, G P. Cosgrove, G C. Arnold Mar 2024

Partial Preference Of Grazing Cattle For Contrasting Legume Swards, C.H. E.C. Poli, J Hodgson, G P. Cosgrove, G C. Arnold

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Yearling heifers in groups of 3 grazed 405 m2 plots made up of alternating 2.4m wide strips of white clover/birdsfoot trefoil (WC+BT) or red clover (RC) in the proportions of 80:20, 67:33, 33:67 and 20:80 for periods of 3 days over four replicates in time, balanced for effects of previous treatment. Observation of the distribution of grazing activity and biting rate were made over 3 hour periods each evening. Biting rates were consistently higher on (WC+BT) than RC (52.3 vs 46.3 ± 0.59 bites.min-1 P(0.0001). Animals initially showed partial preference for the minor sward component in each treatment but regression …


The Use Of Vibration Analysis And Telemetry To Measure Bite Frequency And Intensity In Free-Ranging Horned Ruminants, P R. Lawrence, K Becker Mar 2024

The Use Of Vibration Analysis And Telemetry To Measure Bite Frequency And Intensity In Free-Ranging Horned Ruminants, P R. Lawrence, K Becker

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

An apparatus is described which detects and measures the vibrations in a ruminant’s horn especially those produced by the animal’s teeth. Vibrations are transmitted by radio to a portable computer where those produced as a result of eating and ruminating can be characterised by their intensity, length and frequency.


Influence Of Vegetation Patch Characteristics On Discriminatory Grazing By Dairy Cows, W M. Griffiths, J Hodgson, G C. Arnold, C W. Homes Mar 2024

Influence Of Vegetation Patch Characteristics On Discriminatory Grazing By Dairy Cows, W M. Griffiths, J Hodgson, G C. Arnold, C W. Homes

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Two studies involving the sequential grazing of sets of patches on a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) sward were carried out to investigate the effects of patch characteristics on the selective behaviour of grazing cattle. Experiment 1 involved a range of combinations of sward height (8.9 - 19.6 cm) and bulk density (1.33 - 1.67 mg DM/cm3). Distribution of grazing activity (number of bites or residence time) was strongly and positively related to patch height, but additional effects of variation in bulk density were limited. In Experiment 2 patches were manipulated to offer contrasts in both height (13.4 and …