Co-Authors:
Kahn, H.E., Department of Forage Crops and Range Management, Agricultural Research Organization, Bet Daga, Israel
Spedding, C.R.W., Department of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Reading, Early Gate, Reading, United Kingdom
Abstract:
Various published systems for the prediction of dry matter (DM) intake are discussed, with special emphasis on their relationship to DM digestibility. Suggestions are made for the modification of the Conrad (1966) equations and their adaptation to different types of cattle and environment. The equations were included in a dynamic simulation model to test their accuracy in predicting weight changes in growing steers under grazing conditions in Botswana and the UK. It was found that predicted weights were generally within 0.4-1.5% of measured weights and that fluctuations in the predicted liveweight curves closely followed the pattern of the observed ones, showing that the equations can provide a sound basis for the prediction of DM intake in agricultural practice in general and in livestock simulation models in particular. © 1984.