Changes

Cow management and nutrition should be assessed on the farm. The adequacy of effective long fibre can be determined by visual inspection of the diet, or by use of the Penn State Forage Particle Seperator. This is a set of sieves designed to separate the by particle size to facilitate the evaluation of effective long fibre. It cannot be used for diets containing large amounts of wet grass silage, as this clogs the sieve, but can be useful for evaluting separate forage components and total mixed rations. Sequential analaysis of the ration throughout the day will identify whether the ration is being sorted. It is also important to  determine the availability of food to cattle at all times, and a detailed management history should be obtained.  

Cow management and nutrition should be assessed on the farm. The adequacy of effective long fibre can be determined by visual inspection of the diet, or by use of the Penn State Forage Particle Seperator. This is a set of sieves designed to separate the by particle size to facilitate the evaluation of effective long fibre. It cannot be used for diets containing large amounts of wet grass silage, as this clogs the sieve, but can be useful for evaluting separate forage components and total mixed rations. Sequential analaysis of the ration throughout the day will identify whether the ration is being sorted. It is also important to  determine the availability of food to cattle at all times, and a detailed management history should be obtained.  

 

Faecal sieving was developed at the University of Florida

Faecal sieving was developed at the University of Florida

(Hall 1999) using a standard kitchen sieve. Faecal samples

(Hall 1999) using a standard kitchen sieve. Faecal samples