Chemical Composition of Bighorn Winter Forages

Chemical analysis revealed that the principal forage species which comprised more than 95% of the California bighorn winter diet in the Ashnola watershed (British Columbia) contained sufficient crude protein, fat, fiber, ash, nitrogen-free extract, and calcium for maintenance. However, by the same standards, all species and notably the grasses, were deficient in phosphorus. Low phosphorus and moderate calcium levels produced unfavorable calcium: phosphorus ratios by mid winter. Columbia needlegrass, a principal increaser species and an unimportant item in the bighorn winter diet, was inferior to the other species investigated. Bluebunch wheatgrass, a decreaser species and the most important bighorn food species, appeared to be the most nutritious grass.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202