Prediction by Nonlinear Programming of Relative Chemical Composition of Dietary Botanical Components

Nonlinear programming and matrix methods of analysis were used to predict relative chemical composition, energy values, and cellulose digestion coefficients for dietary botanical components. These methods provided data that would be difficult or impossible to obtain by direct experimental techniques. Estimates of chemical composition are presented for plant groups, plant parts, and individual species in the diets of cattle and sheep grazing together in early, middle, and late summer on annual range. These results illustrate the usefulness of, and the need for, training more resource scientists in systems analysis and computer techniques for biological problems.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