Simulation studies of nitrogen concentration in the diet of sheep grazing Mitchell and mulga grasslands in western Queensland

Abstract

This study examined the potential to simulate the quality, as indicated by nitrogen concentration, of the diet of sheep grazing the Mitchell and mulga grasslands of western Queensland. Development of this simulation capability will allow pasture growth and animal production models to be more easily coupled. Modifications and optimisation of an existing beef cattle diet selection model, in conjunction with a single sward pasture model, accounted for 69.1% (P < 0.001) and 41.9% (P < 0.001) of variation in sheep dietary nitrogen concentrations observed from grazing trials on Mitchell and mulga grasslands, respectively. Failure to simulate some of the higher recorded dietary nitrogen concentrations was probably associated with high forb content in the diet. Examination of the results indicated that development of pasture growth models which simulate major pasture species, or groups of species (e.g. perennial grasses, annual grasses, browse, forbs, legumes), would appear to be necessary before diet selection models will be better able to explain the variation in dietary quality observed in grazing animals.