Using Dairy Manure Compost for Speciality Forages 8.11.06.indd

Specialty forages are those that do not have a wide application in animal production systems of Texas. Other than beef cattle, systems that use cultivated forage can be considered atypical in our state. These include white-tailed deer, game birds (quail or turkey), exotic game, goats, sheep, domesticated rabbits or any other species that is primarily an herbivore. These animals generally require greater quality in their diets than do bulk (undiscriminating) grazers such as cattle, horses, donkeys, bison or Asiatic water buffalo. Selective grazers/browsers (the latter pluck individual leaves off forbs, bushes, trees and grass) usually harvest individual plant parts such as seeds, fruits or new leaves, which provide a greater concentration of available nutrients but are more diffi cult to collect. Grasses and legumes more palatable to selective grazers tend to be more diffi cult to maintain in pastures or range since they are generally less adapted to local conditions and are grazed (browsed) out more easily.