The diet of free-ranging cattle on the Bogong High Plains, Victoria

Abstract

The diet of free-ranging cattle on the Bogong High Plains, in the Victorian alpine region, was investigated during the 1980181 summer and autumn grazing season. Cattle were seen to eat 26 species of plants, while only 19 species were identified from microscopic examination of cattle faeces. A further 28 species examined in the field showed signs of grazing. The smaller number of species identified in the faeces may be accounted for by the almost complete digestion of some mesophytic forbs or by the low abundance of some species in the diet. The nutritional quality was determined for a range of alpine plants grazed by cattle. Common Poa australis spp. agg. tussocks were of low digestibility and nigrogen content. It was concluded that cattle must graze on the more nutritious forbs and sedges to maintain an adequate diet.