Contact Us
MSU Extension Sheep Program
P.O. Box 172900
Bozeman, MT 59717
Tel: (406) 994-3415
Fax: (406) 994-5589
Location: 221 Linfield

Extension Sheep Specialist:
Dr. Rodney Kott
rkott@montana.edu
Montana Sheep Institute

NRIS Study with Knapweed

Develop fecal NIRS equations for predicting percent spotted knapweed and grass in a sheep’s diet.

knapweedA feeding trial will be conducted for the development of NIRS equations for predicting intake of spotted knapweed from fecal samples. Twelve mature ewes will be individually fed diets comprised of 4 different sources of spotted knapweed (4 different growth stages ranging from pre-bud to flowering) and 3 different background forages (alfalfa hay and two different grass hays) for 3 consecutive 7-day feeding periods. Diets will consist of

with the remainder of the diet consisting of the appropriate background forage. Fecal samples will be collected on days 5, 6 and 7 of each feeding period. Daily samples (approximately 15 to 20 fecal pellets) will be collected from each sheep daily, either by rectal palpitation or picked up off the floor of a collection pen.

eatingCare will be used to minimize contamination with urine, feed and dirt if the latter method is utilized. Daily samples will be dried at 55° C and ground through a 1 mm mesh screen in a sample mill at the end of the three-day collection period equal aliquot samples will be combined from each of the three daily collections into a final sample with a total weight of approximately 20g. Samples will be sent to the Texas Experiment Station in San Angelo, Texas for scanning, calibration development and validation.

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