FIGURE 26. A COW GATHERING HERBAGE
Cows select short, leafy, pasture herbage high in protein and low
in indigestible fiber in preference to old tall herbage. Under
ideal conditions the herbage is gathered rapidly as the animal
walks slowly forward with her head moving from side to side.
About one third of the day is spent in actual grazing and two
thirds in resting and chewing the cud. As much grazing is down
during the night as during the day.
FIGURE 27. A COW GRAZING IN A POOR PASTURE
A typical badly managed pasture showing how difficult it is for a
cow to gather the herbage required. Compare this method of
grazing with that shown In figure 26
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