A method of estimating the botanical composition of the diet of sheep

Abstract

Fragments of plant cuticile found in the faeces are compared with a set of references prepared from the leaves of known plants. The cuticle patterns, as far as studied, are characteristic for each species and the fragments can be used to identify the plants grazed and an estimate made of the botanical composition of the diet. The results presented in this preliminary study are purely qualitative. The advantage of this method is that it in no way interferes with the normal habits of the animal, and it may be used for any animals grazing on any type of pasture. © 1959, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.