Winter Grazing Preferences of Sheep Between Wheat, Oat, Barley, and Triticale Species and Varieties.

Winter annual small grain forages, wheat, oats, barley, and triticale; are extensively used in the US southern great plains as livestock forage.  Some species and variety utilization preferences have been observed among livestock and wildlife in this area.  In a field experiment multiple varieties of wheat, oats, barley, and triticale were planted and grazed by sheep in San Angelo, Texas  during December and February.  Plots were evaluated for utilization preference by sheep.   Forage production and forage quality were also evaluated.  Sheep preferred oats and barley to wheat and triticale.  Some preference was observed among the wheat varieties utilized.  Forage quality differences  as determined by NIRS analysis were also observed and may explain grazing preferences.