Cow-Calf Certification Practice Exam

True or False: Grazing increases the maintenance requirements by 10-25%.

1. True

2. False

3. Only for young calves

4. Depends on the season

The correct answer is: True

Grazing indeed increases the maintenance energy requirements of cattle due to various factors associated with the activity. When cattle graze, they are not only consuming forage but also expending energy in the process of moving around, foraging, and potentially covering long distances to find palatable and sufficient forage. This increase in physical activity elevates their overall maintenance requirements by approximately 10-25%. For young calves, their nutrient and energy needs may also be influenced by grazing, but the increase in maintenance due to grazing is not restricted solely to them. Similarly, while seasonal changes can affect forage availability and quality, they do not change the fundamental relationship between grazing and maintenance energy requirements. Thus, stating that grazing increases these requirements by 10-25% is a recognized concept in animal nutrition, making the assertion true.