Improving the quality of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) for dairy cows by selecting for fast clearing and/or degradable neutral detergent fiber

Abstract The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the different proportion of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) in the meadow sward on its fodder value and daily weight gain of Highland cattle. The research was carried out on meadow sward with natural undergrowth that was cultivated by sowing perennial ryegrass. When preparing the sward for sowing, around 40% of it was damaged with a rotary tiller. The sowing rate for perennial ryegrass seeds was varied and amounted to 5, 10 and 15 kg ha−1. As a result, the following treatments of meadow sward were obtained and distinguished: semi-natural sward without sowing as the control, and three experimental treatments with approximately 18, 36 and 55% share of perennial ryegrass in the meadow sward. The animals were kept in a cowshed. In the nutritional part, the impact of feeding the obtained sward on the daily weight gain of Highland bulls and heifers was assessed. The obtained results showed higher gains in both bulls and heifers fed with sward from grasslands with a greater proportion of perennial ryegrass. The weight gain of the animals resulted from the nutrition, i.e. the quality of the feed obtained from the experimental objects. During the control fattening period, the bulls’ average daily weight gain ranged from 649 g to 714 g, while for heifers 556 g to 598 g. Statistical significance (P ≤ 0.05) in body weight gains in both bulls and heifers was shown already at 36% of perennial ryegrass in the meadow sward.

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Rumen metabolism, omasal flow of nutrients, and microbial dynamics in lactating dairy cows fed fresh perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) not supplemented or supplemented with rolled barley grain

Journal of Dairy Science ◽

10.3168/jds.2020-18437 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 103 (12) ◽

pp. 11332-11348 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Dineen ◽

B. McCarthy ◽

P. Dillon ◽

P.A. LaPierre ◽

S. Fessenden ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dairy Cows ◽

Lolium Perenne ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Barley Grain ◽

Microbial Dynamics ◽

Lolium Perenne L ◽

Rumen Metabolism ◽

Lactating Dairy Cows

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Thermal Time as a Parameter to Determine Optimal Defoliation Frequency of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Pasture Brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.)

Agronomy ◽

10.3390/agronomy10050620 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 620 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Iván Calvache ◽

Oscar Balocchi ◽

Máximo Alonso ◽

Juan Pablo Keim ◽

Ignacio F. López

Keyword(s):

Lolium Perenne ◽

Perennial Ryegrass ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Leaf Growth ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Thermal Time ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Lolium Perenne L

The herbage mass and nutritional value of harvested forage are fundamental determinants of the production potential of pastoral systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth dynamics and accumulated herbage mass expressed in dry matter (DM) of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and pasture brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) pastures, using thermal time (TT) as a defoliation criterion. Thirty plots (15 of L. perenne and 15 of B. valdivianus) were distributed in three field blocks and subjected to five defoliation frequencies (DF) determined by TT, expressed as the accumulated growing degree-days (AGDD; DF1 = 90, DF2 = 180, DF3 = 270, DF4 = 360, and DF5 = 450 AGDD) for one year (2016), at the Austral Agricultural Experimental Station of the Universidad Austral de Chile. Every three days, the total leaf length (TLL) was measured, and the leaf elongation rate (LER, cm L−1), leaf growth rate (LGR, cm L−1), leaf appearance rate (LAR, d L−1), phyllochron (AGDD L−1), and accumulated herbage mass per hectare (kg DM ha−1) were calculated. Defoliations were scheduled according to AGDD, and a sample was taken from each cutting to determine (dry matter ‘DM’, crude protein ‘CP’, neutral detergent fiber ‘NDF’, acid detergent fiber ‘ADF’, water-soluble carbohydrates ‘WSC’ and metabolizable energy ‘ME’). The pastures that were allocated to DF5 presented higher DM yields (12,600 kg DM ha−1 year−1), TLL (54.6 cm), and LER (0.63 cm d−1) compared to pastures with high DF (90 and 180 ADGG). B. valdivianus presented a lower phyllochron than L. perenne (74.4 vs 87.9 AGDD L−1, respectively). Concentrations of CP and ME decreased from the shortest DF (90 AGDD) to the largest DF (450 AGDD), dropping from 221 to 138 g kg−1 CP and from 2.6 to 2.4 Mcal kg−1 DM of ME. All variables were affected by the season (Ssn) (p < 0.001). The AGDD can be used as a defoliation criterion and a tool to balance yield with nutritive value according to the farmer’s needs.

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