Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 2. Herbage nutritive value for growing beef steers

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Beck ◽  
T. Hess ◽  
D. Hubbell ◽  
M. S. Gadberry ◽  
J. Jennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Nutritive Quality ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Trifolium Repens L

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) on herbage nutritive value compared with monocultures of bermudagrass fertilised with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha over four grazing seasons. At the end of the fourth year (during the winter), legume plants in ALF and CLVR were killed and the carryover N benefit on bermudagrass nutritive value was evaluated during the fifth year. Pre-grazing herbage of all pastures exceeded the dietary recommendations for growing steers to maintain 0.9 kg/day average daily liveweight gain for crude protein and total digestible nutrients, 118 and 617 g kg/DM, respectively. Post-grazing herbage in ALF was below 600 g/kg total digestible nutrients at all times during the grazing season, post-grazing total digestible nutrients of CLVR was below 600 g/kg during the late summer and autumn. Post-grazing herbage of monoculture bermudagrass pastures fell below 600 g/kg in the middle of summer regardless of N fertilisation. Carryover N benefits of legumes were similar to 112N in the early summer, but were not different than 0N and 56N during the late summer and autumn. Replacing applications of synthetic N in bermudagrass swards with inter-seeding of either clovers or alfalfa produce herbage with equivalent nutritive value to heavily N fertilised monocultures of bermudagrass during the early summer, and similar to moderately N fertilised in the late summer and autumn. The inclusion of legumes in bermudagrass swards can reduce the reliance on synthetic N fertilisation with little overall effect on herbage nutritive quality possibly decreasing environmental impacts of grazing production systems.

Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 1. Herbage mass and pasture carrying capacity

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 539 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Beck ◽  
T. Hess ◽  
D. Hubbell ◽  
M. S. Gadberry ◽  
J. Jennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Fertilisation Rate ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Trifolium Repens L

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of including alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) on herbage nutritive value compared with monocultures of bermudagrass fertilised with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha over four grazing seasons. In autumn, at the end of the fourth year and in the spring before the fifth grazing season, alfalfa and clover plants were killed and the carryover N benefit of CLVR or ALF was compared with N fertilisation rates during the fifth year. Across years, N fertilisation rate increased herbage mass and carrying capacity linearly; whereas herbage production from CLVR and ALF swards was equivalent to 56N, were greater than 0N and less than 112N. Herbage mass in CLVR and ALF swards was greater than fertilised bermudagrass swards in the spring and did not differ from fertilised bermudagrass in the early summer. In late summer herbage accumulation of CLVR and ALF swards appeared to decrease, limiting the herbage mass in the legume pastures compared with 56N and 112N. Carrying capacity of CLVR and ALF swards was greater than fertilised bermudagrass in the spring and early summer, but did not differ from fertilised swards in the late summer. The N benefit of including legumes in bermudagrass swards can alleviate the reliance on synthetic N fertilisation with little overall effect on pasture carrying capacity.

Effects of Dried Distillers’ Grains Cube Supplementation for Steers Grazing Introduced Pastures on Animal Performance and Forage Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 12-13
Author(s):  
Jordan Adams ◽  
Rodney Farris ◽  
Scott Clawson ◽  
Earl Ward ◽  
Paul Beck
Keyword(s):  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Distillers Grains ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Trenbolone Acetate ◽  
Dried Distillers Grains

Abstract We evaluated the effects of supplementing dried distillers’ grains cubes (DDGS) and re-implantation of steers (n = 149; BW = 238 ± 13.8 kg) grazing tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea)/bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) pastures (n = 9 pastures, 7.2 ± 2.90 ha) from 14 April to 17 September 2020 (n = 155 d) in a split-plot design on steer performance and forage production. Main plot supplemental treatments (n = 3 pastures/treatment) included 1) Fertilized Control (FC), no supplementation on fertilized pastures (112 kg N/ha); 2) Fertilized Supplement (FS), supplemental DDGS fed at 2.9 kg 3-d/wk on fertilized pastures; and 3) Supplement (S), supplemented DDGS at 0.75% BW/d on unfertilized pastures prorated for 5-d/wk feeding. Steers were previously implanted during receiving with 40 mg trenbolone acetate and 8 mg estradiol (REV-G; Revalor G, Merck Animal Health). On July 7, steers in each pasture were randomly assigned to one of three re-implant treatments: 1) no re-implant; 2) REV-G; or 3) 200 mg progesterone and 20 mg estradiol (Synovex S, Zoetis Animal Health). Steers in FS and S gained more (P < 0.01) than FC throughout the trial and final BW was greater (P < 0.01) for FS and S compared with FC. Unexpectedly, re-implanting had no effect on ADG (P = 0.57) or BW (P = 0.34), but statistical power may be lacking. Supplemental efficiency was greater in the late summer for FS (P = 0.05) compared to S. Fertilizing pastures in FS and FC did not affect biomass (P = 0.39), however, CP was increased (P = 0.01) and acid and neutral detergent fibers tended to decrease (P = 0.06) relative to S in the early summer (April, May, June, and July), but did not differ in late summer (August and September). Based upon our analysis, DDGS is a suitable supplement and can replace N fertilizer for steers grazing introduced pastures.

Foraging behaviour of beef cattle in the hilly terrain of a Mediterranean grassland

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Z. Henkin ◽  
E. D. Ungar ◽  
A. Dolev
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Early Morning ◽  
Grazing Pressure ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Full Potential

The objective of this study was to determine the role of terrain in the foraging behaviour of beef cows grazing hilly Mediterranean grasslands. The study was conducted in eastern Galilee, Israel, during 2002 and 2003 on two similar 28-ha paddocks encompassing distinct terrain types in terms of slope and rock cover. The paddocks were continuously grazed by cows from mid winter (January–February) to autumn (September) at two different stocking rates (1.1 and 0.56 cows per ha). From early June to the end of September the cows were offered poultry litter ad libitum as a supplementary feed. The location and activity of cows were monitored with GPS collars during four periods in each year: early spring (February–March), late spring (April), early summer (June) and late summer (August). Herbage mass was measured at the beginning of each of these periods. During early and late spring, when the herbage mass and nutritive value of herbage were high, the cows spent 40–50% of the day grazing, with peaks in the morning and afternoon. In the dry, late summer period (August), grazing of the herbage was 20–22% of the day, occurring only in the early morning and late afternoon with sporadic bouts of grazing until midnight. In all periods the cows tended to prefer the flattest terrain sites. As the herbage mass declined to 1000–1500 kg ha–1, the exploitation of the pasture during grazing became increasingly similar among the different terrains. Even on relatively small paddocks, where grazing pressure was close to the full potential of the site, free-ranging cows tended to prefer less sloping and rocky sites. It is concluded that the grazing strategy of beef cows is determined by the interaction between terrain, the distribution of the herbage mass and the nutritive value of the herbage. As herbage mass declines during the growing season, the distribution of grazing becomes uniform and all terrain types are exploited.

Replacing synthetic N with clovers or alfalfa in bermudagrass pastures. 3. Performance of growing steers

2017 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 556 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Beck ◽  
T. Hess ◽  
D. Hubbell ◽  
J. Jennings ◽  
M. S. Gadberry ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
N Application ◽  
North East ◽  
Fertilisation Rate ◽  
N Application Rate ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
Daily Gain

The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of steers (n = 590, 263 ± 30.6 kg) grazing alfalfa (ALF, Medicago sativa L.) or a combination of white (Trifolium repens L.) and red (Trifolium pretense L.) clovers (CLVR) inter-seeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) pastures compared with fertilisation with 0 (0N), 56 (56N), or 112 (112N) kg nitrogen (N)/ha (n = 4, 0.8-ha pastures per treatment) in north-east Arkansas (USA) over 4 years. The carryover N benefit of CLVR or ALF was compared with N fertilisation rates during the fifth year on performance of growing steers (n = 120; 235 ± 22.6 kg). Average daily gain increased with N application rate and legume pastures were similar to 56N; but liveweight gain per steer grazing legume pastures tended to be greater than 112N. Steer grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare were greater for ALF and CLVR than bermudagrass monocultures regardless of N fertilisation rate. Steer average daily gain, grazing days per hectare and liveweight gain per hectare for carryover N from legumes did not differ from 56N. These results indicate that replacing synthetic N by inter-seeding legumes into bermudagrass swards has the potential to improve individual animal performance and production per unit area and carryover benefits of legume N may be equivalent to 56 kg N/ha.

scholarly journals Less than half of the European dietary recommendations for fish consumption are satisfied by national seafood supplies

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anneli Lofstedt ◽  
Baukje de Roos ◽  
Paul G. Fernandes
Keyword(s):  
Fish Consumption ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Distribution Systems ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
National Level ◽  
Dietary Recommendations ◽  
Balance Sheets ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Production And Distribution ◽  
Per Capita

Abstract Purpose To review the seafood dietary recommendations of European countries and compare them to national seafood supplies. Methods Current seafood dietary recommendations were collated from national health authorities across Europe. Food balance sheets were downloaded from the FAO, and appropriate conversion factors were applied to each seafood commodity. Average net per capita seafood supplies from 2007 to 2017 were derived from data on imports and production for food from both capture fisheries and aquaculture, accounting for exports. Results Both national dietary recommendations and seafood supplies varied considerably throughout Europe. At a national level, on a per capita basis, only 13 out of the 31 of European dietary recommendations for fish consumption were satisfied by national seafood supplies. Most of the countries with coastal access, as well as those with traditional fish-eating cultures, such as France and countries in Northern Europe, had adequate seafood supplies to meet their recommendations. The landlocked countries of Central and Eastern Europe did not have enough seafood supplies to satisfy their recommendations. Conclusions Our findings emphasise the need to not only consider consumer health outcomes when developing and advocating dietary recommendations, but also the sustainability of food production systems. As many foods are not necessarily locally sourced but traded as part of global production and distribution systems, it is important to consider greater consistency between national dietary recommendations to facilitate more sustainable marine food systems.

scholarly journals Growth, Carcass and Meat Characteristics of Grass-Fed Lambs Weaned from Extensive Rangeland and Grazed on Permanent Pastures or Alfalfa

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Felipe Elizalde ◽  
Christian Hepp ◽  
Camila Reyes ◽  
Marilyn Tapia ◽  
Raúl Lira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Force ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fatty Acid Content ◽  
Saturated Fat ◽  
Growth Patterns ◽  
Omega 3 ◽  
Permanent Pasture ◽  
Lower Shear ◽  
Low Levels

Western Patagonia lamb production systems are based on extensive rangeland. The harsh climate limits the adoption of more intensive systems. Therefore, producers must focus on developing differentiated products. The aim of this study was to evaluate growth patterns, carcasses and nutritive value of meat from 45 lambs. Lambs were divided into three groups: 15 lambs were slaughtered at weaning (W), with the remaining 30 weaned lambs being allocated to grazing either alfalfa (AG) or permanent pasture (PPG). AG lambs were significantly heavier and had higher condition scores than PPG lambs. Further, AG lambs showed higher carcass weight and larger tissue depth and commercial cuts. Moreover, W lambs had lower shear force and more tender meat than either AG or PPG lambs. The three systems showed a low shear force and acceptable sensory traits. Low levels of cholesterol, with low levels of saturated fat, classified these cuts of meat as extra lean. W lambs had higher omega-3 fatty acid content than AG or PPG lambs. Overall, results showed that meat from the three lamb production systems showed health claimable levels of omega-3 fatty acids and were low in fat and thereby, can be classified as lean meat.

scholarly journals 179 Using a 100% Dried Distillers Grains Cube as a Supplement for Steers Grazing Mixed Grass Prairie in Oklahoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 46-46
Author(s):  
Zane N Grigsby ◽  
Paul A Beck ◽  
Stacey A Gunter
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Estradiol Benzoate ◽  
Positive Control ◽  
Negative Control ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Trenbolone Acetate ◽  
Mixed Grass Prairie ◽  
Mixed Grass ◽  
Main Plot

Abstract This research was conducted to determine effects of supplementation and implanting on BW gain by steers grazing mixed grass prairie (n = 12 pastures, 19.9 ± 0.7 ha) in northwest Oklahoma. Three main plot treatments were: 1) Negative Control (NC), no supplementation, 2) Positive Control (PC), supplemented with DDGS cubes, 1.8 kg/steer on alternate days in late summer, 3) High Supplement (HS), 1/3 increase in stocking rate with 0.75% BW supplemental DDGS cubes all season. Steers (n = 125, BW = 223.1 ± 23.2 kg) were stocked at 2.2 ha/steer for PC and NC, 1.3 ha/steer for HS. Grazing was from May 17 – September 27 (132 d). All steers were implanted with 200 mg progesterone and 20 mg estradiol benzoate (SYN, Synonvex S, Zoetis Animal Health) on May 17. On July 18 three reimplant treatments were applied: 1) no reimplant; 2) SYN; or 3) 40 mg trenbolone acetate and 8 mg estradiol (Revalor G, Merck Animal Health). Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED in SAS as a split-plot experimental design. In early summer HS had 0.26 kg greater (P < 0.01) ADG than NC and PC. Late summer gains of PC were 0.33 kg/d more (P ≤ 0.01) than NC; and HS gained 0.49 and 0.16 kg/day more (P ≤ 0.04) than NC and PC, respectively. Gain per hectare for PC (46 kg/ha) were greater (P < 0.01) than NC (35 kg/ha) and more than doubled (P < 0.01) with HS (89 kg/ha). Reimplanting had no effect on ADG (P ≥ 0.28). Late season supplementation with PC resulted in supplemental efficiency of 2.7 kg supplement/kg added gain compared with NC. Increased stocking rates with season long supplementation in HS resulted in supplemental efficiency of 3.8 kg supplement/kg added gain per hectare. Based on these data, a 100% DDGS cube is an effective supplement option to increase BW gain during the late summer or increase carrying capacity and gain during the summer grazing period in northwestern Oklahoma.

scholarly journals 145 Stocker gains on diverse summer annual pastures

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 28-29
Author(s):  
Kelly Mercier ◽  
Chris Teutsch ◽  
Ray Smith ◽  
Eric Vanzant ◽  
Kenny Burdine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Vegetative State ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Sunn Hemp ◽  
Sorghum Sudangrass ◽  
Forage Utilization

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if increasing forage botanical diversity improved stocker gains on warm-season annual (WSA) pastures. An opportunity exists to add extra gain on fall-born calves by grazing summer pastures after spring weaning and selling at a more favorable late summer market. However, cool-season perennial pastures in the Mid-South often have insufficient quality and yield to support desired summer gains. Therefore, the improved production and nutritive value of WSA forages shows promise in this system. A study was conducted near Princeton, KY, where calves (329, 366, and 297 kg in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) grazed one of three WSA forage treatments without supplementation in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included 1) sorghum-sudangrass monoculture (MONO), 2) simple mixture (SIMPLE = sorghum-sudangrass, pearl millet, soybean), and 3) complex mixture (COMPLEX = SIMPLE + sudangrass, corn, crabgrass, cowpea, sunflower, sunn hemp, daikon radish, forage rape, Korean lespedeza). In 2017, MONO and SIMPLE calves had higher average daily gain (ADG) than COMPLEX calves (0.79 kg/day vs. 0.66 kg/day, P < 0.03). In 2018, no differences in ADG were detected among treatments (P > 0.3); however, calves only gained 0.01 kg/day. In 2019, MONO and SIMPLE calves again had higher ADG than COMPLEX calves (0.59 kg/day vs. 0.43 kg/day, P < 0.03). The exceptionally low 2018 ADG was likely due to the higher nutritional demand of heavier calves and the lower nutritive value of mature forages compared to other years. In conclusion, complex WSA forage mixtures did not offer any improvement in animal performance, and proper management of all WSA forages (maintaining a vegetative state) is paramount to achieving adequate gains on stockers without supplementation; however, supplementation may be necessary to improve WSA forage utilization in the rumen, potentially leading to more favorable gains.

scholarly journals Vegetation Cover and Tumuli’s Shape as Affecting Factors of Microclimate and Biodeterioration Risk for the Conservation of Etruscan Tombs (Tarquinia, Italy)

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 3393
Author(s):  
Giulia Caneva ◽  
Simone Langone ◽  
Flavia Bartoli ◽  
Adele Cecchini ◽  
Carlo Meneghini
Keyword(s):  
Vegetation Cover ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Soil Depth ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Positive Influence ◽  
Wild Plants ◽  
Affecting Factors ◽  
Ephemeral Plants ◽  
Relevant Role ◽  
Hot Season

The conservation of underground tombs is affected by several physical-chemical and biological factors, which could be reduced by insulating systems able to maintain the microclimatic stability also decreasing the biodeterioration risk. In Mediterranean areas, wild ephemeral plants, which reduce their cover during the hot season, seem unsuitable for reducing summer overheating. In this study, we wish to assess the influence of vegetation cover and of overlaying soil, after the establishment of an evergreen turf of a cultivar of Cynodon dactylon, on two tombs in the Etruscan Necropolis of Monterozzi, covered by linear-shaped tumuli. Therefore, we evaluated for 10 months the thermo-hygrometric values of these tombs, together with two tombs as controls. We also evaluated the different tumuli’s morphologies and the related received solar radiation. Results confirmed that late summer and early autumn as critical microclimatic periods for the risk factors of hypogeal paintings when peaks of superficial temperature occur. A positive influence of vegetation cover on maintaining constant humidity and internal temperatures was detected, but the mounds orientation, as well as soil depth, seems to have a relevant role. Considering the naturalistic features of the area and the related cultural ecosystem services, a careful selection of wild plants is suggested.

scholarly journals Modification of the summative equation to estimate daily total digestible nutrients for bermudagrass pasture

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem Woli ◽  
Francis M Rouquette ◽  
Charles R Long ◽  
Luis O Tedeschi ◽  
Guillermo Scaglia
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Nutritive Values ◽  
Plant Maturity ◽  
Daily Total

Abstract In forage-animal nutrition modeling, diet energy is estimated mainly from the forage total digestible nutrients (TDN). As digestibility trials are expensive, TDN is usually estimated using summative equations. Early summative equations assumed a fixed coefficient to compute digestible fiber using the lignin-to-neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio. Subsequently, a structural coefficient (φ) was added to the summative equations to reflect an association between lignin and cell wall components. Additional modifications to the summative equations assumed a constant φ value, and they have been used as a standard method by many commercial laboratories and scientists. For feeds with nutritive values that do not change much over time, a constant φ value may suffice. However, for forages with nutritive values that keep changing during the grazing season owing to changes in weather and plant maturity, a constant φ value may add a systematic bias to prediction because it is associated with the variable lignin-to-NDF ratio. In this study, we developed a model to estimate φ as a function of the day of the year by using the daily TDN values of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], a popular warm-season perennial grass in the southern United States. The variable φ model was evaluated by using it in the TDN equation and comparing the estimated values with the observed ones obtained from several locations. Values of the various measures of fit used—the Willmott index (WI), the modeling efficiency (ME), R2, root mean square error (RMSE), and percent error (PE)—showed that using the variable φ vis-à-vis the constant φ improved the TDN equation significantly. The WI, ME, R2, RMSE, and PE values of 0.94, 0.80, 0.80, 2.5, and 4.7, respectively, indicated that the TDN equation with the variable φ model was able to mimic the observed values of TDN satisfactorily. Unlike the constant φ, the variable φ predicted more closely the forage nutritive value throughout the grazing season. The variable φ model may be useful to forage-beef modeling in accurately reflecting the impacts of plant maturity and weather on daily forage nutritive value and animal performance.

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