Long-term effects of multiple applications of nitrogen fertiliser on grazed dryland perennial ryegrass/white clover dairy pastures in south-west Victoria. 3. Botanical composition, nutritive characteristics, mineral content, and nutrient selection

2003 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 477 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Mineral Content ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
N Application ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
South West ◽  
Annual Range ◽  
Nutrient Selection

A grazing experiment was undertaken on a commercial dairy farm in south-west Victoria over a 3-year period to study the effects of multiple applications of different rates of nitrogen (N) fertiliser over autumn and winter on dairy pasture species composition, nutrient characteristics, mineral content, and nutrient selection. Four treatments, replicated 3 times in a randomised block design, comprised: zero N (A); 3 applications of 25 kg N/ha (B); 3 applications of 50 kg N/ha (C); and 3 applications of 75 kg N/ha (D).Increasing rates of N fertiliser generally elevated whole sward metabolisable energy (ME) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward ME content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). Increasing rates of N fertiliser consistently elevated whole sward crude protein (CP) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward CP content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). For each year there was a slight decrease in CP, with Treatments C and D decreasing at a greater rate than treatments A and B. Increasing rates of N fertiliser generally depressed whole sward neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content. The effect of N fertiliser on whole sward NDF content was evident through to the end of sampling each year (2–3 months after the last N application). For each year there was a slight increase in NDF, with Treatments C and D having a lower increase in NDF over time than Treatment A. Nitrogen fertiliser had no effect on whole sward water soluble carbohydrate content.There was no consistent effect of N fertiliser on whole sward pasture mineral content during the growth season (June–December), with mean annual levels of P, K, S, Na, Ca, and Mg satisfying the nutritional requirements of high producing dairy cows and the growth requirements of both perennial ryegrass and white clover.Although N fertiliser had no influence on the concentration of nutrients consumed by grazing dairy cows, the mean annual range in selection differentials for the 3 years for ME (1.06–1.11) and CP (1.18–1.32) concentrations consumed was higher and the NDF (0.85–0.91) lower than those of the pasture.Each year there was an increase in perennial ryegrass, with Treatments B and C having a higher overall ryegrass presence compared with Treatment A. Nitrogen fertiliser had no effect on white clover, other grasses, weeds, or dead fractions.

Nutrients in ryegrass (Lolium spp.), white clover (Trifolium repens) and kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures in relation to season and stage of regrowth in a subtropical environment

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 227 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. J. Fulkerson ◽  
K. Slack ◽  
D. W. Hennessy ◽  
G. M. Hough
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Pennisetum Clandestinum ◽  
Tiller Stage ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Kikuyu Grass

Summary. On the subtropical north coast of New South Wales, Australia, kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum), biennial ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) and mixed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)–white clover (Trifolium repens) pastures grazed by dairy cows were plucked pregrazing to simulated grazing height, every 2 weeks for 2 years to determine seasonal changes in various nutrients and in sacco organic matter and nitrogen (N) degradability. Changes in nutrients during regrowth were determined in the ryegrass component of a mixed perennial ryegrass–white clover pasture by sequentially cutting pasture at 3- or 4-day intervals to 5 cm stubble height and non-structural carbohydrates in kikuyu by cutting at 4-day intervals in February–March. There was a significant effect of season on water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and crude protein (CP) content of perennial ryegrass with regrowth time, resulting in an 8-fold fall in the CP : WSC ratio from the 1 to 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth in mid winter, a 2-fold difference in mid spring but with no discernible difference in late spring. The metabolisable energy (ME) values for biennial ryegrass exceeded 11.9 MJ/kg dry matter (DM) from July to September and then fell markedly to <10 MJ/kg DM in November, coinciding with reproductive development. In perennial ryegrass–white clover pastures, mean ME was above 11 MJ/kg DM from May to September, but fell to < 9 MJ/kg DM in December while in kikuyu, the mean ME, over the recognised growing season, was 8.5 MJ/kg DM but in winter it was 9.5 MJ/kg DM. Fibre content in all pasture types showed a significant seasonal trend with the content of acid detergent fibre (ADF) in biennial ryegrass at 17% from May to August while the mean neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content was 37%. In perennial ryegrass–white clover, the mean ADF was <21% from May to August. The NDF content of kikuyu grass was about 60% during the growing season but 40% in winter. The calcium (Ca) : phosphorus (P) ratio in perennial ryegrass rose from <1 : 1 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage to 2.2 : 1 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth due to a simultaneous fall in P and a rise in Ca. A fall in potassium (K) and a rise in magnesium (Mg) and Ca content in perennial ryegrass gave a very significant linear fall in K/(Mg + Ca), on a percentage basis, from 8 at the 1 leaf/tiller stage of regrowth, to 2.5 at the 3 leaves/tiller stage of regrowth. In kikuyu, the level of P changed significantly with season falling as the species became dormant. A fall in P and a rise in Ca content resulted in a high Ca : P ratio (2.5 : 1) in spring. The findings of this study give some insight into the reason why the content of various nutrients change in pasture and the implication of this for providing a balanced diet to dairy cows. A knowledge of these changes should provide the opportunity to balance nutrients in pasture by adjusting time of grazing and/or providing supplements of appropriate quality.

Effect of rate and time of nitrogen application from autumn to midwinter on perennial ryegrass - white clover dairy pastures in western Victoria. 2. Pasture nutritive value

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
M. J. Ryan ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Content Increase ◽  
N Application ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Western Victoria

Field experiments were carried out at 2 sites to study the effects of time and rate of nitrogen (N) application from autumn to midwinter on the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass–white clover dairy pastures in western Victoria. Nitrogen (0, 15, 25, 30, 45, and 60 kg/ha) was applied in mid-April, early May, mid-May, early June, and mid-June during 1996 onto a pasture which had been grazed and topped to a uniform height of 5 cm prior to imposition of treatments. Pasture samples to a height of 5 cm were collected when perennial ryegrass in the 45 kg N/ha treatment reached the 3-leaf stage of development. Samples were analysed for metabolisable energy (ME), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), and water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC). Increasing rates of N gave rise to a curvilinear (Site 1) and linear (Site 2) increase in pasture ME and CP content. The actual response of 0.007 MJ/kg DM. kg N at 45 kg N/ha was the same at both sites, regardless of N application time, and corresponded to an increase of 0.32 MJ/kg DM. At Site 1 the actual increase in CP content at 45 kg N/ha (0.067% per kg N applied) was the same for all application times and corresponded to an increase in CP content of 3%. For Site 2, the increase ranged from 0.040% (mid-April) to 0.098% (mid-May) per kg N, corresponding to a pasture CP content increase of 1.8 to 4.4% at 45 kg N/ha, respectively. The application of N gave rise to a curvilinear (Site 1) and linear (Site 2) decrease in pasture NDF. For Site 1 at 45 kg N/ha, the actual decrease ranged from –0.04% (early May) to –0.10% (mid-May) per kg N, corresponding to a pasture NDF content decrease of 1.69 to 4.61%, respectively. At Site 2, the actual decrease in NDF content (–0.04% per kg N applied) was the same for all application times and corresponded to a decrease of 1.58% at 45 kg N/ha. Apart from some exceptions, increasing rates of applied N gave rise to a linear (Sites 1 and 2) decrease in pasture WSC content. For Site 1, the change in pasture WSC content ranged from 0.007% (early May) to –0.032% (mid-June application) per kg N, corresponding to a change in pasture WSC content of 0.32 to –1.44% at 45 kg N/ha, respectively. At Site 2, the change in WSC content ranged from 0.0004% (mid-April) to –0.076% (mid-May) per kg N, corresponding to a change in pasture WSC content of 0.02 to –3.42% at 45 kg N/ha, respectively. In this study, N application had a positive effect on the nutritive value of dairy pastures in the autumn to midwinter, in western Victoria. This is particularly important for the provision of quality feed during this period as the majority of dairy herds in the region are calving at this time. Thus, the provision of an increased quantity of higher quality feed may lead to a reduction in the requirement for purchased feeds.

The effect of perennial ryegrass ploidy and white clover inclusion on milk production of dairy cows

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bríd McClearn ◽  
Trevor Gilliland ◽  
Clare Guy ◽  
Michael Dineen ◽  
Fergal Coughlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Application Rate ◽  
Dairy Farmers ◽  
Increase Milk Production ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Fertiliser Application ◽  
Grazing Dairy Cows

Grazed grass is considered the cheapest feed available for dairy cows in temperate regions, and to maximise profits, dairy farmers must utilise this high-quality feed where possible. Recent research has reported that including white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in grass swards can have a positive effect on milk production. The aim of the present study was to quantify the effect of tetraploid and diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.; PRG) swards sown with and without white clover on the milk production of grazing dairy cows. Four grazing treatments were used for the study; tetraploid-only PRG swards, diploid-only PRG swards, tetraploid PRG with white clover swards and diploid PRG with white clover swards. Thirty cows were assigned to each treatment and swards were rotationally grazed at a stocking rate of 2.75 cows/ha and a nitrogen-fertiliser application rate of 250 kg/ha annually. There was no significant effect of ploidy on milk production. Over the present 4-year study, cows grazing the PRG–white clover treatments had greater milk yields (+597 kg/cow.year) and milk-solid yield (+48 kg/cow.year) than cows grazing the PRG-only treatments. This significant increase in milk production suggests that the inclusion of white clover in grazing systems can be effectively used to increase milk production of grazing dairy cows.

Management of Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens pastures in the subtropics. II. Effect of summer defoliation, irrigation duration, seedbed preparation and pasture type

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 721 ◽  
Author(s):  
WJ Fulkerson ◽  
K Slack
Keyword(s):  
Survival Rate ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
North Coast ◽  
N Application ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Summer Pasture ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Seedbed Preparation

This study on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia, evaluated the effect of irrigation and defoliation management over summer, pasture type and seedbed preparation on production and survival of a perennial ryegrass pasture over an 18-month period from sowing. In a relatively dry summer, irrigation sufficient only to keep plants growing, increased production of ryegrass plus clover from 2826 to 5515 and 3210 to 5396 kg DM/ha in summer and the subsequent autumn/winter, respectively, and increased survival of ryegrass plants by 34%. The more summer active Olwen white clover/NZA895 perennial ryegrass combination had a 16% higher production in summer, but a 11% lower production in winter than a Haifa/Yatsyn sward. The difference in production was entirely due to the clover component of the pasture. DM yield in the first growing season for the ryegrass/white clover pasture was equivalent to applying 20 kg N/ha/month to a pure ryegrass sward. In the subsequent summer/autumn/winter, the yield of pure ryegrass pasture was well below the ryegrass/white clover swards at any rate of N application. There was no difference between survival of NZA895 and Yatsyn ryegrass or incursion of summer grass into their respective plots. Plots defoliated over summer at 6 cm, as opposed to 12 cm, stubble height yielded 54% more edible DM and resulted in a 65% higher ryegrass plant survival rate. There was no effect on summer grass incursion. Multiple cultivations appear to be the key to appropriate seedbed preparation, with this treatment achieving the highest ryegrass survival rate, lowest summer grass incursion and highest DM yields.

Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Evaluation in dairy cows in early lactation

2006 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
R. T. Evans ◽  
N. D. Scollan ◽  
J. C. MacRae ◽  
M. K. Theodorou
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Early Lactation ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

Quantitative digestion by sheep of carbohydrates, nitrogen and S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide in diets of fresh kale (Brassica oleracea)

1984 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 479-486 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. N. Barry ◽  
T. R. Manley ◽  
S. J. Duncan
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Amino Acid Supplementation ◽  
Total N ◽  
Dimethyl Disulphide ◽  
Ruminant Diets ◽  
Predicted Values

SummaryApparent digestibility of forage kale (cv. Maris Kestrel) was compared with that of mixed perennial ryegrass (0·85) and clover (0·15) herbage in two experiments. In a third experiment measurements were made of the partition of digestion between the reticulo-rumen and post-ruminal regions of the digestive tract in sheep fed kale, using intra-ruminal infusion of inert ruthenium phenanthroline and chromium-EDTA markers and time sequence sampling from the duodenum. Results in Expt 3 were compared with predicted values for a range of ruminant diets, including digestion of fresh perennial ryegrass and white clover.In Expts 1 and 2 the ratio of readily fermentable to structural carbohydrate (CHO) was much higher in kale (2·6–3·2) than in mixed ryegrass and clover herbage (0·6), and showed little difference between kale leaf and stem components. Apparent digestibilities of organic matter (OM), cellulose and hemicellulose were 80–90% for kale diets, varied little with changes in leaf/stem ratio, and were generally slightly higher than for mixed ryegrass and clover herbage. Calculated metabolizable energy (ME) concentrations were 12·0 and 11·7 MJ ME/kg D.M. for kale and mixed ryegrass and clover respectively.Despite large intakes of water-soluble CHO and pectins in kale-fed sheep in Expt 3, duodenal flows were small and respectively 92 and 98% of the total amounts digested were digested in the rumen. Ruminal cellulose digestion (95% total digested) was as predicted for normal ruminant diets, but less hemicellulose was digested in the rumen (71% total digested) than predicted. Total N flow at the duodenum was 5 g/day less than N intake, and respectively 27 and 66% of the N apparently digested was accounted for as total N absorption from the rumen and post-ruminal absorption of NAN. Calculated absorption of amino acids from the small intestine was less for the kale diet (14% ME intake) than for diets of fresh perennial ryegrass and white clover (20% ME intake). Possible reasons are that 10% more of the OM ingested was digested in the rumens of sheep fed kale than was predicted, that the ratio of dietary total N/100 g digestible OM was much less for kale (3·7) than for perennial ryegrass and white clover (5·6) diets, and that protein formed a lower proportion of the total N in kale diets (75%) than in diets of ryegrass and clover (90%). Despite 3·3 g of S-methyl-L-cysteine sulphoxide (SMCO) being consumed per day, none was detected in either rumen or duodenal contents or in faeces.In was concluded that complete conversion of SMCO to dimethyl disulphide occurred in the rumen, that dimethyl disulphide may have caused the depression in ruminal digestion of hemicellulose, and that the digestion products of kale are deficient in absorbed amino acids relative to other forms of energy, thus explaining responses to essential amino acid supplementation in lambs grazing kale.

Increased concentration of water-soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): milk production from late-lactation dairy cows

2001 ◽  
Vol 56 (4) ◽  
pp. 383-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. A. Miller ◽  
J. M. Moorby ◽  
D. R. Davies ◽  
M. O. Humphreys ◽  
N. D. Scollan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate
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