Seasonal variation in the quality of a lucerne-based pasture and its relationship with morphological and maturity estimates

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 575 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. Machado ◽  
S. T. Morris ◽  
J. Hodgson ◽  
C. Matthew ◽  
N. Auza

To monitor seasonal changes in herbage quality, a lucerne-based pasture (Medicago sativa, Bromus willdenowii and Dactylis glomerata) was sampled in Argentina every 2 weeks for 28 months. The pasture was strip-grazed and samples were taken from the regrowth of a previously grazed strip, ready for regrazing, for which herbage mass was estimated with a calibrated rising plate meter. Each sample was sorted into dead and green components, and the latter subsequently separated into grass and lucerne, and then into lamina plus leaflet and stem plus pseudostem fractions. Similarly, at each sampling date, quantitative maturity indexes – mean stage by count and mean stage by weight – were applied to grasses and lucerne. Samples were also analysed for in vitro dry matter digestibility (DMD), crude protein (CP), fibre and non-structural carbohydrates. The dataset was divided into morphological, maturity and nutritional variables. Analyses of variance by season for both groups of variables were carried out using year as a block. Multiple regression analyses were performed for each season between maturity indices and predictors of herbage quality. DMD, and consequently metabolisable energy (ME), was significantly lower in the autumn and CP was lower in the summer compared with overall averages, which were consistently high throughout the year (overall average of 11.5 MJ ME/kg dry matter and 20.6% CP). The sward had a higher proportion of lucerne during summer and autumn, than winter and spring (averages 59.3 and 48.8%, respectively). The highest leaf : stem ratio (2.82) was during winter and the highest green content (97.5%) was during spring. Grasses had a higher mean stage by count and mean stage by weight during spring–summer, whereas lucerne had a higher mean stage by count and mean stage by weight during summer–autumn. Morphological and maturity estimates predicted satisfactorily the changes in the energy and fibre within season, but CP content was not well predicted in summer or winter. These results provide the basis for tactical grazing practices with further calibration.

2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1045-1052
Author(s):  
Mateus Merlo Coelho ◽  
Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves ◽  
José Avelino Santos Rodrigues ◽  
Kelly Moura Keller ◽  
Gustavo Vinícius de Souza dos Anjos ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of re-ensiling and bacterial inoculation on the quality of corn silage. The experiment was carried out in a 2x2 factorial design with or without inoculant (association of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici), and with re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure or only ensiling of the whole plant of 'BRS 1055' corn. The fermentative quality, nutritional parameters, dry matter losses, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts of silages were evaluated. Re-ensiling caused an increase of pH and in acetic acid and propionic acid concentrations, as well as in the dry matter (DM), crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber crude protein contents. Conversely, there was a reduction in the nonfiber carbohydrates concentration and in in vitro dry matter digestibility for the re-ensiled material. All changes were explained by the higher-effluent production and DM loss of re-ensiled material that was subjected to two compactions. Microbiology was not altered by the treatments. The use of inoculant altered ash content, but it did not influence other parameters. In contrast, re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure caused a reduction in the nutritive value of corn silage and accentuated the DM losses.


1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 937 ◽  
Author(s):  
JR Wilson ◽  
CC Wong

The effect of illumination at 100, 60 and 40% sunlight over 4 months on herbage quality was studied in the legume, Siratro, and the grass, green panic, grown in small plots in the field in pure and 50 : 50 mixture swards, defoliated every 4 (D4) or 8 (D8) weeks. Laminae and stems of defined ages were harvested periodically from the D8 treatment, and after 8 and 16 weeks the D4 and D8 canopies were sampled in 10-cm strata for analysis of dry matter digestibility (DMD). Shading to 60 and 40% sunlight decreased the DMD of the green panic and the mixed swards by up to 10-12 percentage units in the D8 treatment. The shade effect on DMD was smaller in the D4 treatment. Shading increased leaf bulk density in the upper strata of the grass and mixed swards. The shade effect on sward DMD was due to a decrease in DMD of lamina and stem of green panic and, in the lower canopy, also to a decrease in leaf : stem ratio of the grass. The lower DMD of green panic was associated with lower total soluble carbohydrate and higher lignin in the shaded tissues. The concurrent decrease in cell wall content of green panic under shade (as a balance to higher crude protein) indicates that shade must have greatly reduced the digestibility of the cell wall material. The chemical composition and DMD of Siratro was largely unaffected by shade.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. e48304
Author(s):  
Charles Barbosa dos Santos ◽  
Katia Aparecida de Pinho Costa ◽  
Wender Ferreira de Souza ◽  
Itamar Pereira de Oliveira ◽  
Daniel Augusto Alves Teixeira ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate dry mass production, fermentative parameters and chemical and bromatological composition of sunflower silage and Paiaguas palisadegrass silage in monocropped and intercropping in different forage systems. The experimental design consisted of randomized blocks, with four replicates. The treatments consisted of silage forage systems: sunflower monocropped; Paiaguas palisadegrass monocropped; sunflower row-intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass; sunflower inter-row intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass; and sunflower oversown and intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass, totalizing 20 experimental silos. Sunflower and Paiaguas palisadegrass were harvested at 110 days after planting at 20 cm from the soil for silage, using brush cutter. The silos were opened after 53 days of fermentation. The rows and inter-row intercropped systems contributed to increase the mass production of the ensiled material. The monocropped sunflower silage had higher values of pH, ethereal extract and acid detergent fiber and lower values of titratable acidity and dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility values. The silages of the sunflower intercropped with Paiaguas palisadegrass in forage systems of crop-livestock integration presented better fermentative and bromatological characteristics, guaranteeing an adequate fermentative process and nutritional quality. In this way, the intercropping of these two forages potentiates the production of silage for feeding of ruminants during the period of forage shortage.


1987 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-28
Author(s):  
M. Warndorff ◽  
A. Dovrat ◽  
T. Kipnis

Whole plants were sampled every 10 or 11 days from field-grown P. americanum X P. purpureum canopies which were cut at intervals of 3 or 6 weeks. Tillers of varying lengths were analysed for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). During the growing period, average whole tiller digestibility decreased, as did differences between tillers of different lengths. In 42-day-old herbage, no difference in IVDMD was found between 10 and 70 cm tillers. The decline in digestibility with time was attributed to (1) the appearance of tall tillers and (2) the detrimental effects of low light intensities on tillers growing deep in the canopy. Results suggested that it is doubtful whether tiller length or other morphological or physiological traits can be used to predict herbage digestibility, and that in breeding for better digestibility selection for stem digestibility per se should be more promising than selection for reduced stem growth. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


2017 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Marielly Maria Almeida Moura ◽  
Daniel Ananias de Assis Pires ◽  
Renê Ferreira Costa ◽  
Daniella Cangussú Tolentino ◽  
João Paulo Sampaio Rigueira ◽  
...  

 This study aimed to evaluate the nutritional characteristics and quality of silages of five sorghum genotypes, namely: Volumax, AG2005E, Qualimax, BRS610 and AG2501. The study was conducted at the Experimental Farm Unimontes, in the municipality of Janaúba, state of Minas Gerais. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design with four replicates. Data were tested by analysis of variance andmeans were compared by Scott-Knott test at a significance level of 5%. The pH values ranged from 3.93 and 4.10. Genotypes differed in all studied nutritional characteristics (p < 0.05). For the acid detergent fiber, differences were detected between the genotypes, AG2501 (35.66%), Volumax (34.89%), AG2005E (34.53%), Qualimax (32.39%) and BRS610 (33.60%). The high participation of lignin was verifiedin all genotypes except for Volumax (4.14%). All silages were within the recommended range 50-65% for in vitro dry matter digestibility and classified as having good quality, however only the AG2005E genotype met nitrogen requirements for microbial fermentation, with 7.06% crude protein. 


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 941-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. MacLEOD ◽  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
F. W. CALDER

The effects of early summer and fall cutting managements on two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were studied over a 3-year period. Removal of the first crop of Saranac and Narrangansett alfalfas at prebud stage, followed by two cuts at the early bloom stage before early September, and a late fall harvest on October 25, produced seasonal dry matter (DM) yields of 7.5–8.6 metric T/ha in the 1st year. Stand deterioration, however, was severe and by the 3rd year, practically all alfalfa had disappeared. Average percent crude protein (CP) in cut 1 was 17.7–21.9 and percent in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVD) 67.4–73.8. Removal of the first cut at bud stage with two subsequent harvests at the early bloom stage also allowed a total of three harvests before early September and resulted in seasonal DM yields of 8.6–8.8 in the 1st year. Although the survival of alfalfa was increased over the managements where cut 1 was at prebud stage, a considerable decrease of alfalfa was still observed in the 3rd year. Under this management, average CP in cut 1 was 15.8–16.3 and IVD 64.1–68.4. Harvesting the first crop at early to midbloom stage and the second crop at early bloom in early to mid-August, followed by third harvest in late October, resulted in good survival with seasonal DM yields of 6.1–10.6. Lower CP and IVD were recorded in cut 1 than in the more intensive managements. Under all managements, average CP in cuts 2 and 3 was 14.9–17.3 and 13.3–19.4, respectively. IVD was 54.5–60.7 in cut 2 and 56.0–64.4 in cut 3.


1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 949-954 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. C. J. VAN ADRICHEM ◽  
J. N. TINGLE

The effects of spring-applied nitrogen (0, 56, 112 and 224 kg/ha) and phosphorus (0 and 27.4 kg/ha) on the dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality of successive harvests of meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) were investigated. Nitrogen increased DM yield, crude protein, Cu, K and Zn contents and decreased P, Ca, Mg and Mn contents. Application of P in combination with N increased K content in the first cut and arrested the decline of P content due to N application in all cuts. The levels of dry matter digestibility and Cu declined in successive cuts whereas Mn content increased. At low N rates, Ca and Mg contents increased as the season advanced.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (4) ◽  
pp. 167-177
Author(s):  
Miriam Kizeková ◽  
Ján Tomaškin ◽  
Jozef Čunderlík ◽  
Ľubica Jančová ◽  
Janka Martincová

Abstract This study highlights the effect of drought and ambient temperature on performance and herbage quality of legume monocultures and grass-legume mixtures. In a field experiment, the total dry matter yield, seasonal pattern of dry matter yield distribution, content of crude protein and crude fibre of monocultures of red clover and alfalfa and grass-legume mixtures were investigated during two consecutive dry years (2011-2012). Alfalfa cultivars Kamila and Tereza grown as monocultures or as mixtures with Festulolium braunii (cultivar Achilles) outperformed the red clover cultivars Fresko and Veles and provided a well-balanced total and seasonal dry matter yield during both years. Across all experimental years, crude protein content was significantly higher at alfalfa monocultures and mixture when compared with clover monocultures (P < 0.05). However, considerable lower content of crude fibre at clover monocultures in comparison with alfalfa ones was found. Responses of nutritive parameters of both legume species to weather variables were different. Crude protein content in red clover was independent of rainfall and temperature. In contrast, the crude fibre content correlated with temperature whereby the alfalfa monocultures showed stronger correlations (P < 0.05) than red clover monocultures.


1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-497
Author(s):  
Abate Tedla ◽  
Helena Airaksinen ◽  
M. A. Mohamed-Saleem

The influence of the improved drainage broadbed and furrow (BBF), as opposed to the traditional flat seedbed over the growing season on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of Avena sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Vida dasycarpa, Trifolium steudneri and Sesbania sesban were studied on Vertisol. Up to 7 t/ha dry matter yield was recorded for Avena sativa and Lablab purpureus when planted on Vertisols with improved drainage. Dry matter yield of forage crops also increased with advance in stage of maturity or subsequent harvests. On both improved and traditional flat seedbed methods, the chemical analysis of forage crops showed similar declines in crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) levels as the maturity of forage crops progressed.


2016 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 48
Author(s):  
Carlos Rodríguez ◽  
Juan A. Quiñones ◽  
Rodrigo Arias

The trial was conducted at the Centro de Producción Agrícola of ICfA in Cuyuta, Escuintla-Guatemala in order to generate information on the yield and quality of edible mulberry (Morus sp.) roughage treatments consisted of three harvest frequencies (6; 9 and 12 weeks and three fertilization levels of nitrogen (0.40 and 80 kg/ha). A complete randomized block experimental design, with a factorial arrangement (3x3) was used. The cutting height was 0.3 m above the ground level with two sequencies: from August 2nd to September 13 th and from September 13th to December 6th, 1990. In both cases, the 12 week frequency cutting and 80 kg of N were superior to the others (P<=0.01), yielding 6.87 and 6.15 t/ha of dry matter respectively. The yields at 9 weeks were statistically higher than those at 6 weeks. The highest protein percentage of the whole plant, leaves and stalks were produced at 6 weeks. The dry matter digestibility values in vitro showed little variability among treatments, with averages for whole plants, leaves and stalks of 65, 91 and 41 %, respectively. The preceeding data suggests that the mulberry has an excellent potential as a balanced supplement (protein and energy) for dual purpose cattle on the Southern coast of Guatemala.


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