Nutritional value of Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) and of spear grass (Heteropogon contortus)-dominant pastures fed to sheep. 1. The effect of plant maturity

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 365 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne ◽  
KP Haydock

The voluntary dry matter intake, digestibility and chemical composition of Townsville stylo and of black spear grass cut at different times of the year from a site near Townsville, Queensland, have been examined using penned sheep. Nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus intakes and retention in the sheep were measured. The concentrations of N, P, S, Na, and Ca in most cuts of spear grass and P and Na in Townsville stylo were less than the published requirements of animals. With spear grass, digestible dry matter intake declined rapidly from January to April and more slowly from April to October and by mid-March fell below the estimated energy requirements for maintenance of sheep. There was little change in digestible dry matter intake of Townsville stylo between February and May and the level was well above maintenance requirements. Dry matter intake and dry matter digestibility were linearly related but only about 50 per cent of variations in intake were caused by variations in digestibility. Nitrogen balance was linearly related to nitrogen intake, and sulphur balance was linearly related to sulphur intake. Phosphorus intakes were usually less than 1 g P day-l and animals were usually in negative P retention.

1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne

Penned sheep were used to measure the voluntary dry matter intake, digestibility and chemical composition of Townsville stylo and of black spear grass fertilized at three different annual rates of superphosphate -0, 125 and 750 kg ha-1. Dry matter intake of spear grass fertilized at 125 kg ha-1 was greater (P<0.05) than that of spear grass fertilized at 750 kg ha-1, which in turn was greater than that of grass not fertilized (P<0.05). Dry matter digestibilities were generally similar, although the digestibility of the grass fertilized at 125 kg ha-l tended to be greatest. In Townsville stylo, no significant differences in intake or digestibility occurred with different fertilizer treatments.


1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (37) ◽  
pp. 192 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne

Sheep were fed either Townsville lucerne (Stylosanthes humilis) or spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) with and without dicalcium phosphate for an 11-week period. Voluntary intake, dry matter digestibility and liveweight changes of the animals were measured. Sheep fed Townsville lucerne gained body weight whereas those fed spear grass lost weight. Added dicalcium phosphate (4.5 g/day) increased dry matter intake and liveweight gain of the sheep fed Townsville lucerne, but not the digestion coefficient. Sheep consuming spear grass did not respond in any way to the supplement. All sheep fed spear grass received urea daily (2.9g N/day) as a nitrogen supplement. The difference between the two groups in response to dicalcium phosphate is discussed in terms of the chemical composition of the two feeds.


1974 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
PM Kennedy

The effect of additions of sulphateh to the diet of cattle given tropical spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) and Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was studied in three experiments. In one experiment there was a small increase in the digestibility of dry matter, but the intake of feed was not affected. The concentration of volatile fatty acids in ruminal liquor from cattle offered spear grass was increased by supplemental sulphate; there was a concurrent small decrease in the proportions of propionic and isovaleric acids. Excretion of faecal sulphur varied with the intakes of total sulphur, organic matter, and digestible organic matter, while urinary sulphur excretion varied with the sulphur and organic matter intakes. Excretion of organic sulphur and total sulphate in urine and faeces increased with sulphur intake. The ratio of nitrogen to sulphur in faeces declined when sulphate was given. The retention of nitrogen was correlated with sulphur retention. It was concluded that the intake and digestion of the hays were not limited by the intake of sulphur.


1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 378 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Playne

Both spear grass and Urochloa grass were cut at six intervals between January and October, near Townsville, Queensland, and the herbages, which ranged in age from 37-296 days, were fed to sheep indoors to compare voluntary dry matter intake, dry matter digestibility, and intake and retention of nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus. The dry matter intake and intake of digestible dry matter of Urochloa were greater than those of spear grass but dry matter digestibilities were similar at the same stage of growth. After mid-March, voluntary intake of digestible dry matter of both pasture species by the sheep was less than the amount needed to meet energy requirements. Nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations were higher in Urochloa than in spear grass, but the reverse applied to sulphur. Sheep were in negative nitrogen, sulphur, and phosphorus balance after early March, even though both grasses had been fertilized with superphosphate.


1977 ◽  
Vol 17 (88) ◽  
pp. 784 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Gillard

In experiments where Townsville stylo (Stylosanthes humilis) was oversown into perennial grass swards dominated by Heteropogon contortus and Bothriochloa bladhii residual stubble reduced the survival of Townsville stylo seedlings. When this stubble was removed, Townsville stylo plants grew to maturity and made up 25 per cent of the dry matter of the sward, an increase of 500 per cent Townsville stylo yield. Frequency of defoliation from 3 to 12 weeks during the growing season had no effect on the proportion of legume in the sward but the yield of all species was less under frequent cutting. Of the two collections of Townsville stylo used, the erect type always gave the highest yield and there was no evidence of an advantage for the prostrate type under frequent cutting. Over a period of three years the erect type invaded plots sown to the prostrate type. The response of Townsville stylo to superphosphate was large whereas that of the perennial native grasses was only slight.


2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-422
Author(s):  
Amoka Pius ◽  
Tawose O M

The nutritive value ,voluntary dry matter intake, and the nutrient digestibility of graded levels of Gmelina arborea and cassava peels concentrates in WAD sheep was investigated. Twelve WAD sheep aged 1-2 years old and weighting 14.00± 0.45 kg were used in a complete randomized design. Diets were formulated such that cassava peels was replaced with Gmelina arborea leaf meal at 0, 33.33, 66.67, 100% levels, designated as diets A, B, C, and D respectively. Diet without Gmelina arborea leaf meal was tagged the control diet. The concentrate feed was compounded to contain 16% CP. Diets with 33.33% inclusion level of Gmelina arborea had significantly (P<0.05) higher dry matter intake (DMI) 598.80g day-1, while the lowest DMI 425.00g day-1 was obtained in animals fed 100% inclusion level of Gmelina arborea. Crude protein intake (CPI) of animals fed diets with 33.33% inclusion levels of Gmelina arborea were significantly (P<0.05) highest, followed by 66.67% inclusion level and the least was observed in 0% inclusion level of Gmelina arborea. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) was significantly (P<0.05) different across the dietary treatments, animals placed on diets with 33.33% inclusion level had the highest DMD, followed by animals on diets with 66.67, 100 and 0% inclusion levels. CP digestibility (P<0.05) increased from 33.33% to 100% inclusion levels of Gmelina arborea leaf meal, the lowest CP digestibility was observed at 0% inclusion level. CF digestibility (P<0.05) increased from 33.33% to 100% inclusion levels of Gmelina arborea leaf meal, while the lowest CF digestibility was observed at 0% inclusion level. N intake increased significantly (P<0.05) with increase in the level of Gmelina arborea inclusion from 33.33% to 100%. N retention was significantly (P<0.05) different, diets with 33.33% Gmelina arborea inclusion had the highest value (64.36g day-1) followed by 66.67%, 100% and the least (52.64g day-1) was at 0% inclusion level of Gmelina arborea.  N balance values also followed the same trend. From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the inclusion of Gmelina arborea leaf meal in WAD rams diet was well tolerated without adverse effect on acceptability, intake and nutrient digestibility, and inclusion level of 33.33% is hereby recommended in ruminants diet for optimum performance and productivity.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 1121-1129 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. N. MASON ◽  
P. M. FLIPOT

Five timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars, Clair, Champ, Milton, Climax and Bounty, were harvested at first flower stage during 2 consecutive years and in the regrowth for 1 yr. The forages were each offered as hay to 15 young rams to evaluate voluntary intake. Five animals were used to determine initial harvest dry matter digestibility. The cultivars varied significantly in voluntary intake at first flower stage. The highest intake (g kg−0.75 d−1) averaged for the years was obtained in the early cultivar Champ (65.9), which was 10% more than that of the medium-late cultivar Climax. The cultivars did not differ significantly in dry matter digestibility. In the regrowth, the relative intakes of the cultivars were essentially reversed from that of the initial harvest. The voluntary intake was substantially higher but the differences among forages were less marked. Climax regrowth voluntary intake was higher (P < 0.05) than all cultivars, except Bounty. A 15% range in digestible dry matter intake was present among cultivars. The ranking of the culivars for digestible dry matter was different than for dry matter yield. Key words: Timothy, Phleum pratense L., voluntary intake, dry matter digestibility


2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1269-1274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcos Speroni Ceron ◽  
Vladimir de Oliveira ◽  
Paulo Alberto Lovatto ◽  
Marcos Martinez do Vale

The objective of this work was to determine the maintenance requirement and the deposition efficiency of lysine in growing pigs. It was used the incomplete changeover experimental design, with replicates over time. Twelve castrated pigs with average body weight (BW) of 52±2 kg were kept in metabolism crates with a controlled temperature of 22ºC. The diets were formulated to supply 30, 50, 60, and 70% of the expected requirements of standardized lysine, and provided at 2.6 times the energy requirements for maintenance. The trial lasted 24 days and was divided into two periods of 12 days: seven days for animal adaptation to the diet and five days for sample collection. The increasing content of lysine in the diet did not affect dry matter intake of the pigs. The amount of nitrogen excreted was 47% of the nitrogen intake, of which 35% was excreted through feces and 65% through urine. The estimated endogenous losses of lysine were 36.4 mg kg-1 BW0.75. The maintenance requirement of lysine for pigs weighing around 50 kg is 40.4 mg kg-1 BW0.75, and the deposition efficiency of lysine is 90%.


1972 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 1377 ◽  
Author(s):  
RFH Dekker ◽  
GN Richards

The dry matter digestibility (DMD) of poor quality roughages such as spear grass (Heteropogon contortus) by sheep and cattle has been shown to increase on addition of sulphur to the diet. The sulphur is added most frequently as inorganic sulphate, either alone (Playne 1969) or supplemented with urea (Bray and Hemsley 1969; Kennedy and Siebert 1972; Siebert and Kennedy 1972) or gluten (Playne 1969). These supplements have also increased feed intake in sheep (Playne 1969; Kennedy and Siebert 1972; Siebert and Kennedy 1972) and cattle (Siebert and Kennedy 1972), and have improved the nitrogen and sulphur balance (Moir, Somers, and Bray 1967; Bray and Hemsley 1969; Playne 1969; Kennedy and Siebert 1972) within the animal. Sulphates have been shown to increase the in vitro rumen digestion of starch (Kennedy, Mitchell, and Little 1971), crude fibre (Bray and Hemsley 1969), and acid-detergent fibre and cellulose (Barton, Bull, and Hemken 1971).


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Moate ◽  
D. E. Dalley ◽  
J. R. Roche ◽  
C. Grainger

Summary. The effect of herbage allowance (20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kg DM/cow. day) on the consumption of nutrients from herbage and milk production by cows in early lactation, was examined. The experiment was conducted on rainfed perennial ryegrass pastures in September and October 1997 in south-eastern Victoria, Australia. The herbage on offer comprised 64% perennial ryegrass, 21% other grasses, 1% white clover, 5% weeds and 9% dead material on a dry matter (DM) basis. The average pregrazing herbage height was 13 cm, at an estimated pregrazing herbage mass of 3.6 t DM/ha. The herbage on offer was of high quality containing 11.6 MJ metabolisable energy/kg DM, 202 g crude protein/kg DM and 525 g neutral detergent fibre/kg DM. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur and chloride were 4.4, 2.2, 4.4, 31.2, 3.5, 2.7 and 11.4 g/kg DM, respectively. As daily herbage allowance per cow increased, dry matter intake increased curvilinearly (P<0.01) from 11.2 to 18.7 kg DM/cow. day. This was associated with a decrease in utilisation of herbage from 54 to 26% and an increase in milk production from 25.9 to 29.1 kg/cow. day. The cows on all treatments grazed for less than 8.7 h/day. The increase in intake was achieved by an increase in the rate of herbage intake from 1.5 to 2.2 kg DM/h for herbage allowances of 20 and 70 kg/cow.day, respectively. Irrespective of herbage allowance, cows selected a diet that was approximately 10% higher in in vitro dry matter digestibility and 30% higher in crude protein than that in the herbage on offer. The neutral detergent fibre content of the herbage selected was lower (P<0.05) than that on offer. The herbage consumed contained more (P<0.05) magnesium, potassium and sulfur, the same amount of calcium and phosphorus and less (P<0.05) sodium and chloride than the herbage on offer. For rainfed perennial pastures in spring, herbage allowance is an important factor in determining voluntary feed intake and production of dairy cows. To achieve 30 L from herbage, without supplementation, high herbage allowances are required. The increase in herbage intake, with increasing herbage allowance, resulted from an increase in rate of dry matter intake and not an increase in grazing time. No relationship was evident between herbage allowance and the selection differentials for in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre. Selection differentials for rainfed perennial pastures in spring are similar to those reported for irrigated perennial pastures in northern Victoria in spring and autumn. When determining nutrient requirements it is important to consider the interaction between herbage intake and nutrient concentration in the herbage.


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