Relations between fibre and water soluble carbohydrate contents of pasture species and their digestibility and voluntary intake by sheep

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell

Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels were determined on 80 samples of known apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) and voluntary intake of dry matter (DMI). The pastures consisted of regrowths of six species: Trifolium repens (white clover cv. Grasslands Huia), Lolium perenne x L. multiflorum (short rotation ryegrass c.v Grasslands Manawa), Lolium perenne (long rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Ariki), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmania No. I), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Currie) and Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui), cut eight times between May 1969 and August 1970. Overall, white clover had a lower NDF and a lower WSC content than the ryegrasses but both groups had similar ADF contents. Cocksfoots had higher NDF and ADF, and lower WSC contents than the ryegrasses. NDF and ADF could be used to predict the DMD of all species in all seasons with residual standard deviations (RSD) of 3.0 and 3.2 DMD units (per cent) respectively. No significant relations (P < 0.05) were present between DMD and WSC content. Seasonal differences were present in the relations between DMI and chemical composition. The RSD of the overall regressions of intake with NDF, ADF, and WSC contents were 9.3, 9.4, and 8.9 DMI units (g/day/kg0.75) respectively. Within seasons, DMI was best predicted by regressions with detergent fibre content and here the RSD had a range of 3.4 to 5.2 DMI units. Within species over all seasons, DMI was predicted best by regressions with WSC content and the RSD had a range of 5.7 to 7.9 DMI units. The usefulness of the chemical composition measurements in explaining the reason for the low intakes, previously found with winter pasture, is discussed.


1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (66) ◽  
pp. 33 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell

Gross energy levels and energy digestibilities were determined on 80 single species pasture samples of known dry matter digestibility. Crude protein, ash and ether extract levels were also determined. The pastures consisted of regrowths of six species, Trifolium repens (White clover cv. Grasslands Huia), Lolium perenne x multiflorum (manawa ryegrass cv. Grasslands Manawa), Lolium (multiflorum x perenne) x L. perenne (ariki ryegrass cv. Grasslands Ari ki), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmanian No. 1), Dactylis glomerata (currie cocksfoot cv. Currie) and Dactylis glomerata (apanui cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui), harvested eight times between May 1969 and August 1970. The gross energy levels in pasture dry matter and pasture digestible organic matter were highest with white clover (means 4.64 and 4.98 K cal g-1) and lowest with the ryegrasses (4.50 and 4.80 K cal g-1). They were also higher in the winter (4.60 and 4.91), autumn (4.53 and 4.90) and spring (4.56 and 4.86), and lower in the summer (4.49 and 4.77). Relations between gross energy levels and chemical composition were weak. The strongest relation was with crude protein content (r = +0.41, P < 0.01). Relations of energy digestibility and digestible energy level in pasture dry matter, with dry matter digestibility had high correlations (r = +0.97, P < 0.01, and r = +0.92, P < 0.01) and were similar to previously published relations. However, seasonal differences occurred in both relations and, at low dry matter digestibilities, winter pasture had higher energy digestibilities and higher levels of digestible energy than spring-summer pasture. Species differences occurred in the latter relation and, at high dry matter digestibilities, white clover had higher levels of digestible energy than the grasses.



1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell

The total concentration and the relative proportions of the volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured in rumens of sheep fed 78 single species pasture samples. The pastures consisted of regrowths of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Grasslands Huia), Manawa regrass (Lolium perenne x multiflorum cv. Grasslands Manawa), Ariki ryegrass (Lolium (multiflorum x perenne) x L. perenne cv. Grasslands Ariki), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Tasmania No. 1) , Currie cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Currie) and Apanui cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Grasslands Apanui), cut eight times between May, 1969 and August, 1970. Sheep fed cocksfoot had lower VFA concentrations, higher proportions of acetate (HAc) and lower proportions of butyrate (HBu) than sheep fed white clover and ryegrass (P < 0.05). They also had lower proportions of propionate (HPr) than sheep fed ryegrass (P < 0.05). Sheep fed white clover had higher proportions of valerate (HVa) than those fed the grasses (P < 0.05). There were no significant (P < 0.05) seasonal differences in total VFA concentration but HAc was lowest with spring pasture (P < 0.05) and HBu was lowest with autumn pasture (P < 0.05). Total VFA concentration was positively related to digestibility (DMD) (r = +0.52, P < 0.01) but species differences occurred and at similar DMD, white clover produced higher concentrations than ryegrass (P < 0.05) which produced higher concentrations than cocksfoot (P < 0.01). The overall relation between total VFA and intake (DMI) was weak but seasonal differences occurred and at similar levels of DMI, winter pasture produced higher VFA concentrations than spring-summer pasture (P < 0.01). The proportion of HPr was positively related to VFA concentration (r = +0.53, P < 0.01) and to water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (r = +0.51, P < 0.01) and relations with DMD and DM1 were weak and non-significant (P > 0.05).



2005 ◽  
Vol 2005 ◽  
pp. 194-194
Author(s):  
C. L. Marley ◽  
D. A. Davies ◽  
J. E. Vale ◽  
J. G. Evans ◽  
N. D. Scollan ◽  
...  

Grazing experiments have shown that using a ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) variety bred by conventional techniques for high water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations can improve liveweight gain in pre-weaned lambs (Lee et al., 2001) and increase milk yields and reduce N excretion in dairy cows (Miller et al., 2001) compared to conventional ryegrass. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of using reseeded upland pastures, sown with either a ryegrass variety bred for elevated levels of WSC or a control ryegrass on the production performance of grazing steers when compared to steers grazing permanent ryegrass/white clover pastures.



1992 ◽  
Vol 72 (3) ◽  
pp. 755-762 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Narasimhalu ◽  
H. T. Kunelius ◽  
K. B. McRae

Italian ryegrasses, cultivars Barmultra and Lemtal, and Westerwolds ryegrasses, cultivars Barspectra, Merwester and Promenade, (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) were harvested as first- and second-cut herbages and compared for yield, leafiness and water-soluble carbohydrate content during the 2-yr study. These herbages were conserved as silages and compared for chemical composition and for intake, digestibility, and total-N retention in sheep. First-cut ryegrass yielded more dry matter than second-cut ryegrass (3.3 vs. 2.6 t ha−1). First-cut ryegrass silages contained less dry matter and NDF, and sheep consumed less, but digested better and retained less total-N in comparison with second-cut ryegrass silage. Italian ryegrasses yielded less dry matter, were more leafy, contained less ADF, and were better digested compared with the Westerwolds ryegrasses. The herbage content of water-soluble-N, and the ratio of ammonium-N to total-N in silage were not different between the ryegrasses. Italian Barmultra was more leafy than Lemtal cultivar but no other significant differences were measured between these cultivars. Westerwolds Merwester yielded more dry matter, was less leafy, contained more NDF and ADF, and had lower voluntary intake, digestibility, and its total-N was less retained in sheep as compared with the Barspectra or Promenade Westerwolds ryegrass. Italian ryegrasses were superior in composition, voluntary intake, and digestibility to Westerwolds, but the latter were superior on the basis of yielding ability and efficiency of total-N utilization in sheep.Key words: Silage, ryegrass, intake, digestion, composition, Nitrogen retention



2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Alizadeh ◽  
Ali Ashraf Jafari ◽  
Karam Sepahvand ◽  
Saied Davazdahemami ◽  
Mohammad Rahim Moeini ◽  
...  

In order to evaluate resistance of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) to powdery mildew, seeds of 19 accessions were collected from different parts of Iran and sown at 4 locations, i.e. Kheirabad, Khoramabad, Semirom and Tabriz, in 2014. Accessions were evaluated for powdery mildew severity index (DSI), forage dry matter yield (DM), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and crude protein (CP) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations over 4 years. Based on Duncan’s test, accessions 15353 and 3001 showed disease severity index lower than 25% and were nominated as resistant to powdery mildew. Accessions Oshnavieh and Polycross were considered semi-resistant due to their DSI ranging from 25 to 50%. Other accessions were considered susceptible because their DSI was higher than 50%. The resistant accessions (15353 and 3001) with average yields of 3,341 and 3,304 kg DM/ha were ranked as having high DM production, in addition to displaying high DMD plus high CP and WSC concentrations. Severity of powdery mildew infection was linked negatively with all 3 quality traits, i.e. DMD and CP and WSC concentrations. According to Eberhart/Russell regression results, stability of accessions 3001 and 15353 for DSI and DM yield was confirmed across 4 locations. We recommend the use of accessions 3001 and 15353 in future breeding programs to increase resistance to powdery mildew, while at least maintaining yield and quality attributes. Evaluation of other sources of sainfoin germplasm should continue to identify further resistant accessions.



2017 ◽  
Vol 79 ◽  
pp. 111-118
Author(s):  
L.A. Box ◽  
G.R. Edwards ◽  
R.H. Bryant

Chicory and plantain have been suggested as alternative grazed forages to perennial ryegrass for New Zealand dairy systems. While diurnal changes in plant chemical composition have been described for ryegrass there is currently little information for herbs. This experiment aimed to compare the effect of nitrogen inputs (low and high) and harvesting time (am versus pm) on the chemical composition of four forages (ryegrass, plantain, chicory and white clover). The effect of harvest time was greater than N fertiliser inputs on chemical composition for all forages. Ryegrass showed the greatest increase in water soluble carbohydrate diurnally, at the expense of neutral detergent fibre and to a lesser extent crude protein. This suggests afternoon allocation of ryegrass may be beneficial to improve the nutritive value of pasture on offer; allocation timing is less important for white clover, chicory and plantain. Keywords: chicory, clover, crude protein, plantain, ryegrass, water soluble carbohydrate



1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. Smith ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
R. N. Oram ◽  
K. F. Lowe ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
...  

Summary. Two lines of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cv. Aurora and breeding line Ba 11351, from the United Kingdom with elevated concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates in the shoot were compared with the standard cultivars, Ellett, Vedette and Kangaroo Valley, in pure grass swards under irrigation at Kyabram, Victoria, and Gatton, Queensland, and under natural rainfall at Condah, Victoria, during 1995–97. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was used to predict the water-soluble carbohydrate, crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility, neutral and acid detergent fibre, and Klason lignin concentrations of the perennial ryegrass herbage. Herbage yield and water-soluble carbohydrate differed between cultivars at each site at most harvests, with the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines usually yielding less and having higher water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations than the 3 standard cultivars. However, the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines also had higher water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations at harvests where their yield was equal to the standard cultivars. The other nutritive value traits differed significantly at more than half of the 32 harvests: the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines had higher crude protein and dry matter digestibility, and lower neutral detergent fibre, the neutral detergent fibre containing less acid detergent fibre and lignin than did the standard cultivars. The high water-soluble carbohydrate lines were more susceptible to crown rust during spring and summer than the standard cultivars at Kyabram and Gatton: heavy infections reduced yield, water-soluble carbohydrate, dry matter digestibility and crude protein. Higher water-soluble carbohydrate may depend on only a few genes, as does rust resistance and it seems likely that high yielding, high water-soluble carbohydrate cultivars can be developed by recombination and selection.



1972 ◽  
Vol 12 (57) ◽  
pp. 361 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Clark ◽  
K Santhirasegaram

White clover (Trifolium repens) was fermented in the presence of detergent extracts of thirty-two cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata) cultivars and eight other pasture species, using a two stage in vitro technique. The in vitro dry matter digestibility of white clover was not depressed by the presence of the detergent extracts to any practical extent. The small depression observed was probably due to the presence of water soluble components of the pasture species. The presence of a detergent-soluble, metabolic inhibitor in cocksfoot cultivars, or the eight other pasture species, was not exhibited using the method described. The in vitro dry matter digestibility of white clover in the presence of detergent extracts of cocksfoot was not correlated with the digestibility values of the cocksfoot samples from which the extracts were made. This suggests that the wide variation observed in the digestibility of the cocksfoot cultivars (54 to 80 per cent) was not due to the presence of any detergent-soluble, inhibiting substances.



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