Seasonal variations in the chemical composition and nutritive value of five pasture species in south-western Victoria

1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Walsh ◽  
HA Birrell
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
The Other ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Carbohydrate Contents

The dry matter digestibility (DMD), grinding energy, and the concentration of neutral detergent fibre, crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in 5 pasture species were monitored over 2 years from pasture which was grazed at 14.8 sheep/ha in south-western Victoria. The species were: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Victorian), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Australian), Yorkshire fog grass (Holcus lanatus), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mount Barker), and capeweed (Arctotheca calendula). Perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover were the dominant species and contributed 50 and 20% DM, respectively, to the sward in winter and the opposite in spring. The DMD of the 5 pasture species did not vary greatly throughout the vegetative phase of growth (autumn-mid spring). In winter, fog grass was slightly less digestible (70-74% DMD), while the other grasses were similar (76-79% DMD). Subterranean clover was not digested (72-75% DMD) as thoroughly as the other species until after late spring; then it retained its digestibility while the digestibility of the others fell. None of the species provided digestible herbage above 65% DMD in the summer. The energy required for grinding herbage was lowest in the autumn-winter, and increased with a corresponding increase in neutral detergent fibre content as pastures matured in late spring. The crude protein content of all species declined from 27-30% in autumn to 18-20% in spring, while the soluble carbohydrate contents increased from about 54% in autumn to 10-13% by spring. The implications on animal production of these seasonal changes in nutritive value are discussed. Higher soluble carbohydrate contents in spring herbage than in autumn herbage possibly explain the better performance of animals when grazing spring pasture. The levels of magnesium, sodium and potassium were adequate for the dietary requirements of ruminants; however, on grass dominant pasture, shortages of calcium (0.14-0.25% DM) and phosphorus (0.11-0.24% DM) were likely in the summer when energy and protein were also deficient. The problem of a calcium deficiency is greatly reduced by the presence of legumes. Capeweed is an accumulator of minerals, but it is only occasionally eaten and is rarely present in summer; hence its presence is of marginal benefit to stock.

Effects of superphosphate fertiliser and stocking rate on the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover herbage

1999 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. R. Saul ◽  
G. A. Kearney ◽  
P. C. Flinn ◽  
C. L. Lescun
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Infertile Soils

The effect of superphosphate fertiliser on digestible dry matter (DDM) and crude protein (CP) percentages of perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover was assessed on a long-term, grazed experiment in western Victoria. CP of both species increased significantly (3–6 units) where long-term average phosphorus (P) applications were 33 kg/ha.year compared with 1 kg/ha.year. CP of herbage was also greater on paddocks grazed at higher (9–23 ewes/ha) than lower (5–13 ewes/ha) stocking rates (1–3 units). DDM of subterranean clover significantly increased (8–10 units) with higher superphosphate applications but there was little effect on the DDM of perennial ryegrass. Long-term applications of superphosphate were associated with larger increases in both DDM and CP than if the same rate was applied in autumn of the year of measurement. For subterranean clover, 30 kg/ha of P applied to infertile soils (Olsen P 5 mg/kg) in autumn increased the DDM of herbage collected in September by only 4–6 units. The nutritive value of most volunteer pasture species also increased with higher superphosphate applications but the DDM of these species was usually inferior to perennial ryegrass. The results highlight the importance of monitoring nutritive value, pasture composition, and herbage production to quantify fully the likely effect of fertiliser applications on animal production.

Seasonal variation in the herbage yield and nutritive value of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars with high or normal herbage water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations grown in three contrasting Australian dairy environments

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. Smith ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
R. N. Oram ◽  
K. F. Lowe ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

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.

Offering subterranean clover can reduce methane emissions compared with perennial ryegrass pastures during late spring and summer in sheep

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 1449
Author(s):  
S. K. Muir ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
G. Kearney ◽  
P. Hutton ◽  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Methane Emissions ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
South West

Sheep production systems in south-west Victoria are based predominantly on perennial ryegrass pastures, resulting in highly seasonal growth and declining feed quantity and nutritive value in late spring and summer. These changes result in reduced animal performance and increased CH4 emissions per kg DM intake. A potential alternative to the feedbase used in south-west Victoria that provides high quality and quantity of feed in late spring and early summer are legume-based pastures, such as clovers and lucerne. This experiment examined the impact of legume-based pastures on the growth rates and CH4 emissions of Maternal Composite ewes during late spring and early summer. In 2014, 240 Maternal Composite ewes grazed either perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) or arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi.) pastures for 6 weeks during late spring and early summer (November and December). Sheep grazing subterranean clover were heavier at the end of the experiment than sheep grazing perennial ryegrass. Methane measurements using portable accumulation chambers indicated lower daily CH4 emissions (g/day) from sheep grazing subterranean clover (23.5 g/day) than from sheep grazing lucerne (27.3 g/day) and perennial ryegrass (32.3 g/day) pastures. Methane emissions and liveweight changes appeared to be associated with the nutritive characteristics of the forage offered. Legume-based pastures provide sheep producers in south-west Victoria an option to increase growth rates and decrease CH4 emissions during a period when perennial ryegrass pastures are declining in nutritive value.

Dietary preferences of cows offered choices between white clover and 'high sugar' and 'typical' perennial ryegrass cultivars

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Francis ◽  
D. F. Chapman ◽  
P. T. Doyle ◽  
B. J. Leury
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Intake Rate ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
Structural Carbohydrate ◽  
Partial Preference

An experiment was conducted to compare dietary preferences of cows offered simple choices between spatially separated monocultures of perennial ryegrass cvv. AberDawn (AD) and AberElan (AE), and white clover (WC) under strip grazing. AberDawn was bred to express high water soluble carbohydrate concentrations, whereas AE has typical levels. The proposed hypotheses were that cows would exhibit a partial preference for the ryegrass cultivar with a higher concentration of non-structural carbohydrates, and that there would be an interaction between the non-structural carbohydrate concentration of the ryegrass and strength of preference for WC. Non-lactating cows were offered a pasture allowance of about 20 kg DM each day for 9 days in 3 ‘choice’ treatments: AD + WC, AE + WC and AD + AE. All pastures had similar estimated metabolisable energy contents, but AD had a higher crude protein (136 v. 118 g/kg DM) and slightly lower neutral detergent fibre (480 v. 497 g/kg DM) concentration than AE, and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations were similar in both grasses. White clover had higher crude protein (236 v. 127 g/kg DM), and lower neutral detergent fibre (317 v. 489 g/kg DM) and non-structural carbohydrate concentrations (140 v. 183 g/kg DM), and contained less dead material (60 v. 242 g/kg DM) than the grasses. AberDawn contained less (P<0.05; 578 v. 698 g/kg DM) green ryegrass than AE. Pre-grazing pasture mass (1870 v. 2010 kg DM/ha), pasture allowance (23 v. 25 kg DM/cow), and residual pasture mass (1610 v. 1710 kg DM/ha) were lower for AD than AE, and for WC were lower (P<0.05) than for both grasses. Dry matter intake, intake rate and bite size were lower (P<0.05) on AD + AE than on treatments containing WC. Cows grazing AD + AE ruminated longer (P<0.05), ruminated more (P<0.05) boli, and had more (P<0.05) ruminating chews than those on treatments including WC. The cows on AD + AE had more (P<0.05) total chews than those on AD + WC or AE + WC, but grazing time was not always significantly different between choice treatments. It is suggested that the longer ruminating times and greater number of boli processed in cows grazing only grass may reflect the slower digestion rates of ryegrass compared with clover. Cows grazing the AD + WC or AE + WC choice treatments showed a partial preference for WC, spending more (P<0.001) time grazing and consuming more (P<0.001) WC than ryegrass. Within the AD + AE choice treatment, cows spent more (P<0.05) time grazing and consumed more (P<0.05) AE than AD. Using the mean of 2 methods of estimation, the partial preferences for AD + WC, AE + WC and AD + AE were 39 : 61, 41 : 59 and 45 : 55, respectively.

scholarly journals Comparison of herbage yield, nutritive value and ensilability traits of three ryegrass species evaluated for the Irish Recommended List

2015 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. A. Burns ◽  
P. O’Kiely ◽  
D. Grogan ◽  
S. Watson ◽  
T. J. Gilliland
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

Abstract This study examined 169 of the newest varieties of three ryegrass species, perennial (Lolium perenne L.), Italian (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and hybrid (Lolium boucheanum Kunth), from Recommended List trials in Ireland. The traits examined were yield, dry matter concentration, three nutritive value traits (in vitro dry matter digestibility, water-soluble carbohydrate on a dry matter basis and crude protein concentration) and two ensilability traits (buffering capacity and water soluble carbohydrate concentration on an aqueous phase basis). Varietal monocultures of each species underwent a six cut combined simulated grazing and silage management in each of two years following sowing. Perennial ryegrass yielded less than both other species in one-year-old swards, but less than only Italian ryegrass in two-year-old swards, but generally had the higher in vitro dry matter digestibility and crude protein values. Italian ryegrass displayed the most favourable ensilability characteristics of the three species with perennial ryegrass less favourable and hybrid ryegrass intermediate. Overall, despite the high yields and favourable nutritive value and ensilability traits recorded, the general differences between the three ryegrass species studied were in line with industry expectations. These findings justify assessing the nutritive value and ensilability of ryegrass species, in addition to yield, to allow farmers select species that match farming enterprise requirements.

Arrowleaf clover improves lamb growth rates in late spring and early summer compared with subterranean clover pastures in south-west Victoria

2010 ◽  
Vol 50 (8) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. N. Thompson ◽  
A. J. Kennedy ◽  
J. Holmes ◽  
G. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
South West ◽  
Stocking Rates ◽  
Lamb Growth

The profitable production of lamb from pasture-based systems is dependent on high levels of pasture production being efficiently utilised by sheep of superior genetic merit. Pastures that can extend the pasture-growing season and provide high quality feed in late spring and summer have the potential to increase production efficiency and the proportion of lambs that meet market specifications. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that arrowleaf clover (cv. Arrotas), a cultivar selected for late maturity, would supply feed of higher nutritive value than conventional annual legumes and perennial ryegrass mixtures during December and January and this would improve lamb growth rates over this period. Two experiments were conducted to compare the nutritive value of pasture and growth rates of lambs grazing arrowleaf clover, subterranean clover (cv. Leura) or subterranean clover/perennial ryegrass mixtures at different stocking rates during late spring and early summer in south-west Victoria. In the second experiment an arrowleaf clover/perennial ryegrass treatment was also included. Lambs were removed from the plots when they could no longer maintain liveweight. Arrowleaf clover extended the growing season by 4–6 weeks and provided feed of significantly higher digestibility than subterranean clover during December and January. The digestibility of arrowleaf and perennial ryegrass was comparable, but arrowleaf had significantly higher crude protein content during this period. Lambs grazing arrowleaf clover at stocking rates up to 24 lambs/ha grew at or above 100 g/day until the end of January, whereas lambs grazing subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass mixed pastures could not maintain weight by mid-to-late December in both years and were removed from the pastures. At the highest stocking rates total lamb production from arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures in late spring and early summer was ~400 kg liveweight/ha, and was more than double that achieved from the subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass/subterranean clover mixed pastures. The perennial ryegrass/arrowleaf clover mixed pastures in the second experiment produced a similar quantity of lamb per hectare as the arrowleaf clover monoculture pastures at the same stocking rate. In this paper we demonstrated that late-maturing arrowleaf clover can be a profitable, special purpose lamb-finishing pasture. Arrowleaf clover was most suited to more elevated parts of the landscape where estimated carrying capacity was 20 to 40% greater than that from lower lying parts of the landscape that were more subject to water logging and weed infestation. The risks of including arrowleaf clover pastures into the farming system could be reduced by direct drilling arrowleaf clover, which has relatively poor winter production, into existing perennial ryegrass pastures.

AN EVALUATION OF ALTAI WILD RYE, ELYMUS ANGUSTUS TRIN., AS A FORAGE CROP

1960 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 295-305 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Lawrence ◽  
D. H. Heinrichs ◽  
R. B. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
The Other ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Forage Crop ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Russian Wild Rye ◽  
Better Than

A study was conducted with Altai wild rye (Elymus angustus Trin.), Russian wild rye (Elymus junceus), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium) on their relative merits as forage crops in the arid climate of Saskatchewan. The data show that Altai wild rye produced as much forage as Russian wild rye but less than crested wheatgrass and intermediate wheatgrass. However, it appeared to be less competitive with alfalfa than the other grasses in the test. The nutritive value of Altai wild rye was as good as or better than that of the other grasses; it excelled all of them in crude protein content throughout the season and contained about the same amount of fibre and fat at most stages of development; its ash content was higher than that of the other three grasses in 1954, a wet year, but only higher than the two wheatgrasses in 1957, a very dry year. Comparisons regarding palatability and digestibility suggest that Altai wild rye equals the better grasses in this respect. The study also indicates that nutritive value of grasses throughout the growing season varies much more in wet years when normal plant development occurs, than in dry years when growth is slow and sporadic.

Pasture systems to improve productivity of sheep in south-western Victoria. 1. Growth, composition, nutritive value and persistence of resown pastures

2009 ◽  
Vol 49 (8) ◽  
pp. 654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Saul ◽  
Gavin Kearney ◽  
Dion Borg
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Perennial Grasses ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Pasture Production ◽  
P Rate ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Over Time

Two pasture systems were compared at five on-farm sites across south-western Victoria between 1990 and 1996. The ‘typical’ pasture treatment mimicked the pasture and grazing management common in the region, with volunteer annual-based pastures fertilised with around 5 kg/ha phosphorus (P) each year. The ‘upgraded’ pasture treatments were resown to phalaris, perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover, and higher rates of fertiliser (13–25 kg P/ha.year) plus other nutrients were applied. Both pastures were set stocked with the participating farmers breeding ewes. Stocking rate was an emergent variable on each plot. The stocking rate on the typical treatments was based on normal farm practise. Initially, the stocking rate of the upgraded pastures was 15% higher than for the typical pastures and increased over time depending if the ewes in the upgraded pastures were heavier than those in the typical pastures. Measurements included soil fertility, pasture production, nutritive value and composition, and animal production. Net annual pasture production of the upgraded pastures was 10 500 kg/ha compared with 8700 kg/ha for the typical pastures. This average difference (18%) between the treatments was greatly influenced by the large advantage (40%) of the upgraded pasture in the wet year of 1992. Upgraded pastures had higher pasture production than typical pastures in spring but the reverse occurred in autumn. In a separate small plot experiment, the response of each pasture to higher P fertiliser applications was tested. In autumn and winter, there was a significant interaction between pasture type and P rate, with higher responses on the upgraded pastures. In spring, both pastures responded to increased P applications but the upgraded pastures were more responsive at all P rates. The upgraded pastures contained significantly higher legume content (30–50%) than the typical pastures (10–20%). The proportion of sown perennial grasses in the upgraded pasture declined from around 30 to 10% after 6 years displaced by annual grasses and broad-leaf weeds. Herbage from upgraded pastures had significantly higher crude protein content (2–7 units) and digestibility (1–10 units) than the typical pastures with the difference between the treatments increasing over time. The set stocking policy used in this experiment is likely to have exacerbated the decline in sown perennial grasses and implementation of some form of strategic or rotational grazing may have improved persistence. The experiment also highlights the importance of selecting perennial grasses able to cope with the local environment and grazing conditions. Despite the decline in perennials, these results show significant potential to improve pasture productivity and quality in south-western Victoria.

Phosphorus, sulphur, and molybdenum deficiencies in soils from eastern Australia in relation to nutrient supply and some characteristics of soil and climate.

1955 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 673 ◽  
Author(s):  
KD McLachlan
Keyword(s):  
Phosphorus Deficiency ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Parent Material ◽  
The Other ◽  
Podzolic Soils ◽  
Sulphur Deficiency ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
Western Victoria

Subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) was grown on 32 virgin soils in pot cultures, and the yield responses to phosphorus, sulphur, and molybdenum were determined for each soil. The soils were collected from a wide area in eastern Australia, extending from south-western Victoria to southern Queensland. Sulphur deficiency occurred almost as frequently as phosphorus deficiency. In fact, 75 per cent. of the soils were deficient in both phosphorus and sulphur. Thirty-one per cent. were deficient in all three elements. The effect of the interaction between the elements on the occurrence and intensity of the deficiencies is shown. Molybdenum responses were obtained only after the other deficiencies had been corrected. A deficiency in one of the elements is no indication of deficiency or sufficiency of either of the other two. There was no correlation between the occurrence or intensity of the deficiencies and the geological origin of the soil parent material, the climate of the regions from which the soils were collected, or such soil characters as colour, organic matter, and texture. Responses to phosphorus were less on the black earths than on the red or yellow podzolic soils; those on the red earths were intermediate. The intensity of sulphur deficiency increased, and the intensity of molybdenum deficiency decreased, with increasing soil pH.

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