scholarly journals PSI-19 Preference grazing evaluation of new forage varieties, and the effect of animal temperament on grazing behaviour

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_4) ◽  
pp. 274-275
Author(s):  
Cassidy R Sim ◽  
Bill Biligetu ◽  
Gabriel O Ribeiro ◽  
Bart Lardner ◽  
Diego Moya
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Centre Of Excellence ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Alfalfa Varieties ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Abstract In Canada, new forage varieties need not undergo grazing trials before registration and sale. As such, little is known about forage performance under grazing, or how animal preference and temperament affect grazing behaviour. To determine these effects, 6 cool-season forage species including meadow bromegrass (Bromus bieberseinii), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerate L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifoila ssp. Viciifolia) and three alfalfa varieties (Medicago sativa L.) were established in monoculture and grass-legume binary mixtures (14 treatments) at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence (Saskatchewan, Canada). Forages were seeded in randomized adjacent 0.3 ha (21 × 125 m) strips within each of three, 5 ha paddocks. Sixty-nine Bos taurus crossbred steers (396 ± 34 kg BW) were homogenously allocated to the 3 paddocks for grazing observations. Individual steer temperament was characterized via novel object and corridor tests prior to grazing. The 9 steers showing the most bold or shy temperaments were labelled for identification while grazing. The grazing period length was 19 d, from July 27 to August 15, 2019, with observations made during the first six days. Observers determined forage preference based upon the number of animals grazing each forage type every 30 min for 2 h in the morning and 2 h in the evening. Animal preference did not differ (P > 0.05) between the forage treatments. Yield of grass and legume components did not differ (P > 0.05) between monocultures or binary mixtures (1255 kg ha-1 ± 277 kg ha-1). Steer temperament affected (P < 0.0001) animal distribution, with bold steers traveling further from the center of the paddock than shy steers or average herd animals (P < 0.05). These preliminary results indicate that differences in grazing behaviour were due to individual animal temperament rather than forage preference or performance.

Late summer forage yield, nutritive value, compatibility of warm- and cool-season grasses seeded with legumes in western Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (7) ◽  
pp. 1139-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Biligetu ◽  
P. G. Jefferson ◽  
R. Muri ◽  
M. P. Schellenberg
Keyword(s):  
Binary Mixtures ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Crested Wheatgrass ◽  
Western Wheatgrass ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Warm Season Grasses

Biligetu, B., Jefferson, P. G., Muri, R. and Schellenberg, M. P. 2014. Late summer forage yield, nutritive value, compatibility of warm-and cool-season grasses seeded with legumes in western Canada. Can. J. Plant Sci. 94: 1139–1148. In late summer and fall, quality and quantity of forage are important for weight gain by grazing animals in western Canada. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage nutritive value, dry matter (DM) yield, and compatibility of crested wheatgrass [Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn.], meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm.), green needle grass [Nasella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth], northern wheatgrass [Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J. G. Sm.) Gould], western wheatgrass [Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey], Russian wildrye [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski], big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), or switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) in eight grass monocultures, and their binary mixtures with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), or cicer-milkvetch (Astragalus cicer L.) harvested once in August or September. A field study was conducted over a 7-yr period from 1998 to 2004 near Swift Current (lat. 50°25'N, long. 107°44'W, 824 m elev.), SK, Canada, using a randomized complete block design. Forage DM yield was similar between August and September harvests (P>0.05). Binary mixtures of alfalfa–grass produced highest (P<0.05) DM yield ranging from 2449 to 2758 kg ha−1. The monoculture of crested wheatgrass (2143 kg ha−1), sainfoin with crested wheatgrass (2061 kg ha−1), and cicer-milkvetch with green needle grass (1838 kg ha−1) or cicer-milkvetch with western wheatgrass (1861 kg ha−1) produced the second highest (P<0.05) DM yields in the ranking. The two warm-season grasses produced the lowest (P>0.05) DM yields over the 7-yr period. Monocultures of green needle grass or northern wheatgrass had the highest acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), while warm-season grasses with legumes had the lowest. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass and alfalfa with Russian wildrye had the highest crude protein (CP) concentrations. Monocultures of meadow bromegrass, crested wheatgrass, green needle grass, or cicer-milkvetch with meadow bromegrass, and sainfoin with crested wheatgrass had the lowest CP concentrations. In vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greater for mixtures than for the grass monocultures. Concentration of Ca and P was greater for warm-season grasses than cool-season grasses. Alfalfa with western wheatgrass was the best combination considering yield, quality, and compatibility for deferred grazing in late summer and fall in the semiarid prairies. Tested warm-season grasses are not recommended for seeding as binary mixtures with legumes for southwestern Saskatchewan.

Impact of pasture type on methane production by lactating beef cows

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. P. McCaughey ◽  
K. Wittenberg ◽  
D. Corrigan
Keyword(s):  
Methane Production ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Sulfur Hexafluoride ◽  
Beef Cows ◽  
Soil Test ◽  
Tracer Gas ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Forage Intake ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass

In order to determine the quantity of methane (CH4) produced by lactating beef cows on pasture, 16 Hereford–Simmental first-calf heifers with a mean weight of 511.2 ± 5.8 kg were randomly selected from a larger group of cows (n = 60) on a grazing management experiment and used to evaluate the effects of pasture type on ruminal CH4 production using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer-gas technique. Pasture treatments consisted of two pasture types, alfalfa-grass [78% alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) – 22% meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem and Schult.)] or 100% meadow bromegrass at each of two fertility levels (either unfertilized or soil test recommended fertilizer levels) with two replications of each pasture treatment (8 pastures). Cows were managed using a "put and take" stocking system to leave equal residual herbage mass on all treatments following the grazing period in each paddock. During the 69-d grazing season, two cows from each pasture were sampled to determine daily forage intake and CH4 production on four occasions. The chemical composition of diets differed between pasture types and sampling periods. Dry matter intake was greater for cows grazing alfalfa–grass pastures than for cows grazing grass-only pastures (11.4 vs. 9.7 kg DM d−1. P < 0.018). However, methane production was greater for cows grazing alfalfa–grass pastures than for cows grazing grass-only pastures (373.8 vs. 411.0 L CH4 d−1. P < 0.008). Consequently, energy lost through eructation of CH4 was less for cows grazing alfalfa–grass pastures than it was for cows grazing grass-only pastures (7.1 vs. 9.5% of GEI; P < 0.001). Key words: Methane, cattle, environment, digestion efficiency, pasture, forage

ALFALFA VARIETIES ZONED IN THE CENTRAL CHERNOZEM ZONE OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galina Stepanova
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Maximum Yield ◽  
The State ◽  
Average Yield ◽  
State Register ◽  
Independent Evaluation ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Alfalfa Varieties ◽  
Central Chernozem

The article describes the main morphological and biological features of alfalfa varieties included in the State register of breeding achievements approved for use in the Central Chernozem zone of Russia. A total of 32 alfalfa varieties are included in the State register. This is 9 varieties of blue alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. subsp. Sativa) of domestic selection and 8 foreign, 11 varieties of variable alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. nothosubsp. varia (Martyn) Arcang.) domestic selection and 1 variety of foreign and 3 varieties of yellow alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. subsp. falcata (L.) Arcang.). It shows the average and maximum yield of varieties determined in the process of state variety testing, as well as independent evaluation in research institutions in the region. Varieties of blue alfalfa of domestic selection Kevsala, Elena, Satellite, Vavilovskaya Yubileynaya were the most productive. The average yield of dry matter of these varieties reaches 8.4–9.2 t/ha, the maximum — 15.3–17.7 t/ha. Alfalfa varieties Timbale and Galaxy were the most productive among foreign varieties: the average yield of dry matter was 8.1 and 8.3 t/ha, the maximum – 15.5 and 17.2 t/ha. Varieties of alfalfa variable Vitalina and Vela provided an average yield of dry matter of 7.6 and 9.0 t/ha, the maximum yield reached 15.4 and 18.1 t/ha.

scholarly journals Preferences of sheep, when supplemented, for forages in a Mediterranean rangeland management system

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 35
Author(s):  
Raed Al-Tabini ◽  
Derek W. Bailey ◽  
Khalid Al-Khalidi ◽  
Mostafa Shodiafat
Keyword(s):  
Management System ◽  
Rangeland Management ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Sufficient Time ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Rangeland Restoration ◽  
Perennial Vegetation ◽  
Grazing Period ◽  
Herbaceous Perennial ◽  
Grazing Behaviour

Most rangelands in Jordan are degraded and contain almost no perennial vegetation. A study was conducted near Tal alRumman, Jordan to evaluate grazing behaviour of sheep under typical sheep management conditions where supplemental barley provides the majority of the intake by sheep. The objectives were to determine if sheep preferred herbaceous or woody vegetation and to evaluate a management system that utilises limited areas of ungrazed perennial vegetation in expanses of heavily-grazed and severely-degraded rangeland. Twenty-five Awassi ewes were placed in three 0.1-ha paddocks of ungrazed native rangeland for 2.5 h each day for 3 consecutive days and observed. The three paddocks were grazed for 9 days during each of four seasons: winter, spring, summer and autumn. Sheep were herded to and from the experimental paddocks in the morning and were fed 0.5 kg of barley in the evening. Virtually all grazing occurred in the experimental paddocks because rangeland areas where sheep were housed were severely degraded and contained very little herbage (<40 kg DM ha–1). Herbage mass of herbaceous perennial vegetation in the study area averaged 165 kg DM ha–1 and potentially edible portions (leaves and twigs) of shrubs averaged 82 kg DM ha–1. Sheep spent more time (P < 0.05) grazing than browsing, chewing, standing or ruminating during all seasons. Sheep spent most of their time grazing during the first hour of grazing, and then the time spent grazing declined (P < 0.05) and time standing and ruminating tended to increase near the end of the 2.5-h grazing period. Under typical management in Jordan where sheep are supplemented with barley, sheep clearly preferred herbaceous vegetation over shrubs. To meet sheep preferences, rangeland restoration efforts in Jordan should focus on establishment of mixes of grasses, forbs and shrubs rather than planting only shrubs. This study suggests that allowing sheep access to perennial vegetation for 2–3 h per day can potentially extend the grazing period of limited areas of restored rangeland while providing sheep sufficient time to complete a grazing bout.

Productivity and sustainability of four grazed grass – alfalfa mixtures

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. W. Holt ◽  
P. G. Jefferson
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Great Plains ◽  
Ground Cover ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Intermediate Wheatgrass ◽  
Bromus Riparius ◽  
Russian Wildrye ◽  
Medicago Sativa L ◽  
Meadow Bromegrass ◽  
Forage Yields

Forage grasses need to be evaluated in pasture trials in the Great Plains region of North America. The objective of this study was to compare four grass–alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) mixtures for productivity and persistence when grazed during spring and summer. The grasses were Altai wildrye (Leymus angustus [Trin.] Pilger), intermediate wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia [Host] Nevski), meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm. syn. B. biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.) and Russian wildrye (Psathyrostachys junceus [Fisch.] Nevski), with grass rows seeded perpendicular to the alfalfa rows. Two sites, 4 km apart, were grazed with yearling beef cattle from 1987 to 1993. Forage yield differed among grass treatments in 4 of 5 years, but differences were inconsistent over time. Five-year mean forage yields and total livestock production were not significantly different among the four grasses. Mean annual forage yields ranged from 800 to 8170 kg ha−1 and were related to the amount of growing season (April–August) precipitation. Carrying capacity ranged from 35 steer grazing days per hectare in 1992 to 176 in 1991. Grasses in the mixtures did have a significant effect on the grass–alfalfa ratio and on ground cover. Alfalfa content was highest when grown with Altai wildrye and lowest when grown with Russian wildrye. Percentage of ground cover by the grass plus alfalfa increased from an average of 3.8% in 1987 to 16.1% at one site and 31.9% at the second site by 1993. Russian wildrye contained the least alfalfa and weeds after 7 yr. Intermediate wheatgrass and Altai wildrye did not compete with invading weeds at one site, or with alfalfa at the other, and should not be recommended for spring–summer pastures in semiarid regions. Meadow bromegrass maintained a balance of grass and alfalfa and further research should confirm its persistence in semiarid climates. Key words: Leymus angustus, Elytrigia intermedia, Bromus riparius, Psathyrostachys junceus, Medicago sativa, grazing with cattle

scholarly journals Management of lucerne in the cool season

1990 ◽  
pp. 41-43
Author(s):  
J.G.H. White ◽  
W.J. Lucas
Keyword(s):  
Medicago Sativa ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Grazing Management ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Root Reserves ◽  
Medicago Sativa L

The performance of dormant and winter-active lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars was compared under sheep grazing in 2 experiments during the cool season. The objectives were to define the cool season management required for winter active cultivars in sheep farming systems. The 'winter-active cultivars Matador and Rere yielded 1760 and 1220 kg DM/ha compared with 890 and 760 kg from Wairau and Saranac respectively in mid-winter, while the reverse occurred in spring when dormant cultivars yielded 50% more than the winter active. This was related to differing levels of non-structural carbohydrates in roots, which had declined to insignificant levels in Rere and Matador by early spring. June grazing increased spring yields of Wairau by 35% due to control of overwintering aphids, but reduced yield of Rere by 25% due to effects on root reserves. Early September grazing greatly - reduced subsequent lucerne yields at late October and early December grazings, and increased the content of weeds. Our findings show that if farmers graze winter-active lucerne with sheep in winter the advantage in production disappears in spring. Cool-season management which combines the use of dormant and winter-active lucernes is discussed. Keywords winter-active lucerne, dormant lucerne, cool-season grazing, root reserves, lucerne grazing management

The effects of forage type and level of concentrate supplementation on food intake, diet digestibility and milk production of crossbred cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus)

1992 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 183-189 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Khalili ◽  
T. Varvikko ◽  
S. Crosse
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Milk Yield ◽  
Milk Fat ◽  
Bos Taurus ◽  
Bos Indicus ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Crossbred Cows ◽  
Concentrate Supplementation ◽  
Rumen Degradation ◽  
Forage Type

AbstractAn experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of forage type and level of concentrate supplementation on forage intake, diet digestibility and milk production. Twenty-four crossbred cows (Bos taurus × Bos indicus), in early lactation, were allocated to the following six dietary treatments: native grass hay (H) or oat-vetch hay (OV), offered ad libitum, and supplemented with either 0, 2·5 or 5·0 kg per cow per day of a wheat-middling-based concentrate. A four-period, partially balanced, change-over design was used and the treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial.The daily dry-matter (DM) intake was 640 g (P < 0·001) higher with cows on (H) diets compared with those on OV diets. However, OV diets were more digestible (0·675 v. 0·566, P < 0·001) resulting in 800 g higher (P < 0·05) daily intake of digestible DM. The daily milk yield was 1·24 kg higher (P < 0·001) for cows on OV diets compared with H diets. Milk fat concentration was higher (P < 0·05), but milk protein concentration was lower (P < 0·001) with H diets. The rates of rumen degradation of DM and nitrogen of OV were higher than of H for all incubation periods; similarly the values of the rate constant of DM and nitrogen were greater for OV than for H.The daily DM intake increased by 3·72 kg/day (P < 0·001), when the amount of concentrate increased from 0 to 5·0 kg/day, indicating a minor substitution of basal forage by concentrate. The apparent DM digestibilities of the diets were higher when the diets were supplemented with concentrates. The milk yield increased linearly (P < 0·001), when the level of concentrate supplement increased from 0 to 5 kg, resulting in 0·52 kg more milk per day per kg additional concentrate given.

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