Adaptability Study of Brachiaria Grass Accessions for Forage Yield and Nutritive Value in Lowlands of East Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract Chemical seed-head suppression of endophyte infected tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) improves stocker cattle performance but may decrease forage yield. Spring nitrogen application increases tall fescue growth with a concomitant increase in ergot alkaloids, produced by the symbiotic endophyte Epichloë coenophiala. We hypothesized that greater amounts of nitrogen applied to tall fescue would increase forage yield and offset losses in forage production from chemical suppression of seed-heads with metsulfuron without effect on alkaloid concentration. Ninety-six steers (270 ± 20 kg) were randomly assigned to one of sixteen paddocks (1.8 ha) on April 18 and continuously grazed for 57 d. Paddocks were blocked by previous use (n = 4) and randomly assigned to one of four treatments; no metsulfuron, no nitrogen (NEGCON), metsulfuron with 0 (MET0), 67 (MET67), or 134 (MET134) kg/ha of ammonium nitrate, applied March 11. Steers grazing MET0 paddocks were removed 17 d early due to insufficient forage availability. Steer weight, forage yield, forage nutritive value and ergot alkaloids in forage samples were measured monthly. Seed-head frequency and species composition were determined in June. Metsulfuron application reduced (P < 0.01) tall fescue seed-heads by 80%. Metsulfuron decreased (P = 0.03) ergovaline but ergovaline increased (P < 0.01) at each monthly sampling across treatments. Nitrogen had no impact on ergovaline concentration (P = 0.50). Forage yield tended to be least (P = 0.07) for MET0, intermediate for NEGCON and MET67, and tended to be greatest for MET134 (P = 0.08). Steer ADG was not affected by treatment (P < 0.80). Metsulfuron decreased NDF (P=0.02) regardless of fertilization rate. Forage CP increased with fertilization (P < 0.01) and no differences were detected between NEGCON and MET0 (P = 0.45). Species composition was not impacted (P >0.07) by treatment. Metsulfuron decreased seed-head growth and ergovaline concentration in tall fescue. Additional nitrogen fertilizer ameliorated forage yield lost to metsulfuron application but did not impact steer gain.

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Alternative forage feeds for beef cattle in Northwestern Alberta, Canada: forage yield and nutritive value of forage brassicas and forbs

Journal of Applied Animal Research ◽

10.1080/09712119.2021.1933990 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

pp. 203-210

Author(s):

Akim Omokanye ◽

Guillermo Hernandez ◽

Herbert A. Lardner ◽

Buthaina Al-Maqtari ◽

Kabal Singh Gill ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Beef Cattle ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Forage Yield

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Forage yield and nutritive value of Elephant grass, Italian ryegrass and spontaneous growing species mixed with forage peanut or red clover

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20131347 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 44 (10) ◽

pp. 1845-1852 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michelle Schalemberg Diehl ◽

Clair Jorge Olivo ◽

Carlos Alberto Agnolin ◽

Ricardo Lima de Azevedo Junior ◽

Vinícius Felipe Bratz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Repeated Measures ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Red Clover ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Italian Ryegrass ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Elephant Grass ◽

Grazing Systems

The objective of this research was to evaluate of three grazing systems (GS) with elephant grass (EG), Italian ryegrass (IR) + spontaneous growing species (SGS); EG + IR + SGS + forage peanut (FP); and EG + IR + SGS + red clover (RC), during the winter and summer periods in rotational grazing with dairy cattle. Experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments, two replicates with repeated measures. Lactating Holstein cows receiving 1% BW-daily feed supplement with concentrate were used in the evaluation. Eight grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period. The values of pre forage mass and stocking rate were 2.52, 2.60 and 2.99 t ha-1 and 2.64, 2.77 and 3.14 animal unit ha-1, respectively for GS. Samples of forage were collected by hand-plucking technique to analyze the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in situ dry matter digestibility (ISDMD), in situ organic matter digestibility (ISOMD) of forage present between rows of elephant grass, in the rows of elephant grass and the legumes. Higher value of CP, ISOMD and lower of NDF were observed for the grazing systems mixed with legumes forage.

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A Comparison of Pearl Millet and Sorghum–Sudangrass Pastures during the Frost-Prone Autumn for Growing Beef Cattle in Semiarid Region

Agriculture ◽

10.3390/agriculture11060541 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 541

Author(s):

Leonard M. Lauriault ◽

Leah H. Schmitz ◽

Shad H. Cox ◽

Eric J. Scholljegerdes

Keyword(s):

Weight Gain ◽

Beef Cattle ◽

Pearl Millet ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Agricultural Science ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Hydrocyanic Acid ◽

Science Center ◽

Forage Crops ◽

Sorghum Sudangrass

Sorghum–sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) provide adequate nutritive value for growing beef cattle; however, unlike pearl millet, sorghum–sudangrass produces hydrocyanic acid (which is toxic to livestock) when frosted. Forage yield, nutritive value, and weight gain of growing cattle grazing sorghum–sudangrass and pearl millet were compared during the frost-prone autumns of 2013 and 2014, at New Mexico State University’s Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center in Tucumcari, NM USA, in randomized complete block designs each year with two replicates. No differences existed between pearl millet and sorghum–sudangrass forage yield, although there was a year–forage interaction for fiber-based nutritive value components because of maturity differences across years between the forages when freeze-killed. Pearl millet allowed for extending grazing of available forage for an additional 14 and 24 d in 2013 and 2014, respectively, compared to sorghum–sudangrass during the frost-prone autumn periods. During that period, when sorghum forages produce potentially toxic levels of hydrocyanic acid, animals grazing pearl millet accumulated an additional average of 94.9 kg live-weight gain ha−1 (p < 0.001). These factors afford producers an opportunity to increase returns on the similar investments of establishing and managing warm-season annual forage crops each year, and allow more time to stockpile cool-season perennial and annual forages for winter and early spring grazing, or to reduce hay feeding.

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Forage yield and nutritive value of Tanzania grass under nitrogen supplies and plant densities

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982012000400006 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 41 (4) ◽

pp. 864-872 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Fabrício Paiva de Freitas ◽

Dilermando Miranda da Fonseca ◽

Thiago Gomes dos Santos Braz ◽

Janaina Azevedo Martuscello ◽

Manoel Eduardo Rozalino Santos

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Plant Densities ◽

Nitrogen Supplies

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Forage yield and nutritive value of Panicum maximum genotypes in the Brazilian savannah

Scientia Agricola ◽

10.1590/s0103-90162014000100003 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 71 (1) ◽

pp. 23-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Francisco Duarte Fernandes ◽

Allan Kardec Braga Ramos ◽

Liana Jank ◽

Marcelo Ayres Carvalho ◽

Geraldo Bueno Martha Jr. ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Panicum Maximum ◽

Brazilian Savannah

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Forage Yield and Nutritive Value of Hard Red and Hard White Winter Wheat

Agronomy Journal ◽

10.2134/agronj2009.0378 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 102 (2) ◽

pp. 759-773 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Johnathon D. Holman ◽

Curtis R. Thompson ◽

Ronald L. Hale ◽

Alan J. Schlegel

Keyword(s):

Winter Wheat ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Forage Yield

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Forage yield and nutritive value of hay from sorghum-sudangrass hybrids

Research Society and Development ◽

10.33448/rsd-v9i11.10508 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e95991110508

Author(s):

Hosnerson Renan de Oliveira Santos ◽

Mauro Pereira de Figueiredo ◽

Ingrid Thalia Prado de Castro ◽

Mário Henrique Melo e Lima ◽

Luiza Maria Gigante Nascimento ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Forage Yield ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Mineral Matter ◽

Matter Production ◽

Green Matter ◽

Sorghum Sudangrass ◽

High Forage

The objective was to evaluate agronomically nine sorghum-sudangrass hybrids (Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudanense) and the nutritive value of their respective hays. The experimental design used was randomized blocks in a 3 × 9 factorial scheme, with three replications. Three cuts were made: 42 days after germination, 29 days after regrowth, and 28 days after the second regrowth. All hybrids showed a higher number of plants ha–1 (P < 0.05) in the second cut. For the green matter and dry matter production of the hays, the values ranged from 49.16 to 62.07 t ha–1 and 9.07 to 11.43 t ha–1, respectively. There were no differences (P > 0.05) in dry matter, mineral matter, or ether extract. The hybrids 1013020, BRS 810, 1013016, and 1624F016 showed higher values of crude protein (CP) of 16.49, 16.17, 16.08, and 15.88%, respectively. Differences were observed (P < 0.05) in neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content. The hybrids 1013020, BRS 802, 1013021, 1013016, BRS 810, and 1624F006 presented lower levels of NDF (60.57, 60.74, 62.15, 62.37, 62.58, and 64.70%, respectively). The hybrids BRS 802, 1013016, BRS 810, and 1624F006, stood out above the others, presenting high forage yield and adequate nutritive value (CP content >13% and NDF content <65%).

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