The effects of first defoliation and previous management intensity on forage quality of a semi-natural species-rich grassland

Semi-natural grasslands occupy large parts of the European landscape but little information exists about seasonal variations in their nutritive value during the growing season. This paper presents results of novel data showing the effect of 13 years of previous contrasting management intensities on herbage nutritional value in relation to different dates of first defoliation (by grazing or haymaking). The treatments were: extensive management and intensive management from previous years (1998–2011). Both treatments were cut in June followed by intensive/extensive grazing for the rest of the grazing season (July–October). To evaluate forage quality in the first defoliation date, biomass sampling was performed in the year 2012 for 23 weeks from May to mid-October, and in 2013 for seven weeks from May to mid-June. Sampling was performed from plots that were not under management during the sampling year. Previous extensive management was associated with significantly reduced forage quality for in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), crude protein, neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and reduced divalent cations (Ca, Mg) and Na during the first seven weeks of the grazing season and the forage was suitable only for beef cattle. Due to low forage IVOMD, the forage is suitable only for cattle maintenance or for low quality hay when the start of grazing was postponed from seven weeks of vegetative growth to 13 weeks, regardless of the previous intensity. Herbage harvested after 13 weeks of the grazing season was of very low quality and was unsuitable as a forage for cattle when it was the only source of feed. Agri-environmental payments are necessary to help agricultural utilisation to maintain semi-natural grasslands by compensating for deterioration of forage quality, not only for the postponement of the first defoliation (either as cutting or grazing) after mid-June, but also when extensive management is required.

Download Full-text

Comparison of sheep and goats under stall-feeding conditions: roughage intake and selection

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100017761 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 42 (1) ◽

pp. 89-95 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

R. A. Wahed ◽

E. Owen

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Urtica Dioica ◽

Barley Straw ◽

Stinging Nettle ◽

Sheep And Goats ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre ◽

Selection Of

ABSTRACTThree experiments measured intake and assessed quality of roughage refused by individually-fed castrated Saanen goats and Suffolk × Mule wethers, aged 21 months.In experiment 1, in which long, lucerne hay was offered (10 animals per species; 14 days) goats ate more than sheep (33·2 v. 28·3 g dry matter (DM) per kg M daily; P < 0·05). In experiment 2, in which long, ammonia-treated barley straw was offered (eight animals per species; 21 days) consumption was also higher for goats (21·6 v. 16·4 g DM per kg M daily; P < 0·01). Freshly cut, chopped stinging nettle (Urtica dioica L.) was offered with treated straw in experiment 3 (eight animals per species). Over the 10 days, intake of nettle increased linearly and that of straw decreased, but nettle consumption was consistently higher for goats than sheep.In each experiment, food refusals (0·2 of food offered) were of lower nutritive value (lower nitrogen, higher acid detergent fibre, lower digestibility in vitro) than food offered. Throughout, food refusals by goats were of slightly higher nutritive value than food refusals by sheep.It is concluded that both sheep and goats are selective feeders under stall-feeding conditions, but the greater intake of roughage by goats cannot be attributed to their selection of more nutritive components.

Download Full-text

Rapid evaluation of pasture quality for a critically endangered mammal, the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr00050 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 91 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Andrew P. Woolnough ◽

William J. Foley

Keyword(s):

Large Scale ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Near Infrared ◽

Nitrogen Concentration ◽

Water Soluble ◽

Critically Endangered ◽

Soluble Carbohydrates ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the nutritive value of forage species available to the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). Nutritive attributes of the forage successfully estimated included total nitrogen concentration, fibre (including neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid lignin), organic matter, water soluble carbohydrates and in vitro dry matter digestibility. The reported results demonstrate the seasonal variability of the forage resource available to L. krefftii in its tropical savanna habitat. Multivariate modelling of the spectra enabled the nutritive value of forage samples to be estimated with coefficients of determination (r2) of 0.770–0.995 and standard errors of the cross-validation of 0.070–2.850 using a modified partial least-squares analysis technique. The standard error of the laboratory was 0.02–1.42. This study demonstrates that broad-based NIRS predictive equations can be used to predict the nutritive value of a number of plant types available to a herbivore over time. By using NIRS the analyst can rapidly analyse large numbers of samples with limited reduction of precision, thereby enabling large-scale ecological applications that may have previously been impeded by time and costs.

Download Full-text

Seasonal changes in the nutritive value of grass species in Spinifex pastures of Western Australia.

The Rangeland Journal ◽

10.1071/rj9880060 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

AM Holm ◽

RJ Allen

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Grass Species ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Gulf Region ◽

Plant Parts ◽

The Common ◽

Exmouth Gulf

This study was undertaken to assess whether the nutritional quality of spinifex pasture lands is improved by buming to promote the growth of grasses other than spinifex. We selected two comparable sites in the Exmouth Gulf region of Western Australia; one had been bumt in late 1979 and the other had not been burnt for many years. On these sites we sampled the five grass species present, as well as Triodia pungens (soft spinifex) and Plectrachne >chinzii (Oat eared spinifex) on 10 occasions from March 1980 to April 1982. Plant parts were analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur content, and in vitro digestibility. None of the common grass species tested was more nutritious or more palatable than soft spinifex. It seems that little is gained from manipulating spinifex pastures through burning if the aim is to encourage alternative grass species. There is a need however for further studies into the importance of woody herbs and forbs in the nutrition of grazing animals on spinifex country and the effect of fire on these species.

Download Full-text

Chemical characteristics, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts in corn silage re-ensiled with bacterial inoculant

Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira ◽

10.1590/s0100-204x2018000900008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 53 (9) ◽

pp. 1045-1052

Author(s):

Mateus Merlo Coelho ◽

Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves ◽

José Avelino Santos Rodrigues ◽

Kelly Moura Keller ◽

Gustavo Vinícius de Souza dos Anjos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crude Protein ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Corn Silage ◽

Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Aerobic Stability ◽

Whole Plant

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of re-ensiling and bacterial inoculation on the quality of corn silage. The experiment was carried out in a 2x2 factorial design with or without inoculant (association of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici), and with re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure or only ensiling of the whole plant of 'BRS 1055' corn. The fermentative quality, nutritional parameters, dry matter losses, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts of silages were evaluated. Re-ensiling caused an increase of pH and in acetic acid and propionic acid concentrations, as well as in the dry matter (DM), crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber crude protein contents. Conversely, there was a reduction in the nonfiber carbohydrates concentration and in in vitro dry matter digestibility for the re-ensiled material. All changes were explained by the higher-effluent production and DM loss of re-ensiled material that was subjected to two compactions. Microbiology was not altered by the treatments. The use of inoculant altered ash content, but it did not influence other parameters. In contrast, re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure caused a reduction in the nutritive value of corn silage and accentuated the DM losses.

Download Full-text

Effect of variety and maturity stage on chemical composition, carbohydrate and protein subfractions, in vitro rumen degradability and energy values of timothy and alfalfa

Canadian Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.4141/a02-053 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 83 (2) ◽

pp. 279-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 45

Author(s):

P. Yu ◽

D. A. Christensen ◽

J. J. McKinnon ◽

J. D. Markert

Keyword(s):

Chemical Composition ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Energy Content ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Phleum Pratense ◽

Maturity Stage ◽

Insoluble Protein ◽

Timothy 2 ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of forage variety and stage of maturity on chemical composition, protein and carbohydrate subfractions, in vitro rumen degradability and energy content under the climatic conditions of western Canada. Two varieties of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. cvs. Pioneer and Beaver) and timothy (Phleum pratense L. cvs. Climax and Joliette), grown at three locations in Saskatchewan (Canada), were cut at three stages [1 = 1 wk before commercial cut (early bud for alfalfa; joint for timothy); 2 = at commercial cut (late bud for alfalfa; pre-bloom head for timothy); and 3 = one week after commercial cut (early bloom for alfalfa; full head for timothy)]. The results showed that: (1) the varieties had minimal effects on nutritional value; however, (2) stage of cutting had a large impact on chemical composition, protein and carbohydrate fractions, in vitro rumen degradability and energy value. As plant maturity advanced from stage 1 to 3, the following changes were noticed: (a) CP was decreased [alfalfa: 20.2 to 17.6; timothy: 11.1 to 7.9% dry matter (DM)]; fibre was affected very little in alfalfa but increased in timothy [acid detergent fibre (ADF): 38.0 to 40.7; neutral detergent fibre (NDF): 68.7 to 72.8% DM]; lignin and neutral detergent insoluble protein (NDIP) were not affected in either forage; acid detergent insoluble protein (ADIP) was increased in alfalfa (3.5 to 17.1% CP), but no effect was seen in timothy; (b) the rapidly degradable protein fraction (PA) was reduced in alfalfa (51.2 to 34.8% CP) but increased in timothy (9.2 to 27.5% CP); the rapidly degradable fraction (PB1) increased in alfalfa (0.0 to 25.2% CP), but decreased in timothy (31.6 to 16.7%); the intermediate degradable fraction (PB2) decreased in both forages (alfalfa: 14.1 to 5.2; timothy: 37.8 to 29.4% CP); the slowly degradable fraction (PB3) declined in alfalfa (33.1 to 17.7% CP), but was not affected in timothy (averaging 21.3% CP); the unavailable fraction (PC) associated with the cell wall increased in alfalfa (3.5 to 17.1% CP), but did not change in timothy (averaging 5.2% CP); (c) in vitro rumen degradabilities of DM (IVDMD) and NDF (IVNDFD) increased at stage 2 and then declined at stage 3. The highest IVDMD and IVNDFD after a 48-h incubation were at cutting stage 2 (50.5 and 37.3%; 42.8 and 37.3% for alfalfa and timothy, respectively); (d) the energy content behaved in a quadratic fashion; it increased initially and then decreased with the highest energy contents at stage 2 for both forages (TDN1x, DE1x, DEp, MEp, NELp: 63.8% DM, 2.92, 2.68, 2.26, 1.40 Mcal kg-1 DM for alfalfa; 45.3% DM, 2.03, 1.86, 1.43, 0.82 Mcal kg-1 DM for timothy, respectively). In general, the best cutting was found at stage 2, which was late-bud for alfalfa varieties and pre-bloom head for timothy. Key words: Alfalfa, timothy, variety, maturity, nutritive value

Download Full-text

Effects of Grain Formation on Dry Matter Distribution and Forage Quality in Maize

Experimental Agriculture ◽

10.1017/s0014479700007444 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 12 (4) ◽

pp. 417-428 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

E. S. Bunting

Keyword(s):

Dry Matter ◽

Analytical Data ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Matter Distribution ◽

Dry Matter Distribution ◽

Dry Matter Digestibility ◽

Grain Formation ◽

Final Harvest

SUMMARYPost-anthesis trends in yield and forage quality of dry matter in components of the maize shoot were studied in experiments with barren and fertile plants grown at 10 plants/m2. In fertile plants, which had a maximum shoot DW 6 or 7% higher than barren ones, the stems (including leaf sheaths) yielded 5 t/ha (42% shoot DW) 30 days after flowering, declining to 3·5 t/ha (26% DW) at final harvest 60 days later. During this period the ear increased by more than 4 t/ha, from 23 to 50% of shoot DW, whereas in barren plants there was little change in DM distribution, with the stem representing about 48% shoot DW, leaf and husk together 40–45% and the ear (rachis only) less than 10%. DM percentage of shoots was similar in barren and fertile plants until maximum DW was attained about 60 days after flowering, after which fertile plants dried more rapidly. In vitro dry matter digestibility was as high in barren as in fertile plants, and the analytical data on forage quality do not suggest that it was positively associated with grain content.

Download Full-text

GENETIC VARIATION FOR FORAGE QUALITY OF ALFALFA STEMS

Canadian Journal of Plant Science ◽

10.4141/cjps87-142 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 67 (4) ◽

pp. 1057-1067 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

D. R. BUXTON ◽

G. C. MARTEN ◽

J. S. HORNSTEIN

Keyword(s):

Cell Wall ◽

Genetic Variation ◽

Medicago Sativa ◽

Crude Protein ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Forage Quality ◽

In Vitro Digestibility ◽

Medicago Sativa L

When normally harvested for hay, the basal portion of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stems is low in forage quality. This study was conducted to determine whether genetic variation for in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) and crude protein (CP) concentration of stems of perennial Medicago spp. could be identified and whether morphological and chemical traits were associated with variation in these characteristics of stems. The lower six nodes and internodes of stems and total herbage from 64 Plant Introduction (PI) accessions and five cultivars of field-grown plants were harvested twice when most plants were at the early seed-pod stage of maturity. Several morphological and growth traits were measured, and both stems and total herbage were evaluated for IVDDM and CP concentration. Covariant analysis was used to adjust in IVDDM and CP concentration of stems for differences in plant maturity. Significant variation for IVDDM and CP concentration in stems existed among the cultivars and among the accessions. Some accessions had significantly higher stem IVDDM or CP concentration than control cultivars. The M. sativa accession, PI 440496, had the fourth highest stem IVDDM and third highest stem CP, with concentrations of 374 and 79 g kg−1, respectively. The number of ridges on stems (stem shape) was significantly correlated with stem IVDDM and CP concentration with average correlation coefficients of 0.30 and 0.35, respectively. Cell-wall concentration and lignin concentration per unit cell wall of stems were both negatively correlated with stem IVDDM and CP concentration. Selection for improved nutritive value of stems may have potential for improving the nutritive value of alfalfa herbage.Key words: Alfalfa, forage quality, crude protein, in vitro digestibility, Medicago sativa L.

Download Full-text

UNAPREĐENJE PROIZVODNJE STOČNE HRANE NA PRIRODNIM TRAVNJACIMA

Zbornik radova ◽

10.46793/sbt26.119s ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vladeta Stevovic ◽

◽

Dalibor Tomic ◽

Dragan Đurovic ◽

Milomirka Madic

Keyword(s):

Soil Fertility ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Floristic Composition ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Mountainous Area ◽

Forage Production ◽

Yield And Quality ◽

Natural Grasslands ◽

Limited Application

Yield and quality of forage mainly depend on the floristic composition, ie the share of higher quality grasses and legumes, soil fertility, amount and distribution of precipitation and light. Natural meadows and pastures are the most important resource in the forage production in the hilly and mountainous area of Republic of Serbia. Despite the large areas, the forage production on natural grasslands is relatively low. Limited application of a small number of agrotechnical measures is the main reason for low and unstable yields and poor forage quality. Only by appropriate fertilization of meadows and pastures with mineral and organic fertilizers, their rational exploitation, it is possible to achieve an increase in hay yield by several times and improvement in forage quality, simultaneously.

Download Full-text

Estimation of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) forage quality parameters dependingon the variety, cut and growing year

Plant Soil and Environment ◽

10.17221/3468-pse ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 52 (No. 10) ◽

pp. 468-475 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

J. Drobná ◽

J. Jančovič

Keyword(s):

Nutritive Value ◽

Trifolium Pratense ◽

Forage Quality ◽

Red Clover ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Net Energy ◽

Crude Fibre ◽

Trifolium Pratense L ◽

Crude Fibre Content

A field trial was conducted to determine the nutritive value of eight Slovak and Czech red clover varieties and to quantify the effects of variety, cut and year on red clover forage quality. The differences between forage quality of the evaluated red clover varieties were significant for protein supplied when energy is limited in the rumen (PDIE), intestinal digestibility of rumen non-degraded protein (dsi), net energy values and ash content (P < 0.01). The achieved results show that the surpassing forage quality was given by diploid Viglana variety with high protein and energy values. The forage of tetraploid varieties Javorina and Dolina was outstanding in protein content, but had the lowest energy values. The nutritive value was significantly affected by cut. The first cut provided forage with a significantly lower (P < 0.01) crude protein (CP) content, CP digestibility, degradability of CP (degNL), protein supplied when nitrogen is limited in rumen (PDIN), PDIE and with a significantly higher crude fibre content and energy values (P < 0.01). The differences between varieties were more pronounced in the second and in the third cut. Significantly higher (P < 0.01) PDIE, PDIN, degNL, net energy values and ash contents were found in the first production year.

Download Full-text

Palatability,in situandin vitronutritive value of dried sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia)

The Journal of Agricultural Science ◽

10.1017/s0021859610000523 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 148 (6) ◽

pp. 723-733 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

H. KHALILVANDI-BEHROOZYAR ◽

M. DEHGHAN-BANADAKY ◽

K. REZAYAZDI

Keyword(s):

Organic Matter ◽

Dry Matter ◽

Nutritive Value ◽

Nutrient Content ◽

Gas Production ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Acid Detergent Fibre

SUMMARYThe current study was conducted to determine chemical composition, nutrient content and availability, metabolizable energy (ME) content and nutritive value of sainfoin hay for ruminants. Three ruminally cannulated Holstein cows were used forin situandin vivoexperiments, to determine rumen degradability and digestibility of sainfoin hay. Apparent total tract digestibility of nutrients was determined with feeding of sainfoin hay as the sole diet to achieve 10% more than maintenance energy requirements. Six Zandi ewes were used in the palatability experiment. Means for dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and condensed tannins (CTs) of sainfoin hay were: 940·4 g/kg and 93·43, 12·13, 47·87, 43·33 and 2·13 g/kg DM, respectively.In situeffective degradability of CP and DM were 0·38 and 0·54 g/g with a ruminal outflow rate of 0·05/h, respectively. OM apparent digestibility was in the range of 0·592–0·689, respectively, for Tilley & Terry and total faecal collection assays. ME content of sainfoin hay, according to different methods (gas production,in vitroandin vivodetermined digestible organic matter in dry matter (DOMD)) was in the range 6·87–10·11 MJ/kg DM. Metabolizable protein (MP) content was 483·4 g/kg CP. Sainfoin was more palatable than alfalfa for sheep. It was concluded that sainfoin has a potential use in ruminant rations, especially if environmental conditions are not suitable for alfalfa production.

Download Full-text