scholarly journals Seasonal herbage accumulation, plant-part composition and nutritive value of signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) pastures under simulated continuous stocking

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-59
Author(s):  
Gustavo José Braga ◽  
Carlos Guilherme Silveira Pedreira ◽  
Aliedson Sampaio Ferreira ◽  
Eliara Anaí de Oliveira ◽  
Valdinei Tadeu Paulino

In order to optimize the regrowth and harvest of signal grass (Urochloa decumbens) cv. Basilisk pastures it is necessary to establish more precise grazing management guidelines. The objective of this study was to evaluate herbage accumulation, plant-part composition and nutritive value of signal grass managed under contrasting levels of steady-state canopy heights. Treatments included 3 canopy height targets, i.e. 10 (S-short), 17.5 (M-medium) and 25 cm (T-tall), in a completely randomized design with 4 replications. Experimental units were 144-m2 plots which were grazed by groups of steers for short periods in an endeavor to keep canopy heights at the 3 desired targets. On average, herbage accumulation rate (HAR) in T pastures was greater than in M and S pastures, including the dry-wet season transition period in spring (September‒November). The S pastures had higher crude protein and lower acid detergent fiber concentrations than M and T pastures, especially in the first half of the calendar year. However, in vitro organic matter digestibility was similar for all treatments (612 g/kg). As S and M pastures had lower HARs than T pastures in the spring, it appears advantageous to maintain the signal grass canopy at ~25 cm in order to ensure quick regrowth with the return of the wet season. However, longer-term studies are needed with recording of animal performance before these initial findings can be promoted widely.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chatchai Kaewpila ◽  
Pongsatorn Gunun ◽  
Piyawit Kesorn ◽  
Sayan Subepang ◽  
Suwit Thip-uten ◽  
...  

AbstractImproving the nutrition of livestock is an important aspect of global food production sustainability. This study verified whether lactic acid bacteria (LAB) inoculant could promote ensiling characteristics, nutritive value, and in vitro enteric methane (CH4) mitigation of forage sorghum (FS) mixture silage in attacking malnutrition in Zebu beef cattle. The FS at the soft dough stage, Cavalcade hay (CH), and cassava chip (CC) were obtained. The treatments were designed as a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design. Factor A was FS prepared without or with CH, CC, and CH + CC. Factor B was untreated or treated with Lactobacillus casei TH14. The results showed that all FS mixture silages preserved well with lower pH values below 4.0 and higher lactic acid contents above 56.4 g/kg dry matter (DM). Adding LAB boosted the lactic acid content of silages. After 24 h and 48 h of in vitro rumen incubation, the CC-treated silage increased in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) with increased total gas production and CH4 production. The LAB-treated silage increased IVDMD but decreased CH4 production. Thus, the addition of L. casei TH14 inoculant could improve lactic acid fermentation, in vitro digestibility, and CH4 mitigation in the FS mixture silages.


2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 42569
Author(s):  
Francisco Allan Leandro de Carvalho ◽  
Percivaldo Xavier Resende ◽  
Clístenes Amorim Benicio ◽  
Jackson De Oliveira Siqueira ◽  
Daniel Ribeiro Menezes ◽  
...  

The objective this study was to evaluate the effect of maniçoba supplementation in sugar cane silage with respect to chemical-bromatological composition and the in vitro degradation kinetics of the silage. This experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four treatments (maniçoba levels: 0, 20, 30, and 40%) and six repetitions. Silage samples were analyzed for their chemical-bromatological composition, digestible energy, metabolizable energy, total digestible nutrients, in vitro gas production and degradability parameters. The silage with higher inclusion level had better bromatological composition (p < 0.05) than the silage without maniçoba for CP, NDF, ADF and MM (6.49, 56.64, 38.66 and 4.52% versus 2.21, 70.96, 49.95 and 2.78%). Higher ME content (2.35 MJ kg-1 MS versus 1.85 MJ kg-1 MS), DE (2.87 Mcal kg-1 MS versus 2.25 Mcal kg-1 MS) and TDN (65.16% versus 51.11%), respectively. The highest values for gas production were also observed in silage with added maniçoba due to higher NFC content (34.87%). With an increase in the proportion of maniçoba, there was an increase in the soluble a fraction, b fraction, and thus a higher effective degradability of dry matter (46.56%). The addition of maniçoba improves the nutritive value of sugarcane silage.  


2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 269-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Olfaz ◽  
Unal Kilic ◽  
Mustafa Boga ◽  
Abdiwali Mohamoud Abdi

AbstractThis study was conducted to determine the potential nutritive value andin vitrogas production (IVGP) parameters ofOlea europaea L. (Olive = OL),Morus alba L. (Mulberry = ML) andCitrus aurantium L. (Sour orange = SOL) tree leaves. Hohenheim gas test was used to determine thein vitrogas productions of the leaves. The gas production of samples over time was recorded for 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h after incubation. Completely Randomized Design was used to compare gas production, and gas production kinetics of samples. The findings of the present study suggested that there were differences among the tree leaves in terms of crude protein, NDF,in vitrogas productions, organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolisable energy (ME), net energy lactation (NEL) and relative feed values (RFV) (P<0.01). ML had the highest condensed tannin contents (P<0.05),in vitrogas production (IVGP), OMD and energy values (P<0.01). SOL had highest RFV values. OL showed the lowest IVGP when compared to SOL and ML. Low NDF and ADF contents of SOL would probably increase the voluntary intake, digestibility and relative feed values of these leaves by ruminants. In conclusion, it was determined that OL, ML and SOL used in the study have lowin vitrogas production and can be utilized as alternative roughage feed in ruminants. However, it is recommended that the results obtained from this research should be tested inin vivostudies.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 2392
Author(s):  
Rayanne Thalita de Almeida Souza ◽  
Mércia Virginia Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
Márcio Vieira da Cunha ◽  
Geane Dias Gonçalves ◽  
Valdson José da Silva ◽  
...  

This two-year study evaluated the effect of Pennisetum purpureum genotypes under rainfed or irrigated conditions, during the dry and rainy seasons, on herbage, leaf, and stem dry matter (DM) accumulation rates, nutritive value, and carbohydrate and protein fractionation. Treatments were tall (Iri 381 and Elefante B) or dwarf (Mott and Taiwan A-146 2.37) genotypes under rainfed or irrigated conditions. Taiwan A-146 2.37 (146 kg DM ha per day) showed similar herbage accumulation rate (HAR) to tall genotypes during the rainy season (124 and 150 kg DM/ha per day, respectively). Dwarf genotypes showed differences in leaf accumulation rate (LAR) (66 and 49 kg DM/ha per day). Mott leaf had less neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (589 g/kg DM) than Taiwan A-146 2.37 (598 g/kg DM), and tall genotypes had generally greater NDF (668 g/kg DM) than the dwarf genotypes. Irrigation increased fiber deposition in the leaf. Stems of all genotypes had lower in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDDM) (378 g/kg DM) under rainfed conditions in the rainy season. Leaf from irrigated plots had 23% more carbohydrate C fraction (160 g/kg CHO) than those from rainfed plots (122 g/kg CHO). Dwarf genotypes had generally greater nutritive value than tall genotypes. These genotypes show promise under irrigation to fill forage gaps during dry periods.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 153
Author(s):  
William Sánchez-Ledezma ◽  
Carlos Hidalgo-Ardón

In the area, there are no selected maize materials for forage production, tall and long-cycle creole maize varieties are used, there are overturning problems that make management difficult. The study was conducted in the dairy highlands of Costa Rica at an altitude of 2200 m, between 2008 and 2009. This study was made in order to compare the forage production and the nutritive value of nine maize hybrids (Zea mays) with local oats (Avena sativa) in a randomized design of complete blocks and three replicates. Harvesting took place at grain stage called milky-doughy (4 and 6.5 months for oats and maize hybrids). Oats had a dry matter yield (14 t/ha) and dry matter digestibility (8.7 t/ha) higher (P<0.0001) than hybrids (7.8 and 4.9, respectively). Although hybrids showed a higher (p<0.05) percentage of dry matter (mean 19.2) and in vitro dry matter digestibility (mean 63.2), oats had percentages of 16.7 and 61.9 within the same order. The percentage of crude protein in oats (14.2) was higher (p <0.05) than maize hybrids (mean 10.9). The creole oat variety showed a higher forage resource than the evaluated hybrid maize.


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (119) ◽  
pp. 391
Author(s):  
CJ Gardener ◽  
RG Megarrity ◽  
MN McLeod

The distribution of dry matter between leaves, stems and inflorescences, and the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur concentration and in vitro digestibility of these parts were measured in uncut swards of nine accessions of seven Stylosanthes spp. grown in northern Queensland over 22 months. Despite above average rainfall in both dry seasons, which greatly reduced the normal moisture stress, only S. guianensis cv. Oxley retained a significant proportion of green leaf in the winter period. However, Oxley set little seed in either year. Plants of the three short-lived species S. hamata, S. humilis and S. subsericea died back to the crown at the end of each wet season, while adult plants of the strongly perennial shrubs S. viscosa, S. scabra and S. fruticosa shed most of their leaves by July. All accessions flowered in both years, and all, except Oxley, set a heavy seed crop by the second year. Some inflorescence was retained on the living stems of the perennial lines until October. This inflorescence had a nutritive value only just below that of young leaf, while the mature stem was low in nitrogen and digestibility in all accessions. The leaf and stem litter had a similar chemical composition to standing material but rapidly became mouldy. The two cultivars of S. humilis, Paterson and Gordon, and S. subsericea had significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and digestibility than the other accessions. S. viscosa had significantly lower levels of all four attributes. The utilization of the various accessions for improving cattle nutrition is discussed.


1982 ◽  
Vol 22 (119) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
CJ Gardener ◽  
RG Megarrity ◽  
MN McLeod

The distribution of dry matter between leaves, stems and inflorescences, and the nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur concentration and in vitro digestibility of these parts were measured in uncut swards of nine accessions of seven Stylosanthes spp. grown in northern Queensland over 22 months. Despite above average rainfall in both dry seasons, which greatly reduced the normal moisture stress, only S. guianensis cv. Oxley retained a significant proportion of green leaf in the winter period. However, Oxley set little seed in either year. Plants of the three short-lived species S. hamata, S. humilis and S. subsericea died back to the crown at the end of each wet season, while adult plants of the strongly perennial shrubs S. viscosa, S. scabra and S. fruticosa shed most of their leaves by July. All accessions flowered in both years, and all, except Oxley, set a heavy seed crop by the second year. Some inflorescence was retained on the living stems of the perennial lines until October. This inflorescence had a nutritive value only just below that of young leaf, while the mature stem was low in nitrogen and digestibility in all accessions. The leaf and stem litter had a similar chemical composition to standing material but rapidly became mouldy. The two cultivars of S. humilis, Paterson and Gordon, and S. subsericea had significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur and digestibility than the other accessions. S. viscosa had significantly lower levels of all four attributes. The utilization of the various accessions for improving cattle nutrition is discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. F. Mustafa ◽  
J. J. McKinnon ◽  
D. A. Christensen

Hemp meal (HM) is derived from the processing of hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) seeds. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritive value of HM for ruminants. Two ruminally fistulated cows were used in a randomized complete-block design to estimate in situ ruminal dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability of HM relative to canola meal (CM), heated canola meal (HCM) and borage meal (BM) meal. Intestinal availability of rumen undegraded CP was estimated using a pepsin–pancreatin in vitro assay. Twenty growing lambs were utilized in a completely randomized design to determine total–tract nutrient digestibility coefficients of diets in which HM replaced CM at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% as a protein source. Results of the in situ study showed that the soluble-CP fraction of HM was similar to that of HCM and lower (P < 0.05) than those of CM and BM. Rate of degradation of the potentially degradable CP fraction and effective CP degradability of HM was higher (P < 0.05) than HCM and lower (P < 0.05) than CM and BM. Rumen undegraded CP and intestinal digestibility of RUP were highest (P < 0.05) for HM and HCM (average 782.5 and 644.5 g kg–1 of CP, respectively), intermediate for CM (473.9 and 342.9 g kg–1 of CP, respectively) and lowest for BM (401.5 and 242.3 g kg−1 of CP, respectively). However, total available CP was similar for the four protein sources (average 857.8 g kg−1 of CP). Feeding up to 200 g kg−1 HM did not affect voluntary intake or total-tract nutrient digestibility coefficients for sheep fed a barley-based diets. Hemp meal is an excellent source of RUP, with high post-ruminal availability, and may be used to replace CM with no detrimental effects on nutrient utilization by sheep. Key words: Hemp meal, nutritive value, ruminants


Agronomy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1509
Author(s):  
Izabela A. Gomes da Silva ◽  
José C. B. Dubeux ◽  
Mércia Virginia Ferreira Santos ◽  
Alexandre Carneiro Leão de Mello ◽  
Márcio Vieira Cunha ◽  
...  

Understanding ecological interactions between the arboreal and the herbaceous components is key to get the full benefits from silvopastoral systems. The objective of this 2-yr research was to evaluate productivity and nutritive value of signalgrass (Urochloa decumbens (Stapf.) R. Webster) subjected to shading from the tree legumes Gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Steud) or Mimosa (Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Benth.) under different tree canopy management. Trees were planted in double rows and were either unharvested or harvested only one row, leaving the other row unharvested. Response variables for the herbaceous vegetation included canopy height, herbage mass (green leaf blade, green stem, senescent leaves, and senescent stem), herbage accumulation rate, canopy bulk density, and soil moisture. Total herbage mass, green herbage mass, and green leaf mass were affected by treatment × month and harvest management × month interactions. Herbage accumulation rate in Gliricidia was greater (55 kg DM ha−1d−1) than Mimosa (32 kg DM ha−1d−1). Soil moisture was lesser at the Mimosa sites (16.2%) compared with the Gliricidia ones (17.2%), and it was greater between tree rows (21.9%) compared with full sun (11.5%), varying across the season. Harvesting management had a short-term transient effect on herbage responses. Tree canopy management can affect forage quantity and quality; however, these effects are transient and vary with tree spacing. Signalgrass grew faster and had better nutritive value when growing with Gliricidia.


2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 385-395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo R. Salvador ◽  
Luciana Pötter ◽  
Marta G. Rocha ◽  
Anelise P. Hundertmarck ◽  
Maria José O. Sichonany ◽  
...  

This experiment evaluated forage production, sward structure, stocking rate, weight gain per area and nutritive value of forage as grazed by beef heifers on Alexandergrass (Urochloa plantaginea (Link) Hitch) pasture fertilized with nitrogen (N): 0; 100; 200 or 300 kg of N/ha. The experiment was a completely randomized design following a repeated measurement arrangement. The experimental animals were Angus heifers with initial age and weight of 15 months and 241.5±5 kg, respectively. The grazing method was continuous, with put-and-take stocking. N utilization, regardless of the level, increase by 25% the daily forage accumulation rate and the weight gain per area by 23%. The level of 97.2 kg N/ha leads to a higher leaf blade mass and increases by 20% the leaf:stem ratio. Alterations in sward structure changes the nutritive value of forage as grazed. The utilization of 112.7 kg of N/ha allows the highest stocking rate (2049.8 kg of BW/ha), equivalent to 7.5 heifers per hectare.


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