scholarly journals Determination of indigestible neutral detergent fibre contents of grasses and its prediction from chemical composition

2008 ◽  
Vol 53 (No. 3) ◽  
pp. 128-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jančík ◽  
P. Homolka ◽  
B. Čermák ◽  
F. Lád

Five grass species (<I>Dactylis glomerata</I> L., <I>Phleum pratense</I> L.,<I> Lolium perenne</I> L., <I>Festuca arundinacea</I> L.) and the hybrid Felina (<I>Lolium multiflorum</I> L. × <I> Festuca arundinacea</I> L.), commonly used in roughages for ruminants, were harvested at different maturities of primary growth (<I>n</I> = 60) and evaluated for contents of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ash, crude fat, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), indigestible neutral detergent fibre (INDF) and digestible neutral detergent fibre (DNDF). INDF and DNDF contents were determined by <I>in sacco</I> rumen degradation of grasses for 12 days in non-lactating cows. ADL content was found to be highly correlated (<I>P</I> < 0.05) with DNDF (<I>r</I> = –0.87) and presented a reliable (<I>R</I><sup>2</sup> = 0.78; residual mean square error of 17.65 g/kg DM; <I>P</I> < 0.0001) parameter to predict INDF contents. Over a six-week period of maturation INDF contents increased (<I>P</I> < 0.0001) in all studied grasses. It was confirmed by this study that the INDF contents of grasses, which markedly increased during maturation, could be effectively predicted from ADL contents.

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-67
Author(s):  
Leontyna Olszewska ◽  
Maria Wielicka

In investigations on the grass regeneration biology a special attention was paid to the formation of aerial tillers and branching pseudostolons in <i>Dactylis glomerata</i> L., <i>Festuca arundinacea</i> Schreb., <i>Festuca pratensis</i> Huds., <i>Festuca rubra</i> L., <i>Phleum pratense</i> L., <i>Lolium multiflorum</i> Lam., <i>Lolium perenne</i> L., <i>Phalaris arundinacea</i> L., <i>Arrhenatherum elatius</i> (L.) P. B., <i>Holcus lanatus</i> L., <i>Agropyron repens</i> (L.) P. B., <i>Avenastrum pubescens</i> (Huds) Opiz and <i>Agrostis alba</i> L. Aerial tillers, vegetative short ones and with partly elongated internodes as well as generative tillers formed in tufted and rhizomatous grasses. Parental raised tillers, on which aerial tillers developed, had the anatomical structure specific for grass stems. In tufted grasses, moreover, parental branching pseudostolons developed; in their cross section the arrangement of tissues specific for stolons was observed. They constituted the starting point for agglomerations of new plants rooting in soil, contrary to raised tillers. In some grass species, beside pendant roots, shorter roots grew at the base of aerial tillers; they surrounded with a ring the parent shoot in the node, thus reinforcing the connection of aerial tillers with the stem. An attention was paid to the favourable role of branching pseudostolons in the sward thickness formation. Conditions of the arrangement of tissues in the stem cross section, owing to which the rhizomatous form is developed, are discussed. The fertilization with compost or the covering with sand results in the formation of tillers resembling pseudorhizomes.


1990 ◽  
Vol 115 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. K. Kunelius

SUMMARYCultivars of Phleum pratense, Festuca pratensis, Festuca arundinacea, Dactylis glomerata and Lolium × Festuca hybrids were exposed to 4- and 3-cut harvest systems in Prince Edward Island, Canada, in 1985–87. Lolium perenne × F. pratensis, Lolium multiflorum × F. pratensis and L. multiftorum × F. arundinacea hybrids and D. glomerata had more uniform growth among the harvests than other grasses during the growing season. L. perenne × F. pratensis and L. multiflorum × F. pratensis had lower contents of neutral and acid detergent fibre than other grass cultivars, particularly early in the growing season. P. pratense cv. Farol had the lowest and L. perenne × F. pratensis cv. Prior the highest tiller population density. The stem apex of all cultivars was above the cutting height of 5 cm in c. 50% of tillers of primary growth. Leaf area per tiller was largest for P. pratense cv. Farol in the primary growth stage but differences were small in subsequent cuts.


1971 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 485-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. E. CORDUKES ◽  
E. V. PARUPS

Twelve cultivars representing eight grass species were each grown in a sand/vermiculite medium in the greenhouse, fed six solutions varying in chloride content for 140 days, and cut at lawn height. Six harvests were obtained and analyzed for chloride uptake. Visual ratings and yields indicated that the grasses tolerate relatively high chloride levels for a considerable time. Chloride uptake increased with time and increasing chloride content of the solutions. Uptake was less from alkaline than from acid solutions. Highland bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth.), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) were the least tolerant, while Norlea perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Kentucky 31 tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) were the most tolerant to chlorides. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and creeping red fescue (Festuca rubra L.) were intermediate in this respect.


2020 ◽  
pp. 160-168
Author(s):  
I. Senyk

Botanical composition of grasses is one of the most important indicators the biological value and quality of the obtained hay and pasture forage, the longevity of hayfi elds and pastures depend on. The issue of changing the botanical composition of agrophytocenoses is especially important in the context of global climate change, which in recent decades is also manifested in the territory of Ukraine, as it is possible to establish the most adapted species of legumes and cereals to adverse weather conditions and to identify eff ective technological methods of managing these processes for maximum conservation economically valuable species in the herbage. The purpose of the research is to establish the infl uence of diff erent ways of sowing of clover and alfalfa cereal crops agrophytocenoses on the formation of their botanical composition. Field studies have established diff erent eff ects of conventional in-line, cross-section and cross-sectional methods of sowing on the formation of botanical composition of grass mixtures of clover meadow (Trifolium pratense) varieties Sparta and Pavlyna with timothy meadow (Phleum pratense) and fenugreek multifl oral (Lolium multifl orum) and of agrophytocenoses of alfalfa of Sinyukha and Seraphima sowing varieties with reed fire (Festuca arundinacea Schreb) and middle wheatgrass (Elytrigia intermedia). For the average of four years of life of clover and alfalfa cereal crops agrophytocenoses, the highest proportion of legume component was observed with split-cross sowing – 51.6 % for Sparta, 53.1 % for Pavlyna, 60.3 % for Seraphima and 61.6 % for the Sinyukha variety. In the fourth year of life (the third year of use) of sowed leguminous-cereals agrophytocenoses, the preservation of the legume component was 14.6–15.5 % in clover-cereals grass mixtures with the Sparta variety and 16.0–16.8 % with the Pavlyna variety. In alfalfa grasslands, these indicators were 54.0–55.1 % with Seraphim and 55.0–56.2 % with Sinyukha. Among the studied varieties of clover meadow and alfalfa sowing proved better in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of western Pavlyna and Sinyukha. Cross-sectional and divided cross-sectional sowing of legumes and cereals mixtures proved to be better compared to conventional row crops in terms of conservation of economically valuable grass species. Key words: agrophytocenosis, botanical composition, clover meadow, alfalfa sowing, sowing methods.


1990 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Nakashima ◽  
E. R. Ørskov

ABSTRACTThe composition and degradability of four varieties of rice straw were examined. The varieties were tall or short and early or late maturing. The straws and their botanical parts (leaf blade plus leaf sheath, internode, node and chaff) varied in acid-detergent fibre, ash and silica contents, but not in nitrogen and neutral-detergent fibre. There were some trends but no significant difference in proportions of parts between varieties. Milled samples of whole straw and its parts were either untreated, treated with a cellulase preparation plus propionic acid, treated with ammonia, or treated with cellulase then ammonia. Rumen degradability was measured by incubating the samples in polyester bags suspended in the rumen of sheep. The soluble fraction and potential degradability were greater in untreated short and early than in tall and late varieties, but rates of degradation did not vary significantly. Internode was more degradable than leaf. Cellulase and/or ammonia treatments increased the soluble fraction, especially in tall and late varieties, and increased potential degradabiiity except in internode. Degradability correlated positively with ash and silica contents.


2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (No. 7) ◽  
pp. 315-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Jančík ◽  
V. Koukolová ◽  
P. Kubelková ◽  
B. Čermák

Forty samples of grass silages, made from the five most widely used grass species in ruminant nutrition (<I>Dactylis glomerata</I> L.,<I>Phleum pratense</I> L., <I>Lolium perenne</I> L., <I>Festuca arundinacea</I> L. and hybrid Felina) were tested in the present study. These grass species conserved by an ensiling process were compared among each other according to dry matter (DM) rumen degradability parameters (<I>a</I> = portion of DM solubilized at initiation of incubation, <I>b</I> = fraction of DM potentially degradable in the rumen, <I>c</I> = rate constant of disappearance of fraction b and ED<sub>DM</sub> = effective degradability of DM, estimated for each ingredient assuming the rumen solid outflow rates of 0.02 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.05 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.08 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>) h<sup>–1</sup>). Based on the chemical composition of grass silages the regression equations for prediction of ED<sub>DM</sub> were evaluated. The influence of the ensiling process on dry matter degradability parameters was also assessed. The best values of ED<sub>DM</sub> were determined for <I>Lolium perenne</I> (ED<sub>DM2</sub> = 753.2, ED<sub>DM5</sub> = 631.1 and ED<sub>DM8</sub> = 567.7 g/kg DM). The best predictor was NDF (<I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values of 0.757 (ED<sub>DM2</sub>), 0.863 (ED<sub>DM5</sub>) and 0.906 (ED<sub>DM8</sub>)). Using two predictors the accuracy level increased. The combination of CF and NDF gave <I>R</I><sup>2</sup>-values 0.892, 0.920 and 0.929 for ED<sub>DM2</sub>, ED<sub>DM5</sub> and ED<sub>DM8</sub>, respectively. The regression equations based on the most important grass species harvested in different vegetation periods seem to be a useful tool for practical use. No significant <I>P</I> < 0.05) effect of the ensiling process in relation to dry matter rumen degradability parameters was proved.


2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (36) ◽  
pp. 994-1003
Author(s):  
Hatima K KHUDYAKOVA ◽  
Aleksandra V SHITIKOVA ◽  
Nadezhda V ZARENKOVA ◽  
Olga V KUKHARENKOVA ◽  
Anastasiia V KONSTANTINOVICH

The purpose of this study is to evaluate cereal grasses – Bromus inermis, Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense, and legumes: Trifolium pratense, Medicago varia in terms of their content of acid-detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent lignin (ADL) and hemicellulose (HC), cellulose depending on phases of vegetation – grasses: at vegetative, earing and flowering; legumes– vegetative. It was found that as the herbs grow, an increase in all fractions of the cell walls of leguminous herbs is observed, the cell walls occupy a smaller fraction of dry matter than in grasses, due to the lower HC content in them –10-12%, compared with 25-30% in grasses. The contents of ADF, NDF and ADL (% of dry matter) in grasses prior earing are 31-31, 50-55, 4-6: in earing – 32-37, 55-65, 5-6; in flowering – 40-45, 65-70 and 70-72, 7-9, respectively. Legumes have a higher content of ADL. As plants grow, the relative proportion of ADF in NDF increases, but it does not exceed 50% in grasses. In legumes – 70-80% regardless of the growth phase, explains the lower digestibility of legumes than grasses. To judge the levels of ADF and NDF in herbs, depending on the content of crude fibre (CF), the corresponding regression equations were calculated for grasses and feed prepared from them. The relationship between CF and ADF was closer (n = 64, s = 2.4%, r = 0.93) than between CF and ADL (n = 64, s = 4.4%, r = 0.87). Based on these studies and generalisation of the literature data, ADF and NDF in hay and haylage standard are recommended.


1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 699-713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. A. Papadopoulos ◽  
H. T. Kunelius ◽  
A. H. Fredeen

Most pastures in Atlantic Canada are classified as permanent and contain primarily native species. Well-managed native swards have the potential of supporting profitable animal output. Productive cultivars of cool-season perennial grass species such as timothy (Phleum pratense L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) and legumes such as white clover can increase pasture productivity in the region and ameliorate seasonal fluctuations in dry matter yield associated with native swards. Improved swards gradually revert to native species, partly because forage cultivars and mixtures are not assessed for persistence under grazing.Soil acidity and deficiencies in soil nutrients were shown to reduce herbage yield, legume content of the grazed swards and mineral content of the herbage, all of which may adversely affect livestock performance. High concentrations of K, observed in swards heavily fertilized with N, are likely to cause problems in the metabolism of Ca and Mg in lactating ruminant livestock grazing such swards.Supplemental pasture crops, including annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) and Brassica species, extend the productive grazing season from approximately 4 to 7 mo, and permit the production of large quantities of biomass close to the barn.Rotational grazing and forward creep-grazing techniques at high stocking rates can improve the number of animal grazing days and average daily gains. Previous experience with grazing and exposure to pasture species before and during weaning appear to influence grazing behavior and species preference of newly weaned livestock. The use of previous grazing experience may help create the desired pasture sward or improve the efficiency of sward utilization by the grazing animal. The high rainfall climate of the Atlantic region, which promotes good herbage production, also encourages heavy and prolonged infestations of infective free-living stages of gastrointestinal parasites on pastures. Permanent pasture is the main source of initial herd infection, which then spreads to newly seeded pastures. Strategic treatments of grazing livestock with anthelmintic drugs are recommended to minimize the impact of these parasites on the productivity of grazing livestock in this region. Key words: Pasture, Atlantic Canada, productivity, grazing management, fertility management, Brassica spp., grasses, legumes


1996 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wilman ◽  
Y. Gao

SUMMARYFour grass species, three hybrids and three mixtures were grown in field swards near Aberystwyth. All swards were amply supplied with nutrients and were cut at 5-week intervals during the year of sowing (1989) and during the following 4 years. The order of the grasses in rate of establishment was: Westerwolds ryegrass > Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) > Italian ryegrass × perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass × meadow fescue, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) > perennial ryegrass × meadow fescue, meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) > tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). During the sowing year as a whole, Italian ryegrass was the highest yielding grass, followed by Westerwolds ryegrass. During the remaining period (1990–93), as a whole, the highest yields were obtained from perennial ryegrass sown alone or in a mixture with tall fescue. Tall fescue sown alone was one of the lowest yielding grasses in the year of sowing, but developed to be the highest yielding in 1992 and 1993. Westerwolds ryegrass persisted least well, although some plants did survive until 1992. Italian ryegrass persisted better than Westerwolds and Italian ryegrass × meadow fescue persisted better than Italian ryegrass. Hybrid ryegrass and perennial ryegrass × meadow fescue persisted satisfactorily but with fewer tillers/m2 than perennial ryegrass or tall fescue. The yield of tall fescue in March was as high as that of Italian ryegrass in 1990 and 1991 and higher than that of any of the other grasses in 1992 and 1993; the tiller density of tall fescue was particularly high in March. The yield of mixtures (Italian ryegrass with perennial ryegrass, Italian ryegrass with tall fescue and perennial ryegrass with tall fescue) was, on average, 2·5% more than the mean of the component species when sown alone. When grown with ryegrass, tall fescue was not prominent initially but its proportion in the sward gradually increased.


Author(s):  
G.R. Edwards ◽  
R.J. Lucas ◽  
M.R. Johnson

The grazing response of ewe hoggets offered tall fescue, endophyte-infected (+E) or endophyte-free (-E) perennial ryegrass all sown with white clover into a fertile silt loam was examined in April 1990. In a second experiment 2 grazings were observed where 5 grasses had been overdrilled into old lucerne growing on stony infertile land. Pregnaht ewes (August) and ewes with young lambs (October) grazed 3 replicates of tall fescue, +E perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, phalaris and prairie grass. After the August grazing nitrogen fertiliser was applied at 0 and 300 kg N/ha to 5 x 2 m subplots in each 30 x 9 m grass plot. April observations showed that on day one 76% of grazing time was on tall fescue. During the first 4 days of grazing grass leaf height decreased 60 mm in tall fescue, 43 mm in +E and 42 mm in -E ryegrass while in the last 5 days decreases were 5, 3 and 25 mm. Over the 9 days' grazing, pseudostem height declined 5.2, 1.5 and 5.0 mm, green grass cover from 62 to 30,65 to 44, and 68 to 33%, and herbage removal was 940, 1100 and 1300 kg DM/ ha from tall fescue, +E and -E ryegrasses. During the first 3 days of the August grazing, grass leaf heights of cocksfoot and +E ryegrass declined at a much slower rate than in the other 3 species. The October grazing showed a similar defoliation pattern on plots without N. Addition of 300 kg N/ ha resulted in very rapid defoliation of all 5 species during the first day of the 7-day grazing period. April grazing showed that initially sheep preferred tall fescue. Even though grazing time was similar for +E and -E ryegrasses the hoggets consumed less +E than -E ryegrass, possibly owing to reluctance to penetrate the +E pseudostem horizon. The August and October grazings demonstrated the ability of sheep to discriminate between grass species and strong rejection of cocksfoot and +E ryegrass. However, N at a rate similar to a urine patch produced leaf in all species which was equally attractive to sheep. The reduced intake of +E ryegrass measured in the April grazing may explain some of the lower animal performance of sheep on +E ryegrass pastures. Equally, grazing preference shown by rate of canopy height decline in any pasture is probably highly correlated with pasture intake and animal productivity. Keywords: Acremonium lolii, Bromus willdenowii, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, nitrogen-fertilised pasture, Phalaris aquatica, sheep grazing preference


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