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

Agriculture ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Warm-season annual forages in forage-finishing beef systems: I. Forage yield and quality

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 911-926 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deidre D Harmon ◽  
Dennis W Hancock ◽  
Robert L Stewart ◽  
Jenna L Lacey ◽  
Robert W Mckee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Experimental Unit ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Sorghum Sudangrass ◽  
Value Determination

Abstract The demand for a year-round supply of fresh, locally grown, forage-finished beef products has created a need for forage-finishing strategies during the summer months in the southeast. A 3-yr study was conducted to evaluate four warm-season annual forages in a southeastern forage-finishing beef production system. Treatments were four forage species and included brown-midrib sorghum × sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor var. bicolor*bicolor var. sudanense; BMR), sorghum × sudangrass (SS), pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.; PM], or pearl millet planted with crabgrass [Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.; PMCG]. Treatments were distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Pastures (0.81 ha, experimental unit) were assigned to one of four forage treatments, subdivided, and rotationally stocked with a variable stocking density. British-cross beef steers (n = 32; 3-yr average: 429 ± 22 kg) grazed for 70, 63, and 56 d in 2014, 2015, and 2016, respectively. Put-and-take animals were used to maintain a forage allowance of 116 kg forage dry matter /100 kg body weight. Forage mass was measured by clipping a 4.3-m2 area in triplicate on d 0 and on 14-d intervals. Hand grab samples for forage nutritive value determination and quadrat clippings for species compositions were measured on d 0 and on 34-d intervals until termination of the trial. Forage mass was lowest (P &lt; 0.01) for PMCG at the initiation of the grazing trial, whereas BMR was greater (P &lt; 0.01) than SS at wk 6. Total digestible nutrients in 2014 were greater for SS compared to BMR and PM at the middle harvest (P &lt; 0.01) and BMR, PM, and PMCG at the final harvest (P &lt; 0.01). At the middle and final harvests in both 2015 and 2016, PM and PMCG contained greater (P &lt; 0.01) concentrations of crude protein than SS. These results suggest that BMR, SS, PM, and PMCG may all be used in southeastern forage-finishing beef production systems, as long as the producer strategically accounts for the slight growth and nutritive value differences throughout the season.

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

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

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

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%).

PSXI-19 Impact of toxic-infected tall fescue renovation strategies on second-year hay yield, botanical composition, and nutritive value

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 344-345
Author(s):  
Charlotte L Talbott ◽  
Deidre D Harmon ◽  
Matt H Poore ◽  
Alan J Franluebbers ◽  
Carolyn A Young ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Agronomic Performance ◽  
Botanical Composition ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Second Year

Abstract Renovating toxic-infected tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) (TF) pastures to novel endophyte tall fescue (NE) is a solution to mitigate the negative associated effects of toxic fescue in beef cattle. However, beef cattle producers are uncertain of the payback period for costs associated with renovation techniques in terms of farm profitability and agronomic performance. In 2018, three renovation strategies were implemented in a randomized complete block design in Bahama, NC. Strategies included: 1) control (C), 2) renovation to NE after one season of a single specie cover crop (1-SM), 3) renovation to NE after three seasons of a single specie cover crop (3-SM), and 4) renovation to NE after three seasons of a multi-specie cover crop (3-CM). Each treatment plot (0.81 ha) was evaluated for botanical composition and hay was harvested in May and August of 2020. Round bales from each treatment were weighed to determine yield and core sampled to determine nutritive value. Data were analyzed using proc GLIMMIX of SAS v9.4. Combined forage yield was greater (P = 0.0226) for 3-CM (8,816 kg/ha) compared to 3-SM (7,191 kg/ha) and C (6,920 kg/ha), but did not differ from 1-SM (7,775 kg/ha). Crude protein concentration was greater (P = 0.035) for C (10.2%) in comparison to 3-SM (9.35%) in harvest 1, but was not different (P = 0.93) in harvest 2. Percentage of fescue in the sward was greatest (P = 0.0002) for 3-SM and least for C (84.9 and 62%, respectively). Similarly, presence of undesirable plants was greater (P &lt; 0.0001) for C (37.5%) than 1-SM, 3-CM and 3-SM (23.7, 15.2 and 12.7%, respectively). Percentage of bare ground did not differ among treatments (P = 0.31). Data suggest agronomic performance for 3-CM and 3-SM was improved compared to C in years following pasture renovation.

scholarly journals Effects of cutting height managements on yield and composition of different annual pastures

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielli dos Santos COMASSETO ◽  
Carine Rey RODRIGUES ◽  
Renata da Rosa DORNELLES ◽  
Eduardo Avelino FALEIRO ◽  
Augusto Gossmann PINTO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Experimental Design ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Pennisetum Americanum ◽  
Cutting Height ◽  
Total Digestible Nutrient

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different pre-cutting and residual heights of Pearl millet, Sudangrass, and Sorghum pastures on yield, morphological and chemical composition. The experimental design was the randomized blocks, with four experimental units per treatment. It was evaluated three species of forage: 1) Pearl millet (MIL; Pennisetum americanum); 2) Sudangrass (SUD; Sorghum sudanense); and 3) Sorghum (SOR; Sorghum bicolor); and two cutting managements: I) 50:20 - cutting height at 50 cm and 20 cm residual height; and II) 85:10 - cutting height at 85 cm and 10 cm residual height. Managements of cutting height affected neither forage yield per cut nor total forage yield. Sudangrass had less cuts than MIL and SOR when submitted to the 50:20 management. The 85:10 management increased stem proportion and leaf to stem ratio, and reduced leaf proportion in comparison with the 50:20 management. The 50:20 management reduced forage contents of fiber and organic matter, and increased forage contents of crude protein and total digestible nutrient. Sorghum exhibited greater nutritive value due to increased leaf proportion. The 50:20 management increased number of cuts and improved nutritive value of forages, regardless of species evaluated in this study.

scholarly journals Alfalfa Rotation Strategy and Soil Type Influence Soil Characteristics and Replanted Alfalfa Yield in the Irrigated Semiarid, Subtropical Southwestern USA

Crops ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 141-152
Author(s):  
Leonard M. Lauriault ◽  
Murali K. Darapuneni
Keyword(s):  
Soil Fertility ◽  
Soil Type ◽  
Triticum Aestivum L ◽  
Agricultural Science ◽  
State University ◽  
Science Center ◽  
New Mexico State University ◽  
Southwestern Usa ◽  
Sorghum Sudangrass ◽  
Rotation Strategy

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment failure is often attributed to autotoxicity when alfalfa is reseeded shortly after termination of the previous alfalfa stand, but renovation/rotation strategies for irrigated semiarid, subtropical environments have not been studied. Two identical studies were initiated at the New Mexico State University Rex E. Kirksey Agricultural Science Center at Tucumcari, NM, USA to compare continuous alfalfa (ALF), a single year of rotation to sorghum-sudangrass (SS1; Sorghum bicolor × S. sudanense (Piper) Stapf), two years of rotation with sorghum-sudangrass (SS2), and winter wheat forage (Triticum aestivum L.) followed by a single season of sorghum-sudangrass (WW/SS). Soil type and renovation/rotation strategy may influence soil fertility prior to replanting alfalfa, but soil fertility did not appear to influence alfalfa re-establishment or first production year yields. With a Test x Rotation interaction due to differences between tests for WW/SS for first production year yield after September alfalfa replanting, the main effect of Rotation was significant for yield (6.43AB, 5.3B0, 6.92A, and 3.54C Mg ha−1 for ALF, SS1, SS2, and WW/SS, respectively; 5% LSD = 1.22). Alfalfa stand destruction and replanting with no intervening crop rotation may be feasible in sandy soils with irrigation in the semiarid, subtropical southwestern USA and similar environments.

The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle reproductive and growth performance in western Canada

2014 ◽  
Vol 94 (2) ◽  
pp. 259-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obioha N. Durunna ◽  
Lynne C. Girardin ◽  
Shannon L. Scott ◽  
Clayton Robins ◽  
Hushton C. Block ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beef Cattle ◽  
Growth Performance ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Western Canada ◽  
Beef Producers ◽  
Cow Calf ◽  
Calving Season ◽  
The Impact

Durunna, O. N., Girardin, L. C., Scott, S. L., Robins, C., Block, H. C., Iwaasa, A. D., Khakbazan, M. and Lardner, H. A. 2014. The effects of spring versus summer calving on beef cattle reproductive and growth performance in western Canada. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 94: 259–271. The majority of beef producers in western Canada have adopted a spring calving system. Evaluating alternative calving systems such as summer calving may lead to better use of forage resources to optimize cow-calf productivity. In order to evaluate the impact of calving system on cow-calf productivity, 346 Hereford or Angus crossbred cows were used in a 3-yr research study (2007 to 2009) at Brandon, Manitoba; Swift Current, Saskatchewan and Lanigan, Saskatchewan. Cows were bred to calve from February to May (early-calving system, EC) or from May to August (late-calving system, LC). Each system was evaluated for effect on performance and reproductive efficiency. Forage yield, utilization and nutritive value were assessed. Cow body weights (BW), ultrasound measures of backfat and calf BW were evaluated at precalving, breeding and weaning. There was no difference between calving systems for pregnancy rate (P=0.13) EC (93.0%) vs. LC (95.8%); calving rate (P=0.89) EC (92.0%) vs. LC (91.7%) or proportion of calves born alive (P=0.85) EC (99.5%) vs. LC (99.6%). The average length of calving season was not different (P=0.26) between the two systems. The EC cows had greater (P=0.002) BW losses from calving to breeding but greater (P=0.001) BW gain from breeding to weaning than LC cows. Although calves born in LC had greater birth BW (P=0.003) than EC calves, calf weaning rate (P=0.01) and calf weaning BW (P<0.0001) were greater in EC. The higher weaning rate and higher weaning BW with EC has the potential to increase cow-calf productivity and may be more attractive to beef producers in western Canada.

Exploitation of forage attribute-based variations in Sudan pearl millet [Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.] collections

2013 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 83-90
Author(s):  
Sara A. Babiker ◽  
Mohammed A. M. Khair ◽  
Izzat S. A. Tahir
Keyword(s):  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Pennisetum Glaucum ◽  
Field Trials ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Research Station ◽  
Crop Breeding ◽  
Forage Crops ◽  
Breeding Programmes ◽  
Phenotypic Variations ◽  
The Rich

Triggered by the need to develop inter-seasonal, multi-cut cereal forage crops, this study aimed at the exploitation of phenotypic variations among the rich pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) collections in Sudan for possible utilization in forage-type breeding programmes. A total of 100 pearl millet accessions were used in three field trials grown in rainy, winter and summer seasons (2008–2009) at the Gezira Research Station Farm and the Gezira University Experimental Farm. Wide diversity and highly significant differences in the total dry forage yield, days to harvest, plant height, number of tillers/plant and leaf/stem ratio were found among the accessions. At an 80% morphological similarity level, the 100 accessions of pearl millet were clustered into four main groups. In the rainy and winter seasons, 71 and 56% of the accessions produced forage yield of more than 5 t/ha, respectively. In contrast, 77% of the accessions produced less than 5 t/ha in the summer season. Among the top-ranking 25 accessions, two accessions (HSD 2190 and HSD 2236) were common in dry matter yield in the three seasons, whereas 11 accessions were identified in at least two seasons. The presence of such common accessions in more than one season is encouraging for growing pearl millet as a multi-cut crop for a longer period. These results indicated the possibility of the development of forage-suited varieties of pearl millet directly through further evaluation of those common accessions or indirectly through a crop breeding programme.

scholarly journals Evaluation of warm season annual forages for forage yield and quality in the north-central United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan S Bleier ◽  
Wayne K Coblentz ◽  
Kenneth F Kalscheur ◽  
Kevin Panke-Buisse ◽  
Geoffrey E Brink
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Pearl Millet ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
The North ◽  
Whole Plant ◽  
Central United States ◽  
Forage Type ◽  
Sorghum Sudangrass ◽  
Pearl Millet Cultivars

Abstract Grazing-based dairy operations require productive, high-quality forages capable of supporting the nutritional needs of mid-lactation dairy cows. Our objectives were to evaluate primary and regrowth harvests of two cultivars of sudangrass (SU), sorghum-sudangrass (S×SU), and pearl millet (PM) forages for growth and nutritive characteristics within the specific context of suitability for grazing by dairy cows. Three harvest cycles, including primary and regrowth cycles in 2016, and a single harvest cycle of primary growth in 2017, were evaluated at two locations (Prairie du Sac and Marshfield, WI). Within each cycle, sampling was initiated when canopy height was about 41 cm and continued thereafter on weekly intervals for 5 weeks, resulting in six equally spaced sampling dates per harvest cycle. Data were analyzed as a split-plot design with cultivars (6) as whole-plots arranged in randomized complete blocks and weekly harvest dates (6) as subplots. Yields of dry matter (DM) were less consistent at the more northern location (Marshfield), which is known for its heavier, poorly drained soils. Despite locational differences, the taller-growing cultivar within each forage type frequently exhibited yield advantages over dwarf or shorter-growing cultivars; this occurred for 7 of 9 intra-forage-type comparisons (P ≤ 0.021) across three harvest cycles at Prairie du Sac, and for 6 of 9 similar comparisons (P ≤ 0.032) at Marshfield. In 2016, shorter-growing cultivars had greater percentages of leaf in 4 of 6 intra-forage-type comparisons at both locations (P ≤ 0.004), which is especially relevant for grazing. Similarly, PM cultivars exhibited shorter canopy heights (P ≤ 0.002), but greater percentages of leaf (P &lt; 0.001), than all other cultivars during all harvest cycles at both locations. However, the greater leaf percentages exhibited by PM cultivars did not translate into reduced percentages of structural plant fiber (asNDFom) on a whole-plant basis during any harvest cycle at either location; furthermore, asNDFom concentrations for PM cultivars were greater (P ≤ 0.047) than observed for other cultivars within 3 of 6 harvest cycles across both locations. Ruminal in-situ degradation of asNDFom for whole-plant forages based on a 48-h incubation was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.006) for PM compared with other cultivars in 4 of 6 harvest cycles. Pearl millet cultivars generally exhibited more suitable characteristics for grazing livestock than SU or S×SU cultivars.

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