scholarly journals Field Spectroscopy to Determine Nutritive Value Parameters of Individual Ryegrass Plants

Agronomy ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Smith ◽  
Noel Cogan ◽  
Pieter Badenhorst ◽  
German Spangenberg ◽  
Kevin Smith
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Partial Least Square Regression ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility

The nutritive value (NV) of perennial ryegrass is an important driver of productivity for grazing stock; therefore, improving NV parameters would be beneficial to meat and dairy producers. NV is not actively targeted by most breeding programs due to NV measurement being prohibitively slow and expensive. Nondestructive spectroscopy has the potential to reduce the time and cost required to screen for NV parameters to make targeted breeding of NV practical. The application of a field spectrometer was trialed to gather canopy spectra of individual ryegrass plants to develop predictive models for eight NV parameters for breeding programs. The targeted NV parameters included acid detergent fibre, ash, crude protein, dry matter, in vivo dry matter digestibility, in vivo organic matter digestibility, neutral detergent fibre, and water-soluble carbohydrates. The models were developed with partial least square regression. Model predicted ranking of plants had R2 between (0.87 and 0.39) and lab rankings of highest preforming plants. The highest ranked plants, which are generally the selection target for breeding programs, were accurately identified with the canopy-based model at a speed, cost and accuracy that is promising for NV breeding programs.

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

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 91 ◽  
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.

EFFECTS OF SULFUR DIOXIDE ON THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SILAGE FOR STEERS

1984 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 411-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. MATHISON ◽  
L. P. MILLIGAN ◽  
J. WOHLLEBE ◽  
R. M. ELOFSON
Keyword(s):  
Sulfur Dioxide ◽  
No Value ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Grass Silage ◽  
Time Treatment ◽  
Time Of Feeding ◽  
Silage Inoculant

Four experiments are described in which the effectiveness of SO2 as a forage treatment before ensiling was evaluated in terms of its influence on silage composition and nutritive value. Retention of added S to the time of feeding was 40% in one experiment and ranged from 17 to 32% in another experiment where SO2 was either applied in the field or at the silo. In general, more water-soluble carbohydrates were preserved in SO2-treated silage. Across all experiments the acetate concentration was reduced (P < 0.05) from 1.7 to 0.9% in the treated silage dry matter (DM). SO2 had no consistent effect on concentrations of other end products of microbial fermentation. In five experiments with legume or alfalfa-grsss silages the apparent digestibility of energy was increased (P < 0.05) by an average 2.6 percentage units whereas DM digestibility was not influenced (P > 0.05) by SO2 treatment. In contrast, energy (P < 0.05) and DM digestibilities were decreased when two cereal silages were treated with SO2. Cattle fed legume or legume-grass silage grew an average of 12.9% faster (P < 0.05) and exhibited a 12.7% improvement (P < 0.05) in DM conversion to liveweight gain in eight comparisons which have been made with SO2-treated forage to date. In contrast SO2 had no influence (P > 0.05) on the performance of steers in one 42-day trial with cereal silage. Further, SO2 was successfully applied in the field as well as at the silo and addition of a silage inoculant to SO2-treated forage was of no value. The use of SO2 as a preservative for legume and alfalfa-grass silage would be economically feasible under some circumstances but at this time treatment of cereal silages with the chemical cannot be recommended. Key words: Sulfur dioxide, silage, silage preservative, steers, nutritive value

scholarly journals Fermentation and epiphytic microflora dynamics in sugar cane silage

2005 ◽  
Vol 62 (5) ◽  
pp. 427-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
André de Faria Pedroso ◽  
Luiz Gustavo Nussio ◽  
Solidete de Fátima Paziani ◽  
Daniele Rebouças Santana Loures ◽  
Mauricio Scoton Igarasi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sugar Cane ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Ethanol Concentration ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Efficient Production ◽  
Alcohol Production ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Opposite Trend

Sugar cane silages are characterized by extensive yeast activity, alcohol production and great dry matter - DM - losses. Better knowledge of the fermentation process is fundamental to the development of efficient ensilage techniques for this forage. This study evaluates temporal changes in chemical composition, DM losses and epiphytic microflora in sugar cane silage. Mature sugar cane, variety RB835486 (12 months of vegetative growth), was hand harvested, processed in a stationary chopper and ensiled in 20-L plastic buckets provided with valves for gas release and a device for effluent collection. Laboratory silos were kept at ambient temperature and sampled after ½, 1, 2, 3, 7, 15, 45, 90, 120 and 180 days. Ethanol concentration reached 6.4% in DM after 15 days of ensilage, followed by 71% water soluble carbohydrates - WSCs - disappearance. Gas and total DM losses reached a plateau on day 45 (16% and 29% of DM, respectively). Yeast count was higher on the second day (5.05 log cfu g-1). Silage pH declined to below 4.0 on the third day. Effluent yield was negligible (20 kg t-1). DM content in the forage decreased (35% to 26%) from day 0 to day 45. The increase in ethanol concentration showed an opposite trend to WSCs and true in vitro dry matter digestibility reductions in the silage. Developing methods to control yeasts, most probably through the use of additives, will enable more efficient production of sugar cane silage by farmers.

scholarly journals Evaluation of sainfoin accessions exposed to powdery mildew disease at four locations in Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Alizadeh ◽  
Ali Ashraf Jafari ◽  
Karam Sepahvand ◽  
Saied Davazdahemami ◽  
Mohammad Rahim Moeini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Powdery Mildew ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Severity Index ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Yield And Quality ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Powdery Mildew Infection

In order to evaluate resistance of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) to powdery mildew, seeds of 19 accessions were collected from different parts of Iran and sown at 4 locations, i.e. Kheirabad, Khoramabad, Semirom and Tabriz, in 2014. Accessions were evaluated for powdery mildew severity index (DSI), forage dry matter yield (DM), dry matter digestibility (DMD) and crude protein (CP) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations over 4 years. Based on Duncan’s test, accessions 15353 and 3001 showed disease severity index lower than 25% and were nominated as resistant to powdery mildew. Accessions Oshnavieh and Polycross were considered semi-resistant due to their DSI ranging from 25 to 50%. Other accessions were considered susceptible because their DSI was higher than 50%. The resistant accessions (15353 and 3001) with average yields of 3,341 and 3,304 kg DM/ha were ranked as having high DM production, in addition to displaying high DMD plus high CP and WSC concentrations. Severity of powdery mildew infection was linked negatively with all 3 quality traits, i.e. DMD and CP and WSC concentrations. According to Eberhart/Russell regression results, stability of accessions 3001 and 15353 for DSI and DM yield was confirmed across 4 locations. We recommend the use of accessions 3001 and 15353 in future breeding programs to increase resistance to powdery mildew, while at least maintaining yield and quality attributes. Evaluation of other sources of sainfoin germplasm should continue to identify further resistant accessions.

scholarly journals A Note on the Tracing of Herbage Contribution to Grazing Sheep Diet Using Milk and Feces Biomarkers

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Molle ◽  
Andrea Cabiddu ◽  
Mauro Decandia ◽  
Marco Acciaro ◽  
Giuseppe Scanu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Partial Least Square ◽  
Least Square ◽  
Partial Least Square Regression ◽  
Milk Fatty Acids ◽  
Linear Discriminant ◽  
Animal Data ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Explained Variance

Milk from grazing ruminants is usually rich in beneficial components for human health, but distinguishing milks sourced from grazing is difficult, and this hinders the valuing of the grazing benefit. This study aimed at evaluating the ability of milk biomarkers (1) to trace milks sourced from sheep submitted to different access times (ATs) to pasture and (2) to estimate sheep herbage dry matter intake (HDMI, g DM ewe−1 d−1) and herbage percentage (HP, % DM) in sheep diet. Animal data derive from a published experiment in which six replicated groups of mid-lactation Sarda sheep had ATs of 2, 4, or 6 h d−1 to a ryegrass pasture. Sheep HDMI and HP of each group were measured on four dates in April 2013. Group milk was sampled, and milk fatty acids (FAs) and n-alkanes were determined by gas chromatography. The latter markers were also measured in feces samples bulked by group. The data (N = 24 records) were submitted to Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) aimed at distinguishing the AT to pasture based on biomarkers previously selected by Genetic Algorithms (GA). Partial Least Square Regression (PLSR) models were used to estimate HDMI and HP using biomarkers selected by GA. Based on one milk alkane and six milk FAs as biomarkers, estimates of the AT using GA-LDA were 95.8% accurate. The estimation of HDMI by GA-PLSR based on five milk FAs was moderately precise [explained variance = 75.2%; percentage of the residual mean square error of cross-validation over the mean value (RMSECV%) = 15.0%]. The estimation of HP by GA-PLSR based on 1 milk alkane and 10 FAs was precise (explained variance = 80.8%; RMSECV% = 7.4%). To conclude, these preliminary results suggest that milks sourced from sheep flocks with AT to pasture differentiated by 2 h in the range 2–6 h d−1 can be precisely discriminated using milk biomarkers. The contribution of herbage to sheep diet can also be precisely estimated.

Effects of dry-matter content on the nutritive value of individually wrapped round-bale timothy silage fed to sheep

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Beaulieu ◽  
J. R. Seoane ◽  
P. Savoie ◽  
D. Tremblay ◽  
R. Thériault ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
Metabolizable Energy ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Chopped Grass

Thirty-two sheep (30.0 kg avg. BW) were used to study the effects of dry-matter (DM) content at harvest on the nutritive value of timothy grass silages conserved as round bales of high (52.1%, DM50), medium (39.9%, DM40) and low (23.1%, DM25) DM. Chopped grass of 24.4% DM conserved in a horizontal silo (HS) was used as a control. Gross energy, crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fibre (ADF) contents were similar for all silages (P > 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) contents decreased as DM of the silages decreased (P < 0.05). Acid detergent lignin and ash contents were highest in HS and lowest in DM40 silages (P < 0.05). Silage pH and water-soluble carbohydrates decreased with decreasing DM of the silages (P < 0.05), while ammonia-N and lactate levels increased (P < 0.05). Acetate concentrations in round bales were lower than in HS silage (P < 0.05). Significant butyrate concentrations were detected only in DM25 silage. Round-bale silages were chopped before feeding and fed ad libitum. DM intake was 14.5% higher for DM50 and DM40 silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.001). Average daily gain and feed efficiency were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.01). Apparent digestibilities of NDF, cellulose and crude fiber of the silages were similar, but DM, organic matter, energy and hemicellulose digestibilities were higher for HS than for DM25 silage. Apparent digestibilities of ADF and CP were higher for high-DM silages than for DM25 and HS silages (P < 0.04). The results indicate that to obtain good-quality silage, the DM content of round bales should be 40–50%. The better performance obtained with high-DM silages was indicative of a more efficient utilization of metabolizable energy for gain. Key words: Round-bale silage, timothy, forage

scholarly journals Machine Learning Algorithms to Predict Forage Nutritive Value of In Situ Perennial Ryegrass Plants Using Hyperspectral Canopy Reflectance Data

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 928 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chaya Smith ◽  
Senani Karunaratne ◽  
Pieter Badenhorst ◽  
Noel Cogan ◽  
German Spangenberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Machine Learning ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Predictive Models ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Electromagnetic Spectrum ◽  
Breeding Programs ◽  
High Background ◽  
Non Destructive

Nutritive value (NV) of forage is too time consuming and expensive to measure routinely in targeted breeding programs. Non-destructive spectroscopy has the potential to quickly and cheaply measure NV but requires an intermediate modelling step to interpret the spectral data. A novel machine learning technique for forage analysis, Cubist, was used to analyse canopy spectra to predict seven NV parameters, including dry matter (DM), acid detergent fibre (ADF), ash, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), in vivo dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), and crude protein (CP). Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was used as the test crop. Independent validation of the developed models revealed prediction capabilities with R2 values and Lin’s concordance values reported between 0.49 and 0.82, and 0.68 and 0.89, respectively. Informative wavelengths for the creation of predictive models were identified for the seven NV parameters. These wavelengths included regions of the electromagnetic spectrum that are usually excluded due to high background variation, however, they contain important information and utilising them to obtain meaningful signals within the background variation is an advantage for accurate models. Non-destructive field spectroscopy along with the predictive models was deployed infield to measure NV of individual ryegrass plants. A significant reduction in labour was observed. The associated increase in speed and reduction of cost makes targeting NV in commercial breeding programs now feasible.

Seasonal variation in the herbage yield and nutritive value of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) cultivars with high or normal herbage water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations grown in three contrasting Australian dairy environments

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 821 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. F. Smith ◽  
R. J. Simpson ◽  
R. N. Oram ◽  
K. F. Lowe ◽  
K. B. Kelly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
High Water ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Acid Detergent Fibre ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

Summary. Two lines of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cv. Aurora and breeding line Ba 11351, from the United Kingdom with elevated concentrations of water-soluble carbohydrates in the shoot were compared with the standard cultivars, Ellett, Vedette and Kangaroo Valley, in pure grass swards under irrigation at Kyabram, Victoria, and Gatton, Queensland, and under natural rainfall at Condah, Victoria, during 1995–97. Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy was used to predict the water-soluble carbohydrate, crude protein, in vitro dry matter digestibility, neutral and acid detergent fibre, and Klason lignin concentrations of the perennial ryegrass herbage. Herbage yield and water-soluble carbohydrate differed between cultivars at each site at most harvests, with the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines usually yielding less and having higher water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations than the 3 standard cultivars. However, the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines also had higher water-soluble carbohydrate concentrations at harvests where their yield was equal to the standard cultivars. The other nutritive value traits differed significantly at more than half of the 32 harvests: the high water-soluble carbohydrate lines had higher crude protein and dry matter digestibility, and lower neutral detergent fibre, the neutral detergent fibre containing less acid detergent fibre and lignin than did the standard cultivars. The high water-soluble carbohydrate lines were more susceptible to crown rust during spring and summer than the standard cultivars at Kyabram and Gatton: heavy infections reduced yield, water-soluble carbohydrate, dry matter digestibility and crude protein. Higher water-soluble carbohydrate may depend on only a few genes, as does rust resistance and it seems likely that high yielding, high water-soluble carbohydrate cultivars can be developed by recombination and selection.

Beef production from additive-treated silages

1977 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 53-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. E. Hinks ◽  
A. R. Henderson
Keyword(s):  
Formic Acid ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nitrogen Retention ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Fresh Material

SUMMARY1. Wilted (32% dry matter) Italian ryegrass was conserved: (A) untreated; (B) with 16·3 g/kg dry matter (4·6 1/t of fresh material) of an 85% w/w formic acid additive; (C) 12·1 g/kg dry matter (2·3 1/t fresh material) each of 85% formic acid additive and formalin (40% w/v formaldehyde); (D) 5·8 g/kg dry matter (1·3 1/t fresh material) each of 85% formic acid additive, formalin and a 96% w/v solution of propionic acid. The silages were individually fed ad libitum to 40 15-mo-old British Friesian steers of about 350 kg initial live weight.2. Treatment with additives inhibited fermentation, resulting in silages with higher levels of water soluble carbohydrates and lower levels of organic acids than untreated material. Lower levels of ammonia N and higher levels of true protein indicated that some protein protection resulted from the formaldehyde treatment.3. Formic acid alone (B) had little effect on digestibility but significantly (P<0·05) enhanced dry-matter intake, live-weight gain and nitrogen retention relative to the control (A)4. Whereas the application of formaldehyde (Treatments C and D reduced the digestability in vivo of nitrogen, significant increases in nitrogen retention were recorde relative to the control (A). Dry matter intake was not affected significantly by treatment with formaldehyde, but at the higher level of application (Treatment C) daily gain was significantly reduced compared with the control (A). These effects are discussed in relation to possible changes in VFA patterns within the rumen and to the levels of formaldehyde used.

scholarly journals Failure of cellulolysis in the rumen of reindeer fed timothy silage

Rangifer ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica A. Olsen ◽  
Tove H. Aagnes ◽  
Svein D. Mathiesen
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Rangifer Tarandus ◽  
Initial Period ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Low Rate

Three male reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves were brought from mountain pastures in April and fed regrowth timothy (Phleum pratense) silage with 76% leaves and 24.0% dry matter (DM) ad libitum. The silage contained (on DM basis) 25.4% cellulose, 12.0% crude protein and 19-6% water soluble carbohydrates. After an initial period of 11 days the daily silage intake rose to almost similar values for all animals, but independently of food intake, body mass (BM) increased by as much as 13.3 kg for animal R3 during the first 21 days, compared to 4.4 kg and 2.8 kg for Rl and R2, respectively. At slaughter the wet weight of the rumen contents of animal R3 constituted 30.2% of the total BM, compared to 18.5% and 19.1% in animals Rl and R2, respectively. A reduced ability of the rumen micro-biota to ferment pure cellulose in vitro was observed in R3. The ruminal pH was 7.07 and the concentration of volatile fatty acids was only 50.0 mM in R3, indicating a low rate of fermentation. The initial rates of in vitro dry matter digestibility of timothy silage and standard hay were also affected by the rumen fermentation failure in animal R3. Depressed rumen cellulolysis, which may be related to natural periods of starvation prior to the feeding experiment, could have caused the low rate of fermentation and the large rumen size observed in this animal.

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