scholarly journals Effect of Herbage Density, Height and Age on Nutrient and Invertebrate Generalist Predator Abundance in Permanent and Temporary Pastures

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 164
Author(s):  
Rémi Toupet ◽  
Alastair T. Gibbons ◽  
Sara L. Goodacre ◽  
Matt J. Bell
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nutrient Concentrations ◽  
Generalist Predator ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Predator Abundance

The aim of this research was to assess differences in the quantity and quality of herbage and invertebrate generalist predator abundance among permanent and temporary pastures. Two permanent pastures and four temporary ley pastures (either one year or two years since being sown) were monitored weekly for 10 weeks in the spring. Permanent pastures included a diverse range of native UK grass species, and temporary ley pastures were predominantly perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) with or without white clover (Trifolium repens). Weekly measurements of herbage height (in centimeters), herbage cover (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare) and herbage density (fresh and dry matter in kg per hectare per centimeter) were obtained for each field, along with lycosid spider and carabid beetle abundance. Weekly pasture samples were used to obtain nutrient concentrations of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), ash, oil, sugars, digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) in the herbage as a measure of forage quality for grazing or harvesting. A linear mixed model was used to assess the effect of sward age, herbage density and height on herbage production, nutrient concentrations and invertebrate abundance. Although this study showed that permanent pastures were associated with lower nutrient concentrations of crude protein, ash, oil and ME compared to younger and predominantly perennial ryegrass pastures, the older pastures were associated with higher carabid numbers. Furthermore, permanent pastures had a higher density of dry matter herbage compared to younger pastures, and more dense and taller swards were associated with higher lycosid numbers. The study suggests that within pastures of 3 to 20 cm height, increasing the height and density of swards increases both ME and oil concentrations in herbage, therefore enhancing forage nutrient quality. Older and more permanent pastures can be beneficial for plant and invertebrate generalist predator populations, and still provide a useful source of nutrients for forage production.

Development of a system to rank perennial ryegrass cultivars according to their economic value to dairy farm businesses in south-eastern Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (8) ◽  
pp. 1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Leddin ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
K. F. Smith ◽  
K. Giri ◽  
B. Malcolm ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Economic Value ◽  
Dairy Farm ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Forage Value ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Dairy production systems in south-eastern Australia are based primarily on grazed pasture. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is the major grass species used in this region and farmers are faced with the challenge of choosing from more than 60 commercially available cultivars. This paper describes the development of a system termed as a forage value index that ranks the overall performance of perennial ryegrass cultivars relative to cultivar Victorian according to the summation of the estimated difference in the value of seasonal dry-matter (DM) yield of the cultivars. Average predicted seasonal DM yields were calculated by analysing the results of eight available perennial ryegrass plot trials across south-eastern Australia, using a multi-environment, multi-harvest linear mixed model. The differences in the model-predicted DM yield of each cultivar was compared with cultivar Victorian in each of five seasonal periods (autumn, winter, early spring, late spring, summer) to generate a series of performance values (1 per period) for each cultivar. Each performance value was then multiplied by an economic value (AU$/kg extra pasture grown) relating to each of four regions (Gippsland, northern Victoria, south-western Victoria, Tasmania) and seasonal period and aggregated to generate an overall forage value index rating for each cultivar. Economic values ranged from AU$0.11 to AU$0.39 per extra kilogram of DM grown, depending on the season and region, which translated into estimated benefits on dairy farms of up to AU$183 per ha per year for farmers that use high-yielding cultivars in place of cultivar Victorian perennial ryegrass.

Establishing phenotypic performance of grass varieties on Irish grassland farms

2017 ◽  
Vol 155 (10) ◽  
pp. 1633-1645 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. BYRNE ◽  
T. J. GILLILAND ◽  
N. McHUGH ◽  
L. DELABY ◽  
A. GEOGHEGAN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Mixed Model ◽  
Linear Mixed Model ◽  
Phenotypic Variance ◽  
Total Production ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Herbage Yield ◽  
Significant Performance ◽  
Commercial Farms

SUMMARYConventionally perennial ryegrass evaluations are conducted under simulated grazing studies to identify varieties with the best phenotypic performance. However, cut-plot environments differ greatly to those experienced on commercial farms as varieties are not exposed to the same stress levels in test environments. It could be argued that plot-based testing regimes provide little direction to plant breeders in the development of advanced varieties. Varietal phenotypic performance needs to be quantified in ‘commercial’ situations. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the phenotypic performance of a range of perennial ryegrass varieties under commercial farm conditions. Monocultures of 11 Irish Recommended List perennial ryegrass varieties were sown on 66 commercial farms throughout Ireland where performance was evaluated over a 3-year period from 2013 to 2015, inclusive. A linear mixed model was used to quantify variety effects on grassland phenotypic performance characteristics. No significant variety effect was estimated for total, seasonal or silage herbage production. Despite the lack of variety effects, pairwise comparisons found significant performance differences between individual varieties. Grazed herbage yield is of primary importance and was shown to be correlated strongly with total production (0.71); Grazed herbage yield differed significantly by variety, with a range of 1927 kg dry matter (DM)/ha between the highest and lowest performing varieties. Sward quality (dry matter digestibility [DMD]) and density were influenced by variety with a range of 44 g/kg DM for DMD and 0.7 ground score units between the highest and lowest performing varieties. Results of the current study show that on-farm evaluation is effective in identifying the most suitable varieties for intensive grazing regimes, and the phenotypic variance identified among varieties performance for many traits should allow for improved genetic gain in areas such as DM production, persistence and grazing efficiency.

Herbage characteristics of perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy pastures and their relationship with animal performance under upland conditions

1982 ◽  
Vol 99 (1) ◽  
pp. 153-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. A. Davies ◽  
T. E. H. Morgan
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Growth Rates ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
The Other ◽  
Dry Matter Intake ◽  
Grass Species

SUMMARYHerbage characteristics of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) pastures were obtained whilst rotationally grazed by ewes and their single lambs at a fixed stocking rate of 25/ha on an upland site (305 m O.D.) in mid-Wales. Drymatter production of cocksfoot averaged 32·1 kg/ha/day over the 3-year duration of the trial (1975·7) and was 13·3 kg/ha/day lower than that of the other three grass species. This resulted in a 8 kg/ha/day reduction in dry-matter intake on cocksfoot; this was significantly lower (P < 0·05) than that achieved on the other grasses, which were similar to one another around 36 kg/ha/day.In vitro digestibility of the herbage ranked in the order perennial ryegrass > timothy = cocksfoot > tall fescue. Intake of digestible organic matter (DOMI) was lower on cocksfoot than on perennial ryegrass and timothy. Differences were also detected in crude protein, water-soluble carbohydrates and sodium composition between species.Dry-matter intake was positively correlated with herbage growth rates (r = 0·95, P < 0·001) but not to digestibility of herbage on offer (r = 0·18). Both ewe and lamb live-weight gains were positively related to intake of dry matter and DOMI.Reference is made to comparative yield data between the grasses obtained under cutting trials. In the 2nd and 3rd harvest years (1967–1967) growth rates in the grazing experiment were 76, 61, 81 and 80% of the 66·2, 66·7, 67·8 and 65·0 kg D.M./ha/day obtained under a cutting regime on perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot, tall fescue and timothy swards respectively. This illustrates the danger involved in assessing the potential of grasses based on such information.The results are discussed in relation to the value of the species for use under grazing in the uplands.

The seasonal distribution of nitrogen fertilizer dressings on pure perennial ryegrass swards

1984 ◽  
Vol 103 (3) ◽  
pp. 659-669 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Seasonal Distribution ◽  
Experimental Designs ◽  
Residual Effects ◽  
Nitrogen Application ◽  
Yield Distribution

SummaryIn studies of the seasonal distribution of nitrogen fertilizer dressings on grassland using conventional experimental designs it is usually not possible to separate the true effects of an individual fertilizer dressing on the yield at a particular cut from the residual effects of previous dressings. An experiment is described which was designed to allow separation of the direct and residual effects, with certain restrictions, for a system involving five cuts and five possible fertilizer dressings per season on perennial ryegrass swards. From the results obtained over two harvest years on swards on two adjacent sites equations were derived relating the dry-matter and crude-protein yields of herbage to the rate of nitrogen application at five dressings in the season. Predictions of yield distribution patterns from the equations are compared with observed yields from various sequences of nitrogen dressings included in previous experiments at this Institute. Examples are also given of the prediction of sequences of nitrogen dressings required to obtain certain patterns of yield distribution.

scholarly journals Grazing Preference of Dairy Cows and Pasture Productivity for Different Cultivars of Perennial Ryegrass under Contrasting Managements

Animals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 253 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Jordana Rivero ◽  
Oscar L. Balocchi ◽  
Fabián L. Neumann ◽  
Juan A. Siebald
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Genetic Selection ◽  
Fertilization Rate ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Sugar Concentration ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrates ◽  
High Sugar

The objective of this study was to evaluate the pasture performance of different cultivars of perennial ryegrass, two “high sugar” and two standard cultivars, under two contrasting agronomic managements (aimed at either decreasing or increasing water soluble carbohydrates concentration), and their effects on the grazing preference of dairy cows. Eight treatments arising from the factorial combination of four cultivars and two managements were randomly applied to 31-m2 plots in three blocks. Pasture dry matter production and growth rate were measured for one year. Three grazing assessments were performed to establish the grazing preferences of six dairy cows in spring, summer and autumn. High sugar cultivars produced less dry matter per hectare than the standard cultivars. Cows consumed more grass and harvested a greater proportion of the pasture under the agronomic management aimed at decreasing sugar concentration, i.e., with a greater nitrogen fertilization rate and under a more frequent defoliation regime, which could be explained by the greater crude protein concentration achieved under this management. The results suggest that the genetic selection for greater levels of sugars was at the expense of herbage yield, and that cows preferred to graze herbage with a greater crude protein level instead of a greater sugar concentration.

EFFECTS OF CUTTING MANAGEMENT ON YIELDS, DIGESTIBILITY, CRUDE PROTEIN, AND PERSISTENCE OF TIMOTHY, BROMEGRASS, AND ORCHARD GRASS

1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
L. B. MACLEOD ◽  
F. W. CALDER
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Phleum Pratense ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Yield Distribution ◽  
Orchard Grass ◽  
Stage Of Development ◽  
Primary Growth ◽  
Cutting Management

Climax timothy (Phleum pratense L.), Saratoga bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), and Frode orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were harvested over a 3-yr period at eight developmental stages of primary growth and aftermath after a 40–64-day regrowth interval. Total dry matter (DM) yields generally increased up to flowering and ranged from 4,370 to 11,840 kg/ha, depending on grass species, cutting management, and season. Aftermath DM rarely exceeded 3,500 kg/ha. The stage of development at initial harvest had only a limited influence on aftermath production. Within the season, orchard grass had a more uniform yield distribution than timothy or bromegrass. The yield distribution of the three grasses was most uniform where the initial harvest was taken at the immature stages of development. Stand persistence was satisfactory under all cutting managements. Per cent in vitro digestible dry matter (IVD) of primary growth ranged from 76.5 to 37.0. In the 2nd and 3rd yr, decline in IVD of primary growth averaged 0.69, 0.66, and 0.82% per day for timothy, bromegrass, and orchard grass, respectively, over a 24-day period. In the 1st yr, this decline was somewhat higher. The IVD of aftermath tended to be higher when the regrowth period was shortest, although this was inconsistent, particularly for timothy and bromegrass. Total digestible DM yields increased up to heading stage. Percent crude protein (CP) of primary growth ranged from 18.2 to 7.1 under various cutting managements and decreased at an average daily rate of 0.33–0.37. Percent CP of aftermath ranged from 15.0 to 9.6. Longer regrowth periods generally resulted in lower percent CP. Cutting management had little effect on average seasonal CP yields.

Nitrogen fertiliser effects on nutritive characteristics of perennial ryegrass during late autumn, and mid- and late winter in western Victoria

2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (5) ◽  
pp. 541 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
F. R. McKenzie ◽  
G. A. Kearney
Keyword(s):  
Protein Content ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Nitrate Content ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Nitrogen Fertiliser ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Metabolisable Energy

A study determined the effects of differing rates of nitrogen fertiliser [0 (N0), 25 (N1), 50 (N2) and 75�kg N/ha (N3)] during late autumn (T1) and mid- (T2) and late (T3) winter on the nutritive characteristics of perennial ryegrass over a 28-day period after each application. All nitrogen applications were made to pastures with a post-grazed residual mass (dry matter) of 1400 kg/ha. Changes in metabolisable energy followed similar patterns for all treatments within a given period. Metabolisable energy was highest in T1, ranging from 11.8 to 13.1 MJ/kg dry matter, followed by T2 (11.5-12.3 MJ/kg dry matter) and T3 (10.6-11.5 MJ/kg dry matter). Changes in crude protein for all treatments at each application time were similar, irrespective of rate of nitrogen application. At the commencement of treatment application times, the existing crude protein content (%DM) was highest in N3 (T1�19, T2 23, T3 22), followed by N2 (T1 18, T2 21, T3 21), N1 (T1 17, T2 20, T3 20) and N0 (T1 16, T2 17, T3 18). During both T1 and T2, neutral detergent fibre content decreased by 4 percentage units and increased by a similar amount during T3. Generally, neutral detergent fibre content (%DM) was highest during T3 (53-58%), followed by T2 (45-54%) and T1 (43-49%). Water-soluble carbohydrate content (%DM) increased during all treatment periods with the highest level observed during T1 (18-31%) followed by T2 (3-14%) and T3 (1-6%). Nitrate content (measured as nitrate-nitrogen) decreased throughout T1, primarily due to dry conditions, while during T2, levels for N3 and N2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher than for N1 and N0 following nitrogen fertiliser application. During T3, nitrate content increased for all treatments throughout the 28-day period, with highest nitrate levels being observed during T3. The effect of applied nitrogen on mineral content was variable within and across treatment periods. The study indicates that nitrogen fertiliser did not affect metabolisable (apart from N3 elevating metabolisable energy during T3), neutral detergent fibre or water-soluble carbohydrate contents of perennial ryegrass during the 28 days after nitrogen application, but increased crude protein content. Also, nitrogen fertiliser elevated nitrate content in perennial ryegrass. While the elevated nitrate content observed may result in subclinical effects, these levels are not considered fatal for dairy cows. Crude protein content was generally above 20% of dry matter throughout the study and close to 30% of dry matter for short periods during T2. Minimising the effect of excess nitrogen ingested by the grazing animal may require appropriate supplementation of low crude protein containing feeds such as cereal grains. It is argued that the effects of rain and temperature, which impact on soil nitrogen mineralisation, may have a greater influence on perennial ryegrass nitrate content than nitrogen fertiliser.

Energy and protein content and intake by stall-fed lambs of pure and mixed swards of Centrosema pubescens Benth., Pueraria phaseoloides Benth. and Brachiaria mutica Stapf. under a mango plantation

1985 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-59
Author(s):  
F. H. K. Asiedu ◽  
S. K. Karikari
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Profit Maximization ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Farming Systems ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Pueraria Phaseoloides ◽  
Digestible Energy ◽  
Digestible Crude Protein ◽  
Brachiaria Mutica

SummaryPure and mixed swards of Centrosema pubescens (centro), Pueraria phaseoloides (puero) and Brachiaria mutica (para grass) established under a 12-year-old mango plantation were sampled at 6-week intervals for 2 years to determine crude-protein (CP) content, dry-matter (D.M.) and CP yields and apparent digestible energy and apparent digestible crude-protein (DCP) contents. Daily dry-matter intake (DMI) and apparent digestible energy and digestible crude-protein intakes (DEI and DCPI), as well as live-weight gain (LWG) by 11·5 kg penned West African cross-bred weaner lambs, were also determined.The pure legumes were better than the mixed swards in respect of CP (mean: 22·1, 18·8, 14·4 and 13·8% for centro, puero, centro-para grass and puero-para grass respectively) and DCP (mean: 16·2, 13·4, 10·4 and 10·0% respectively) contents, and daily DMI (mean: 50·8, 49·7, 41·8 and 41·3 g/kg W0·75 respectively), DEI (mean: 562, 531, 418 and 410 kj/kg W075 respectively) and DCPI (mean: 8·09, 6·55, 4·04 and 3·94 g/kg W0·75 respectively). On the other hand the legume-grass mixed swards, especially puero-para grass, were superior to the corresponding pure-legume swards with regard to D.M. yield (mean: 11·90, 7·69, 7·13 and 4·54 t/hafor puero-para grass, centro-para grass, puero and centro respectively) and CP yield(mean: 1·62,1·09, 1·32 and 0·99 t/ha respectively). The pure-legume stands gave the highest LWG per lamb (mean: 45·7, 3·89, 2·63 and 25·3 g/day for centro, puero, centro–para grass and puero-para grass respectively) but it was estimated that the legume-grass mixed swards would give higher returns in terms of lamb LWG on forages harvested per unit sward area than the corresponding pure-legume cover.It was concluded that legume-grass covers would be preferred to all-legume covers if livestock were to be integrated into tree crop farming systems. However, the choice of companion grass would have to be given proper consideration as shade-intolerant grass species, such as para grass, would detract from profit maximization.

The effects of a wide range of nitrogen application rates on the yields from a perennial ryegrass sward with and without white clover

1970 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Reid
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Nitrogen Fertilizer ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Nitrogen Rate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Grass Sward ◽  
Nitrogen Rates

SUMMARYA series of twenty-one nitrogen fertilizer rates ranging from 0 to 800 lb nitrogen/acre (897 kg/ha)/annum was applied on a pure S. 23 perennial ryegrass sward and on an S. 23 ryegrass sward containing S. 100 white clover. Total yields of herbage dry matter and crude protein from both swards at all the nitrogen rates were determined each year by cutting the herbage five times at approximately the same stage of growth on each occasion. Four-parameter growth curves relating herbage yield to nitrogen rate were fitted to the data, and are presented for the first 3 years of the experiment. On the pure-grass sward the response of dry-matter yield to nitrogen rate was almost linear between the 0 and 300 lb nitrogen/acre (336 kg/ha) rates, then it decreased steadily, becoming non-significant about the 500 lb/acre (560 kg/ha) rate. In contrast the response of crude-protein yield was virtually linear from the 0 to the 600–700 lb nitrogen/acre (673–785 kg/ha) rates. The inclusion of white clover in the sward increased the yields of dry matter and crude protein at the low nitrogen rates, but decreased the responses, with the result that the yields and responses of the grass + clover sward were not significantly different from those of the pure-grass sward at nitrogen rates above about 300 lb/ acre (336 kg/ha). In terms of profitability at present fertilizer prices the optimum nitrogen rate for dry-matter production on both swards was estimated to be 400–450 lb/ acre (448–504 kg/ha), whereas that for crude-protein production was greater than 600 lb/acre (673 kg/ha). The value of clover in a sward receiving nitrogen fertilizer is discussed.

JAMES AND ARTHUR, TWO CULTIVARS OF DAHURIAN WILD RYEGRASS

1990 ◽  
Vol 70 (4) ◽  
pp. 1187-1190 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. LAWRENCE ◽  
P. G. JEFFERSON ◽  
C. D. RATZLAFF
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Seed Yield ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Seedling Vigor ◽  
Dry Matter Yield ◽  
Crude Protein Content ◽  
Cultivar Description ◽  
High Seed Yield

James and Arthur are the first two cultivars of Dahurian wild ryegrass registered for sale in Canada. The main attributes of James and Arthur are excellent establishment vigor, high establishment-year dry matter yield and high seed yield in subsequent years. Organic matter digestibility of both cultivars is similar to that of other wild ryegrass species but the crude protein content of first-harvest forage declines more rapidly than for Altai wild ryegrass. Stands persist two to three years in southwestern Saskatchewan. This short-lived perennial with high seedling vigor is well adapted for seeding in mixtures with long-lived, low seedling vigor grass species for improving the early productivity of pastures.Key words: Elymus dahuricus, cultivar description, dry matter yield, seed yield, forage quality, seedling vigor

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