THE COMPARATIVE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF SPARTINA PECTINATA AND TIMOTHY AT SEVERAL STAGES OF GROWTH

1965 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. G. Nicholson ◽  
J. E. Langille

Spartina pectináta (Link) was harvested at four stages of growth (leaf, boot, head, and seed) from an unfertilized area of dikeland and at the final three dates following a late spring application of nitrogen fertilizer. This was compared with timothy (Phleum praténse L.) grown on unfertilized dikeland and harvested on five dates selected to include a similar range of physiological development.The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and nitrogen, the dry matter consumption by sheep, and the nitrogen content declined as the forages matured. The rate of decline in digestibility of dry matter was greater for the timothy, but there was a maximum difference between species of only 3.5 percentage units.The timothy was consumed in greater amounts by sheep than spartina of similar digestibility. Consumption of the two species did not differ significantly at the seed stage of development, but at immature stages more timothy was consumed.All except the earliest cutting of spartina gave a significantly higher proportion of acetic acid and lower proportion of propionic acid in rumen fluid than did feeding timothy. Advancing maturity had no effect on the proportions of VFA from timothy; with spartina there was an increase in acetic acid and a decrease in butyric acid.It was concluded that spartina harvested at the conventional time in late summer is low in digestibility and is not consumed in sufficient quantity to meet the energy requirement of sheep.

1993 ◽  
Vol 73 (4) ◽  
pp. 1017-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Ames ◽  
A. R. McElroy ◽  
J. Erfle

Improving the nutritive value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) through breeding is dependent on selecting for genetic traits which directly contribute to ruminant digestibility. The identification of these traits is the goal of many forage researchers. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the leaf and stem digestibility of six timothy genotypes under different temperature conditions using two methods of estimating digestibility. Correlations between leaf and stem digestibility were not significant, suggesting that separation of these components is nessessary to clearly evaluate genotypic differences. Temperature had an important effect on digestibility, particularly for the stem fraction. Isolating leaf from stem and evaluating genotypes individually across temperatures may permit the identification of more simple genetic factors which control digestibility in timothy. Genotypic differences were observed at all temperatures. The rumen fluid digestion resulted in a much greater range within and among genotypes for both stem and leaf fractions. Genotypes tended to follow the same trends with respect to temperature using both techniques suggesting that only a portion of the dry matter digested by rumen fluid is available to the cellulases used in these experiments. Lignin content was measured for two of the most variable genotypes and the results showed that while levels increased with higher growth temperature, differences between genotypes are more pronounced at 10 °C for both leaf and stem. Key words: Digestibility, forage quality, lignin, temperature, timothy, Phleum pratense L.


1980 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 379-384
Author(s):  
L. J. FISHER

Fifteen lactating Holsteins were used to test processed aspen added to corn silage at the levels of 0, 10 and 20% (dry matter basis). The experiment was designed as a latin square with three experimental periods each 42 days in length. The forage mixtures were fed free choice to the cows, which were housed in a free-stall barn, and their individual feed intakes were recorded by using electronic doors. The processed aspen contained 45.4% dry matter, 73.7% acid detergent fiber and 0.54% protein. There was no evidence of heating or mold growth in the aspen during the 5 mo of the trial. Silage dry matter intake and milk yield were 11.8, 13.4 and 13.4 and 25.7, 27.0 and 26.8 kg per day, respectively, for the silage mixtures containing 0, 10 and 20% processed aspen. Fat test was decreased slightly and milk protein content significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by the addition of 20% processed aspen chips to the corn silage. Efficiency of milk yield was not significantly influenced (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of aspen chips in the silage. Neither the molar proportion of acetic acid nor the ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid in the rumen fluid was changed when the cows were fed silage containing processed aspen chips. The apparent digestibilities of total ration dry matter and protein were lowered significantly by the addition of 10% aspen chips to the forage mixture. It was concluded from the results of this trial that steam-processed aspen chips had little nutritive value when fed to lactating cows as a partial substitute for corn silage.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 363-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. R. SHARMA ◽  
J. R. INGALLS ◽  
J. A. McKIRDY

Treatment of oilseed meals with formaldehyde (FA) and glutaraldehyde (GA) significantly (P < 0.01) reduced the solubility of protein in 0.02 N NaOH and the production of NH3 in the artificial rumen. Ten Holstein and Holstein × Brown Swiss calves of both sexes were fed two test rations containing either 26% untreated or formaldehyde-treated (5.6 g FA per 100 g protein) rapeseed meal (FA-treated RSM) for 14 weeks. Plasma urea nitrogen (N) and rumen NH3 levels were significantly (P < 0.01) lower in the FA-treated RSM calves compared with the control calves during the first 8 weeks of the growth trial. No significant difference (P > 0.05) in dry matter consumption, daily gain, or feed efficiency was observed. Total volatile fatty acids (VFA) (mmoles/100 ml) concentration was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in rumen fluid from the control calves compared with those receiving treated RSM. Molar percentages of the VFA’s were not significantly different (P > 0.05) between the two groups. In the N balance and digestibility trial, dry matter consumption did not differ significantly (P > 0.05); however, the FA-treated RSM resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) dry matter and crude protein digestibility. Calves receiving the treated RSM had reduced (P < 0.01) urinary N excretion; however, there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on N consumption and retention.


Author(s):  
J. Hill ◽  
J.D. Leaver

Whole crop wheat (WCW) is a relatively new crop as a feed for dairy cows, and little information is available on its dry matter yield and nutritive value relative to stage of growth at harvest. Also, the role of urea (which hydrolyses to ammonia in the crop) addition in reducing fermentation and aerobic spoilage losses has not been investigated.The aim of this experiment was to examine three stages of growth at harvest for WCW, with and without urea.An area of winter wheat (cv Fortress) was cut (5 cm above ground) at three growth stages (GS 49, 71 and 87). The resultant forages were chopped through a precision-chop harvester and stored in air-tight barrels of 0.225 m3 capacity. Urea was added at 0 and 40 g/kgDM at each stage of growth and there were three replicates of each treatment. Thermocouples placed centrally were used to monitor temperature changes. The mini silos held approximately 100 kg of forages and they were opened after 90 days. Vertical cores were taken as samples and the mini silos were left open for a further 18 days to assess aerobic deterioration.


1977 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 955-962 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. ST-PIERRE ◽  
G. PELLETIER

An experiment was set up to determine the effect of time and rate of nitrogen fertilization and stage of growth at first cut on yield and digestibility of dry matter and protein content of two timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars, at each of two cuts, No difference in yield or chemical composition was found between cultivars. Highest yields and crude protein contents were measured at rates of nitrogen fertilizer of 112 and 224 kg/ha. Higher yield and protein content were obtained with NH4NO3 applied totally or in split applications in the spring than with urea in the fall. Dry matter digestibility (DDM) was not affected by nitrogen at rates of 56, 112 and 224 kg/ha. First cut was taken at two different stages of growth, and the second cut was taken on the same day in all the plots. At anthesis, yields were higher than at the head stage but DDM and protein content were lower. The opposite was found at the second cut. Except in 1973, total dry matter yield was not affected by the stage of growth at first cut.


2021 ◽  
Vol 888 (1) ◽  
pp. 012076
Author(s):  
H Soetanto ◽  
RM Aprilia ◽  
MS Pramita ◽  
I Banna

Abstract This study aimed at elucidating the use of three different rumen fluid (RF) of indigenous cattle breeds i.e. Bali, Madura and Crossbred Ongole immediately after slaughtered at abattoir to evaluate the nutritive value of elephant grass( EG) -concentrate mixture using a standard in vitro gas production (IVGP) technique. Approximately 500 mg feed dry matter/syringe was added with 50 ml RF-buffer solution and incubated in a 39 0C water bath for 48 hours where gas production was observed at time intervals. Following termination of incubation the content was transferred into tare glass crucible to measure rumen dry matter (RDMD) and organic matter (ROMD) digestibility. The results showed that there was no significant different (P>0.05) in gas production parameters. In contrast, RDMD and ROMD differed significantly (P<0.01) among cattle breeds. RF from OCB resulted in the highest IVGP, RDMD and ROMD as compared with other RF sources. In conclusion, the use of RF from abattoir for IVGP measurement can be warranted using the same source of RF. The highest values resulted from OCB suggests that the abundance and variation in rumen microbiota may exist among cattle breeds.


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
L. B. MACLEOD ◽  
F. W. CALDER

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.


1965 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Grieve ◽  
D. F. Osbourn

1. Twenty feeding and digestibility trials were carried out on seven tropical grasses to determine their nutritional value at different stages of growth, and to study their suitability as possible pasture grasses.2. Content of crude protein was relatively high at immature growth stages of the forages, and declined rapidly with the onset of flowering.3. Digestibility of dry matter and gross energy increased in most of the forages tested to the 5-week stage of regrowth but declined rapidly in mature stages of forages tested at 6 or 8 weeks of regrowth. Digestibility of crude protein declined with increasing maturity of the forages.4. The Nutritive Value Index of each forage was highest at four or five weeks of regrowth. The optimum time to graze the forages tested would occur between 4 and 5 weeks of regrowth, at the stage when flowering commences. This would combine high yield of forage with high nutritional value.


1991 ◽  
Vol 71 (4) ◽  
pp. 1135-1147 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Seoane ◽  
Ch. Beaulieu ◽  
J. Florez ◽  
G. Dupuis

Data collected during 2 years on four grasses (three cultivars of timothy and one cultivar of bromegrass) harvested at four stages of growth were analyzed to identify variables that affect the nutritive value of grass hays for sheep. From 11 June, the day of the first harvest, to July 25, the percentage of crude protein (CP) decreased 0.17 unit/d (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001) and the percentage of acid detergent lignin (ADL) increased 0.06 units/d (r2 = 0.74, P < 0.001). Over this period, dry matter (DM) intake decreased at a rate of 0.41 g kg−0.75 d−1 (r2 = 0.54, P < 0.001) and was negatively correlated with fiber content (P < 0.001). Delay of harvest caused a decrease in percent digestibility of 0.39 unit/d for DM (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001), 0.38 unit/d for energy (r2 = 0.85, P < 0.001), 0.54 unit/d for CP (r2 = 0.77, P < 0.001) and 0.63 unit/d for NDF (r2 = 0.93, P < 0.001). Total digestible nutrients (TDN) decreased 0.35 unit/d (r2 = 0.86, P < 0.001). Date of harvest and %ADL were used to estimate energy value of hays. Digestible energy intake and TDN intake values decreased by 122.4 kJ kg−0.75 (r2 = 0.87, P < 0.001) and 6.6 g kg−0.75 (r2 = 0.89, P < 0.001), respectively, for each 1% increase in ADL of the hays. Equations were developed to estimate digestible DM intake and TDN intake, using NDF and ADF as independent variables. The predictive value of the equations was good when applied to data obtained from previous experiments (r2 = 0.87–0.91, n = 11, P < 0.001). Key words: Nutritive value, forages, sheep


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