Evaluation of the nutritive value of grass hays for growing sheep

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

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.


Pastura ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 76
Author(s):  
I G. N. Jelantik ◽  
T. T. Nikolaus ◽  
C. Leu Penu ◽  
Gemini E. M. Malelak ◽  
Imanuel Benu

The purpose of this experiment was to investigate herbage production and nutritive value of C. ternatea harvested at 60, 75 and 90 days after planting. The legume was planted in eighteen of 3 × 3 m2 plots a t 40 × 20 cm2. Forage was harvested at 60, 75 and 90 days after planting as treatmens. Variables measured included forage production, nutrient content and in vitro dry matter and organic matter digestibility. Herbage production was not significantly different (P>0.05) when harvested at different stages of growth. Leaf : stem ratio, however, declined (P<0.05) with advancing growth stage. Forage quality in terms of crude protein content was comparable (P>0.05) among different harvest time. Meanwhile the energetic value as shown by in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was significantly higher (P<0.05) when C. ternatea was harvested 60 days compared to 75 and 90 days after planting. It can be concluded that for calf supplement, C. ternatea is preferably harvested at 60 d after planting. Key words : Clitoria ternatea, IVOMD, energy, calf supplement


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 133-158
Author(s):  
F. O. Olubajo

Four grass species namely: Cynodon nlemfuensis var robustus (M); Pennisetum purpureum Schum (N); Cynodon nlemfuensis var nlemfuensis (P); and Panicum maximum Jacq. (Q), each between the 4th and 5th, 6th and 7th, and 8th and 9th week of regrowth, was cut in the fourth and fifth years of grazing for hay (i. e. in 1972 and 1973). Digestion trials with West African dwarf sheep showed that there were significant differences in the extent to which the dry matter of the different grass species was digested (P 0.001) and among the stages of growth (P 0.01). The differences between animals within and between treatments and the interactions between treatments and periods of cutting were statistically not significant. The differences among treatment means indicated that treatment Q (68.5 ± 2.73%) was digested better than treatment M (54.9 ± 7.18%, P 0.001), and treatments N and P (60.3 ± 5.37% and 58.7 ± 5.30% P 0.01) respectively. The digestibility of crude protein was generally low in each of the grass specie studied. This is probably a reflection of the low crude protein content of the grass hays which was below 9 percent of dry matter. It ranged from approximately 27.3 percent in treatment N for the 6th week regrowth hay to 51.9 percent in treatment Q for the hay harvested in the 8th week of regrowth. The differences among treatments, stage of maturity, and the interactions between treatments and stage of cutting were not statistically significant. Significant differences between treatments were observed in the digestion of the energy content of the feeds (P 0.001). Treatments N and Q were better digested than M and P (P 0.05). Expressed on metabolic size basis, the intakes of dry matter, crude protein, and energy showed significant differences between treatments and between ages at harvest. The intakes of dry matter in treatments Q, M, and P were significantly higher (P 0.05) than treatment N while there was more dry matter taken from the 4th and 8th week hays than from the hays made from the species harvested in the 6th week of regrowth (P 0.01). More crude protein was consumed per kg0.75 in treatments M, P and Q than in treatment N (P 0.01), and in treatment M than Q (P 0.05). There were higher protein intakes from hays made in the 4th and 8th than those made in 6th week of regrowth (P 0.05). Treatment Q supplied more energy per kgl. 75 than treatments M, P and N (P 0.05), while more energy was consumed per kilogramme of metabolic size in treatment P than in treatment N (P 0.05). Nutritive Value of Hay. The intake of digestible crude protein was relatively low and this probably accounted for the losses in the liveweight of the experimental animals. The results of the experiment are suggestive of the need for supplementary protein feed during the dry season if animals are to make any liveweight gains.


1952 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-394 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. J. L. Baker ◽  
M. Heimberg ◽  
G. Alderman ◽  
A. Eden

1. Studies were made of the composition of Giant sainfoin cut successively at different stages of growth in two seasons under contrasting conditions of weather and soil.2. Cuts were taken at preflowering, early- and full-flowering stages of growth. Yields of both fresh material and dry matter substantiated the usual farming practice of taking two cuts at full flower in one season, and indicate that cutting sainfoin before it comes into bloom has a seriously depressing effect on productivity.3. Like most green fodder crops, sainfoin has a lower content of crude protein and nitrogen-free extractives, and a higher content of crude fibre as the plant increases in maturity. The mineral content is somewhat variable, and in particular the potassium content appears to reflect the status of this element in the soil.4. The ratio of leaf dry matter to total dry matter of the plant decreases with advancing maturity. The leaf composition is fairly constant, irrespective of stage of growth, number of cuts and season, the fibre content being remarkably constant in contrast with that of stem, where it increases with advancing maturity. Leaf is richer than stem in crude protein, ether extract and total mineral matter, particularly calcium. Thus changes which do occur in the composition of the plant are due to variations in stem composition and leaf-stem ratio.5. Analyses of sainfoin hay, made under both experimental and commercial conditions, are discussed, and the range of variation in the main constituents of thirty-five commercial samples is commented upon.6. The present investigations into the composition of sainfoin, both as green fodder and as hay, show figures that differ appreciably from those derived from earlier German work. Examination of the data available for the nutritive value of fresh and conserved sainfoin reveal anomalies which suggest that such data are not typical of the crop as grown in this country, and also suggest the need for more modern data.


1978 ◽  
Vol 26 (3) ◽  
pp. 343-346
Author(s):  
J. Kishan ◽  
U. B. Singh

AbstractThe relative efficiency of voluntary consumption, chemical composition, digestibility in vitro and in vivo, was tested for predicting the nutritive value of five forages: berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum); green oat (Avena sativa); oat hay; cow pea (Vigna spp.) and maize (Zea mays). The digestibility coefficients of dry matter (DM), crude protein, acid-detergent lignin and energy were significantly correlated with DM intake. Digestibilities in vitro of DM and cellulose after 12-h incubation were significantly related to digestibilities in vivo of DM and energy. The values for cellulose digestibility in vitro at 24 h were similar to those for digestibility of energy in vivo. Significant correlations were obtained between the crude protein content of forages and the voluntary DM intake and digestibility of nutrients. Increased cellulose and acid-detergent fibre contents were each related with decreased DM intake and digestibility of nutrients.


2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Vielmo ◽  
Amadeu Bona Filho ◽  
André Brugnara Soares ◽  
Tangriani Simioni Assmann ◽  
Paulo Fernando Adami

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different doses of liquid swine slurry on dry matter accumulation rate and nutritive values (crude proten and neutral detergent fiber) of Tifton 85 grass pasture cultivated in southwestern Paraná from October 2005 to March 2006. It was used a complete random experimental design in a 4 x 4 factorial scheme composed of four doses of swine slurry in the plots (0, 80, 160 and 320 m³/ha) and four consecutive cuts in the subplots of the pasture. It was carried out two applications, one in the beginning of the experiment and other after 80 days. Cuts were performed every time pasture height was 40 cm. There was a dose versus cut interaction for all variables. Swine slurry promoted increase on dry matter accumulation rate only on the first cut after its application (cuts 1 and 3). Dry matter maximal yield (24.2 t/ha) was obtained at 249 m³/ha of swine slurry manure (143 and 106 m³/ha, respectively for applications 1 and 2), corresponding to 450 kg of N/ha. Percentage of crude protein increases and neutral detergent fiber of Tifton 85 grass decreases as dose of swine slurry increases, improving forage nutritive value. Use efficiency and nitrogen recovery rate decrease with addition of swine slurry doses.


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 ◽  
...  

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%).


2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. NISSINEN ◽  
P. KALLIAINEN ◽  
L. JAUHIAINEN

The development of the yield and nutritive value of timothy (Phleum pratense L.) both in the primary growth and in the regrowth were studied at MTT Plant Production Research, a unit of MTT Agrifood Research Finland, in Rovaniemi (66°35´N) in 1999–2001. The dry matter yield and leaf:stem ratio were measured from the crop samples, and the contents of crude protein and organic matter digestibility of both whole plant samples and leaf and stem fractions were analysed. In primary growth, the most rapid increase of dry matter, 220–240 kg ha-1 per day, was measured around the beginning of the heading stage. There was a very strong positive correlation between the proportion of stems and the amount of dry matter in the primary yield. The daily growth rate of the regrowth was less than half of that of the primary growth. The fastest decrease, 1 percentage unit per day, in crude protein content was measured at the pasture stage (4–5-leaf stage). During the entire sampling period, the average daily decline in crude protein content in the primary growth of timothy was 0.65 percentage units. The main cause for the rapid decline in crude protein content was the high proportion of stem matter and its low protein content. In the regrowth, during the last four weeks before the harvest, the average daily decline in crude protein content was 0.28 percentage units.The average decline in organic matter digestibility from early pasture stage to late silage stage was 0.9 percentage units per day. The most remarkable change was noticed at the growth stage of timothy when about the half of stems were heading and it was then that the digestibility decreased by more than one percentage unit per day. The rapid decline in organic matter digestibility was due to the low digestibility of stem matter. The daily change in forage digestibility in the regrowth was very small, on average 0.11%.;


Author(s):  
Ivone Rodrigues da Silva ◽  
Francirose Shigaki ◽  
Rosane Cláudia Rodrigues ◽  
Ana Paula Ribeiro Jesus ◽  
Clésio dos Santos Costa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of sugarcane silage with or without inoculation with P. acidipropionici or L. buchneri, over three fermentation periods. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 3 x 3 inoculant by fermentation period factorial arrangement (without inoculant, inoculant 1, inoculant 2; x three fermentation periods, 10, 60, 90 days). Values of pH, dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HEM) and lignin were determined and in situ DM degradability profiles were modelled for parameters a, b and c, potential degradation (A) and effective degradability (ED). The 90 day fermentation yielded a lower pH for both inoculants. There was an interaction between inoculant and fermentation period (P < 0.05) for DM content, with a reduction in silage DM without the additive at 90 days. The CP, HEM, ADF and lignin contents of sugarcane were not influenced by the treatments. The addition of P. acidipropionici provided the lowest NDF content at 10 days and presented a higher fraction a, potential degradation and ED. At 60 days, there was no variation in soluble fraction, the control silage showed a higher fraction b, higher potential degradation and ED. At 90 days of fermentation, L. buchneri silages presented a higher fraction a, degradation rate and DE and a higher b value was obtained in the silage without inoculant. Inoculants are effective in maintaining the silage DM content and nutritional value during prolonged fermentation periods.


2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 256-264
Author(s):  
T. F. Mbahi ◽  
S. Maidadi ◽  
Z. A. Gworgwor ◽  
Y. Danladi

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of growth, biomas yieds and nutritive value of Lablab purpureus, Centrosema pubescens and Mucuna pruriens under rain fed condition in Yola, Adamawa State, Nigeria. The field experiment was laid in a randomized complete block design with the plot divided into three main plots and replicated three times measuring 5x5m with inter and intra row spacings of 0.5m. The five harvesting stages are 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 weeks, respectively. The growth in height increases with stage of growth and declined with reduction in rainfall. Higher growth were recorded in T3 (3.8 -354.8cm) followed by T2 (2.96-260.20cm) and then T1 (1.50-213.00cm) and the results were presented graphically. The result of the chemical composition of all the legumes showed that the crude protein decreases with stage of growth from weeks 6 -14 (14.40, 12.26, 10.65-10.08, 6.79, 6.49) and ADF and NDF (25.20, 32.15, 27.35-42.13, 40.33, 36.50 and 32.20, 54.45, 47.00- 51.24, 63.53, 66.33), respectively. The biomass yields were significantly different (P<0.05) for all the legumes at different harvesting stages T1 (2744.53-3186.93), T2 (2696.47- 3006.70) and T3 (2843.73-3147.63). It is therefore concluded that legumes could best be harvested between weeks 10 and 12 when the yield and quality are at levels to sustain the animals both for maintenance and production.


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