Simulating forage crop production in a northern climate with the Integrated Farm System Model

2015 ◽  
Vol 95 (4) ◽  
pp. 745-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guillaume Jégo ◽  
C. Alan Rotz ◽  
Gilles Bélanger ◽  
Gaëtan F. Tremblay ◽  
Édith Charbonneau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Crop Production ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
System Model ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Forage Crop ◽  
Annual Crops ◽  
Northern Regions ◽  
Northern Climate ◽  
Farm System

Jégo, G., Rotz, C. A., Bélanger, G., Tremblay, G. F., Charbonneau, E. and Pellerin, D. 2015. Simulating forage crop production in a northern climate with the Integrated Farm System Model. Can. J. Plant Sci. 95: 745–757. Whole-farm simulation models are useful tools for evaluating the effect of management practices and climate variability on the agro-environmental and economic performance of farms. A few process-based farm-scale models have been developed, but none has been evaluated in northern regions with boreal and hemiboreal climates characterized by a short growing season and a long period with snow cover. The study objectives were to calibrate the grass sub-model of the Integrated Farm System Model (IFSM) and evaluate its predictions of yield and nutritive value of timothy and alfalfa, grown alone or in a mixture, using experimental field data from across Canada, andto assess IFSM's predictions of yield of major annual crops grown on dairy farms in eastern Canada using regional yield data from two contrasting regions. Several timothy and alfalfa datasets combining sites, years, harvests, and N fertilization rates were used to calibrate and evaluate the model. For timothy and alfalfa, the model's accuracy was globally satisfactory in predicting dry matter yield and neutral detergent fiber concentration with a normalized root mean square error (NRMSE)<30%. For N uptake, the scatter was a bit larger, especially for timothy (NRMSE= 49%), mainly because of a small range in the measured data. The model's accuracy for predicting the yield of annual crops was generally good, with an NRMSE<30%. Adding timothy and alfalfa to the grass sub-model of IFSM and verifying the model's performance for annual crops confirmed that IFSM can be used in northern regions of North America. In addition, the model was able to simulate the yield and nutritive value of a timothy–alfalfa mixture, which is the most common perennial mixture used in Canada.

Determining the Rate of Ergot-alkaloid Degradation in Toxic Endophyte-infected Tall Fescue Hay and Haylage During Long Term Storage

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 22-22
Author(s):  
Charles A Zumbaugh ◽  
Susannah A Gonia ◽  
Kathryn M Payne ◽  
Thomas B Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Ergot Alkaloid ◽  
Fixed Effects ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Day Treatment ◽  
Random Effect ◽  
Storage Period ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Experimental Unit

Abstract The objectives of this experiment were to determine changes in the nutritive value and ergot alkaloid concentrations of endophyte-infected tall fescue hay and haylage during a 180-d storage period. Forage from a single field of Kentucky-31 tall fescue was cut for hay in late June and allowed to dry in the field. The dry matter (DM) of the windrow of cut forage was measured every 2 h after clipping. Forage was sampled from the windrow in 6 location blocks once forage DM reached target levels for haylage and hay treatments. Haylage and hay samples were taken when the DM of the windrow reached 50% and 80%, respectively. Seven subsamples of each treatment within block were chopped to 1.91 cm in length with a lettuce chopper and vacuum sealed in oxygen-excluding bags. Sample bags were stored indoors and opened at 30 d intervals over the 180-d storage period. Samples were analyzed for pH, nutritive value, and individual ergot alkaloid concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography. Within each storage day, treatment within block was considered the experimental unit. Data were analyzed in SAS using the MIXED procedure with fixed effects of treatment, day, and the treatment by day interaction. Location block was considered a random effect. As expected, pH was decreased for haylage compared to hay at all time points (P &lt; 0.01) and DM was greater (P &lt; 0.01) for hay compared to haylage. Neutral detergent fiber values were greater (P &lt; 0.01) for hay compared to haylage and declined during storage (P &lt; 0.01). Total ergot alkaloid concentrations did not differ by treatment (P = 0.61), but ergovaline concentrations declined (P &lt; 0.01) during storage. Collectively, these results indicate minimal differences in nutritive value and ergot alkaloid concentrations between hay and haylage during storage, and that ergovaline concentrations decline during storage.

scholarly journals Forage yield and nutritive value of Elephant grass, Italian ryegrass and spontaneous growing species mixed with forage peanut or red clover

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 1845-1852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Schalemberg Diehl ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Carlos Alberto Agnolin ◽  
Ricardo Lima de Azevedo Junior ◽  
Vinícius Felipe Bratz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Italian Ryegrass ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Elephant Grass ◽  
Grazing Systems

The objective of this research was to evaluate of three grazing systems (GS) with elephant grass (EG), Italian ryegrass (IR) + spontaneous growing species (SGS); EG + IR + SGS + forage peanut (FP); and EG + IR + SGS + red clover (RC), during the winter and summer periods in rotational grazing with dairy cattle. Experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments, two replicates with repeated measures. Lactating Holstein cows receiving 1% BW-daily feed supplement with concentrate were used in the evaluation. Eight grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period. The values of pre forage mass and stocking rate were 2.52, 2.60 and 2.99 t ha-1 and 2.64, 2.77 and 3.14 animal unit ha-1, respectively for GS. Samples of forage were collected by hand-plucking technique to analyze the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in situ dry matter digestibility (ISDMD), in situ organic matter digestibility (ISOMD) of forage present between rows of elephant grass, in the rows of elephant grass and the legumes. Higher value of CP, ISOMD and lower of NDF were observed for the grazing systems mixed with legumes forage.

scholarly journals Modification of the summative equation to estimate daily total digestible nutrients for bermudagrass pasture

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem Woli ◽  
Francis M Rouquette ◽  
Charles R Long ◽  
Luis O Tedeschi ◽  
Guillermo Scaglia
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Cynodon Dactylon ◽  
Perennial Grass ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Systematic Bias ◽  
Grazing Season ◽  
Nutritive Values ◽  
Plant Maturity ◽  
Daily Total

Abstract In forage-animal nutrition modeling, diet energy is estimated mainly from the forage total digestible nutrients (TDN). As digestibility trials are expensive, TDN is usually estimated using summative equations. Early summative equations assumed a fixed coefficient to compute digestible fiber using the lignin-to-neutral detergent fiber (NDF) ratio. Subsequently, a structural coefficient (φ) was added to the summative equations to reflect an association between lignin and cell wall components. Additional modifications to the summative equations assumed a constant φ value, and they have been used as a standard method by many commercial laboratories and scientists. For feeds with nutritive values that do not change much over time, a constant φ value may suffice. However, for forages with nutritive values that keep changing during the grazing season owing to changes in weather and plant maturity, a constant φ value may add a systematic bias to prediction because it is associated with the variable lignin-to-NDF ratio. In this study, we developed a model to estimate φ as a function of the day of the year by using the daily TDN values of bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.], a popular warm-season perennial grass in the southern United States. The variable φ model was evaluated by using it in the TDN equation and comparing the estimated values with the observed ones obtained from several locations. Values of the various measures of fit used—the Willmott index (WI), the modeling efficiency (ME), R2, root mean square error (RMSE), and percent error (PE)—showed that using the variable φ vis-à-vis the constant φ improved the TDN equation significantly. The WI, ME, R2, RMSE, and PE values of 0.94, 0.80, 0.80, 2.5, and 4.7, respectively, indicated that the TDN equation with the variable φ model was able to mimic the observed values of TDN satisfactorily. Unlike the constant φ, the variable φ predicted more closely the forage nutritive value throughout the grazing season. The variable φ model may be useful to forage-beef modeling in accurately reflecting the impacts of plant maturity and weather on daily forage nutritive value and animal performance.

173 Grazing Cover Crops: Effects of Cattle Removal Date on Forage Production and Cattle Performance

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. 94-94
Author(s):  
Russell C Carrell ◽  
Sandra L Dillard ◽  
Mary K Mullenix ◽  
Audrey Gamble ◽  
Russ B Muntifering
Keyword(s):  
Cover Crops ◽  
Cover Crop ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
Forage Yield ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Forage Production ◽  
Cool Season ◽  
Total Gain ◽  
Cattle Performance

Abstract Use of cool-season annual cover crops through grazing has been shown to be a potential tool in extending the grazing season, while still mitigating environmental risks associated with warm-season row crop production. Although data describing the effects of grazing on soil health are not novel, effects of grazing length on animal performance and cover crop production are limited. The objective was to determine cattle performance and forage production when grazing a cool-season annual cover-crop. Twelve, 1.2-ha pastures were established in a four species forage mix and randomly allocated to be grazed through either mid-February (FEB), mid-March (MAR), or mid-April (APR) with a non-grazed control (CON). Three tester steers were randomly placed in each paddock and a 1:1 forage allowance was maintained in each paddock using put-and-take steers. Animals were weighed every 30 d for determination of average daily gain (ADG). Forage was harvested bi-weekly and analyzed for forage production, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF). Fiber fractions were measured using an ANKOM fiber analyzer (ANKOM Tech, Macedon, NY). All data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., Cary, NC). Differences in forage mass were detected between CON and FEB (3,694.75 vs. 2,539.68 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.003), CON and MAR (3,694.75 vs. 1,823.45 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.001), and CON and APR (3,694.75 vs. 1,976.23 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.001). Differences in total gain/acre were detected between APR and MAR (212.24 vs. 101.74 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.0001), APR and FEB (212.24 vs 52.65 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.0001), and FEB and MAR (101.74 vs. 52.65 kg/ha; P &lt; 0.003). No differences were detected for tester ADG (1.23 kg/day, P = 0.56), NDF (44.9%, P = 0.99), or ADF (27.2%, P = 0.92) among treatments. These results indicate that cattle removal date effected forage yield and total gain/hectare.

scholarly journals Effect of fertilization with fluid swine slurry on production and nutritive value of Tifton 85

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-68 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan Vielmo ◽  
Amadeu Bona Filho ◽  
André Brugnara Soares ◽  
Tangriani Simioni Assmann ◽  
Paulo Fernando Adami
Keyword(s):  
Crude Protein ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Dry Matter Accumulation ◽  
Swine Slurry ◽  
Use Efficiency ◽  
In The Beginning ◽  
Different Doses

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.

Estimating forage crop production: a technique adaptable to remote sensing

1978 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert J. Reginato ◽  
Sherwood B. Idso ◽  
Ray D. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Forage Crop

scholarly journals Surface lime and silicate application and crop production system effects on physical characteristics of a Brazilian Oxisol

Soil Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 55 (8) ◽  
pp. 778
Author(s):  
G. S. A. Castro ◽  
C. A. C. Crusciol ◽  
C. A. Rosolem ◽  
J. C. Calonego ◽  
K. R. Brye
Keyword(s):  
Physical Properties ◽  
Bulk Density ◽  
Production System ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Crop Productivity ◽  
Soil Physical Properties ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Forage Crop

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of crop rotations and soil acidity amelioration on soil physical properties of an Oxisol (Rhodic Ferralsol or Red Ferrosol in the Australian Soil Classification) from October 2006 to September 2011 in Botucatu, SP, Brazil. Treatments consisted of four soybean (Glycine max)–maize (Zea mays)–rice (Oryza sativa) rotations that differed in their off-season crop, either a signal grass (Urochloa ruziziensis) forage crop, a second crop, a cover crop, or fallow. Two acid-neutralising materials, dolomitic lime (effective calcium carbonate equivalent (ECCE) = 90%) and calcium-magnesium silicate (ECCE = 80%), were surface applied to raise the soil’s base saturation to 70%. Selected soil physical characteristics were evaluated at three depths (0–0.1, 0.1–0.2, and 0.2–0.4 m). In the top 0.1 m, soil bulk density was lowest (P < 0.05) and macroporosity and aggregate stability index were greatest (P < 0.05) in the forage crop compared with all other production systems. Also, bulk density was lower (P < 0.05) and macroporosity was greater (P < 0.05) in the acid-neutralising-amended than the unamended control soil. In the 0.1–0.2-m interval, mean weight diameter and mean geometric diameter were greater (P < 0.05) in the forage crop compared with all other production systems. All soil properties evaluated in this study in the 0.2–0.4-m interval were unaffected by production system or soil amendment after five complete cropping cycles. Results of this study demonstrated that certain soil physical properties can be improved in a no-tillage soybean–maize–rice rotation using a forage crop in the off-season and with the addition of acid-neutralising soil amendments. Any soil and crop management practices that improve soil physical properties will likely contribute to sustaining long-term soil and crop productivity in areas with highly weathered, organic matter-depleted, acidic Oxisols.

277 Evaluation of average daily gain predictions by the integrated farm system model for forage-finished beef steers

2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (suppl_4) ◽  
pp. 137-137
Author(s):  
J. A. Dillon ◽  
D. D. Harmon ◽  
C. A. Rotz ◽  
D. W. Hancock
Keyword(s):  
Average Daily Gain ◽  
System Model ◽  
Beef Steers ◽  
Farm System ◽  
Daily Gain

scholarly journals Forage Mass, Tillering, Nutritive Value and Root System of Ruzigrass Inoculated with Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria Associated with Doses of N-Fertilizer

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 41-55
Author(s):  
Artur Roque Domingues Barreiros ◽  
Ulysses Cecato ◽  
Camila Fernandes Domingues Duarte ◽  
Mariangela Hungria ◽  
Thiago Trento Biserra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Root System ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Block Design ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting Bacteria ◽  
Plant Growth Promoting ◽  
Growth Promoting

The aim of this study was evaluating the effect of the inoculation of plant growth promoting bacteria (PGPB) in forage mass, tillering, nutritive value and root system of ruzigrass (Urochloa ruziziensis (R. Germ. & Evrard) Crins (syn. of Brachiaria ruziziensis) associated with doses of N-fertilizer. The bacteria inoculated were Azospirillum brasilense Ab-V5, Pseudomonas fluorescens CCTB03 and Pantoea ananatis AMG 521, plus the control treatment (non-inoculated), associated with doses of N-fertilizer (0, 50 and 100 kg N ha-1). The experiment was performed in a randomized block design, in a 4x3 factorial scheme, with four replicates, totaling 48 plots (12 m2). There were no effects of the PGPB and the use of N-fertilizer on the leaf blade, stem+sheath, forage mass, daily and yearly accumulation of forage mass. The PGPB did not have influence on the density of tillers. The doses of 50 and 100 kg of N ha-1 increased the amount of tillers. The AMG 521 strain associated with N-fertilizer provided heavier tillers. There was no effect of the PGPB on crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), as well as acid detergent fiber (ADF), and in vitro digestibility of the dry matter (IVDDM).  The use of 100 kg of N ha-1 contributed to an increase in CP and a decrease in NDF. The AMG 521 strain contributed to a smaller diameter of the root. Strains CCTB03 and AMG 521 demonstrated a smaller area, length and root density when associated with the dose of 50kg of N ha-1. In general, the PGPB were not efficient in promoting productive increments in ruzigrass.

scholarly journals Temporal variations of herbage production and nutritive value of three grasslands at different elevation zones regarding grazing needs and welfare of ruminants

2019 ◽  
Vol 62 (1) ◽  
pp. 215-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Koidou ◽  
Ioannis Mountousis ◽  
Vassilios Dotas ◽  
Konstantinos Zagorakis ◽  
Maria Yiakoulaki
Keyword(s):  
Dry Matter ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Small Ruminants ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fiber ◽  
Alpine Grassland ◽  
Phosphorus Concentration ◽  
Northern Greece ◽  
Maintenance Requirements

Abstract. Interannual and monthly variations of herbage production and nutritive value regarding grazing ruminants' needs and welfare were evaluated in three grasslands (semi-mountainous, mountainous and sub-alpine) located at different altitudes (480–900, 901–1500 and 1501–2334 m, respectively) in northern Greece during 2015–2016. Herbage biomass was collected from 30 experimental cages (10 per grassland), weighed, dried at 65 ∘C, milled and analyzed for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD). The sub-alpine grassland was the most productive (1031 and 1231 kg DM ha−1) with the highest mean annual herbage CP content (93 and 87 g kg−1 dry matter; DM) for 2015 and 2016, respectively. CP content was sufficient to meet small ruminants' and beef cattle maintenance requirements until April and May in the semi-mountainous and mountainous grasslands, respectively, while it could cover the above requirements in the sub-alpine grassland until June and August, respectively. The herbage Ca concentration was higher than the grazing ruminants' needs, while the phosphorus concentration was insufficient. Protein and phosphorus supplementation should be provided to animals to cover their maintenance requirements during the whole period and to reach high levels of welfare. Even though grazing is considered as a welfare-friendly procedure, it is uncertain whether all the welfare principals are satisfied in extensive production systems due to variations of forage availability and nutritive value as well as the lack of infrastructure in grasslands.

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