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

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.

1966 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 351-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Ellis Davies ◽  
G. ap Griffith ◽  
A. Ellington

The primary growth of eight varieties of three species–white clover (3), red clover (4) and lucerne (1)–was sampled at fortnightly intervals and the percentage dry matter, in vitro digestibility, crude protein, water soluble carbohydrates, P, Ca, K, Na and Mg were determined.Differences between species were nearly always significant and the general order of merit was white clover, red clover and lucerne. The exceptions were for dry-matter percentage where this order was reversed, and red clover had the lowest Na and highest Mg content.


1972 ◽  
Vol 52 (6) ◽  
pp. 941-948 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. MacLEOD ◽  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
F. W. CALDER

The effects of early summer and fall cutting managements on two alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars were studied over a 3-year period. Removal of the first crop of Saranac and Narrangansett alfalfas at prebud stage, followed by two cuts at the early bloom stage before early September, and a late fall harvest on October 25, produced seasonal dry matter (DM) yields of 7.5–8.6 metric T/ha in the 1st year. Stand deterioration, however, was severe and by the 3rd year, practically all alfalfa had disappeared. Average percent crude protein (CP) in cut 1 was 17.7–21.9 and percent in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVD) 67.4–73.8. Removal of the first cut at bud stage with two subsequent harvests at the early bloom stage also allowed a total of three harvests before early September and resulted in seasonal DM yields of 8.6–8.8 in the 1st year. Although the survival of alfalfa was increased over the managements where cut 1 was at prebud stage, a considerable decrease of alfalfa was still observed in the 3rd year. Under this management, average CP in cut 1 was 15.8–16.3 and IVD 64.1–68.4. Harvesting the first crop at early to midbloom stage and the second crop at early bloom in early to mid-August, followed by third harvest in late October, resulted in good survival with seasonal DM yields of 6.1–10.6. Lower CP and IVD were recorded in cut 1 than in the more intensive managements. Under all managements, average CP in cuts 2 and 3 was 14.9–17.3 and 13.3–19.4, respectively. IVD was 54.5–60.7 in cut 2 and 56.0–64.4 in cut 3.


1986 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 117-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. T. KUNELIUS ◽  
K. B. McRAE

A forage system based on timothy (Phleum pratense L.) cultivars of different maturities is recommended in Atlantic Canada. Early and later maturing cultivars are grown to spread the harvesting of timothy, at optimal primary growth maturities, to about 3 wk. At some locations the resulting harvest period has been considerably shorter and for this reason the timothy system was examined in a 4-yr field study. Four timothies, representing very early, early, midseason, and late cultivars, were cut at five dates with primary growth stages ranging from vegetative to full heading. Regrowth was cut about 45 days after cut 1. Total dry matter yield and total N concentration of combined cuts 1 and 2 were generally influenced by cutting schedules but not by cultivars. The in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) was dependent on both cutting schedule and cultivar. The early-maturing cultivar Clair reached its peak IVDMD earlier than later maturing Champ, Itasca, or Bounty. At termination of the field study, there were fewer timothy tillers per square metre and ground cover by timothy was slightly less for those cuts taken during stem elongation. The results suggest that three out of four cultivars were of similar maturity and had similar total N and IVDMD. We conclude that the currently recommended timothy cultivars in Atlantic Canada do not provide a sufficient range in maturity for the average growing season in the region to warrant multiple cultivars on individual farms. At present, timothy stands may be cut prior to and during stem elongation to lengthen the harvest period.Key words: Timothy, in vitro dry matter digestibility, total nitrogen


1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. TINGLE ◽  
C. R. ELLIOTT

Fifteen grass species harvested at the early heading stage varied in dry matter yield and contents of crude protein, dry matter digestibility, Ca, K, Mg, Zn, Mn and Cu. Each parameter except Mg and Cu concentrations exhibited differences between cultivars within certain of eight species. Only timothy (Phleum pratense L.) had cultivar differences in dry matter digestibility. Crude protein contents varied between cultivars of meadow fescue (Festuca elatior L.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.). Differences between species were greater than between cultivars within species.


Rangifer ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tove H. Aagnes ◽  
Svein D. Mathiesen

Round baled silage of mixed grasses was tested as emergency food for reindeer in winter. The silage was made of leaf rich regrowth of Phleum pratense, Agrostis tenuis and Poa spp. It contained 33-3% dry matter (DM), and 14.8 % crude protein, 24.5% cellulose and 26.7% hemicellulose on a DM basis. Palatability, food intake, digestion, rumen fermentation, body mass (BM), carcass weight and gastrointestinal (GI) anatomy were investigated. A group of adult female reindeer (n = 38), were taken from natural winter pasture and fed grass silage ad libitum. The majority (78%) of the animals were eating silage after two days and 95% of the animals ate silage after five days. Five reindeer calves were taken from natural winter pasture and fed lichens ad libitum for 14 days after which they were starved for two days before being offered silage adlibitum. The median daily DM food intake was 370 g (range 250-610 g) on the first day increasing to 810 g (range 530-1100 g) at days 16 to 20. Median apparent digestibility coefficient (DC) of DM was 64.3% (range 62.4-66.2%). The median in vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) of the silage after 72 h of microbial digestion was 68.3 % (range 66.6-71.3 %) (Ws=30, n,=5, n2=4, P<0.01). Median ruminal VFA concentration and pH were 48.2 mM (range 38.4-52.5 mM) and 7.0 (range 6.95-7.17), respectively, in the reindeer calves (n=5). BM initially increased when the reindeer calves were fed silage, but stabilised after 11 days. The increased BM may have been due to an increased recticulo-rumen digesta load, which amounted to 19.6-23.7 % of BM (n=3). The carcass weight of the reindeer calves was 42.6-44.2% of the BM (n=3) after 47 days of silage feeding. The results indicate that although the round bale silage of mixed grasses of medium quality was highly palatable to reindeer it was apparantly of only limited value as an emergency food for the reindeer calves, as indicated by low DC of DM and low ruminal VFA concentration.


Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Kim Margarette C. Nogoy ◽  
Jia Yu ◽  
Young Gyu Song ◽  
Shida Li ◽  
Jong-Wook Chung ◽  
...  

The amaranth plants showed high potential feed value as forage for ruminants. An in-depth study of this plant, particularly in cattle, will help extend its utilization as an alternative protein and fiber feed source in cattle feeding. In this study, the nutrient compositions of three different species of amaranth, Amaranthus caudatus L., Amaranthus cruentus L., and Amaranthus hypochondriacus L.—two varieties for each species, A.ca 74, A.ca 91, A.cu 62, A.cu 66, A. hy 30, and A. hy 48—were evaluated. The in vitro technique was used to evaluate the fermentation characteristics such as total gas production, total volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentration, pH, and ammonia concentration of the rumen fluid. Moreover, the effective degradabilities of dry matter (EDDM) and crude protein (EDCP) of the amaranth forages were determined through in situ bag technique. The amaranth forages: A. caudatus, A. cruentus, and A. hypochondriacus showed better nutritive value than the locally produced forages in Chungcheong province of Korea. The CP of the amaranth ranged from 11.95% to 14.19%, and the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents ranged from 45.53% to 70.88% and 34.17% to 49.83%, respectively. Among the amaranth varieties, A. hypochondriacus 48 showed the most excellent ruminant feed nutrient quality (CP, 14.19%; NDF, 45.53%; and ADF, 34.17%). The effective degradabilities of dry matter (EDDM; 33–56%) and crude protein EDCP (27–59%) of the amaranth were lower compared to other studies, which could be due to the maturity stage at which the forages were harvested. Nonetheless, A. hypochondriacus 48 showed the highest EDDM (56.73%) and EDCP (59.09%). The different amaranth species did not differ greatly in terms of total VFA concentration or molar proportions, total gas production, or ammonia-N concentration. The high nutrient composition, and highly effective degradability of dry matter and crude protein, coupled with the favorable fermentation characteristics, suggest that the amaranth forages showed good to excellent feed quality for cattle.


1975 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-9
Author(s):  
S. Tamminga ◽  
C.J. van der Koelen

1. Grass from the same sward was ensiled without additive, with 14.6 g formic acid/100 g crude protein or 10.8 g formic acid and 10.6 g formaldehyde/100 g crude protein. Similar grass was dried and pelleted. Drying or ensiling with the mixture reduced solubility of N in the preserved grass but formic acid increased it, and ensiling without additive increased it even more. Apparent digestibility of N in the rumen of cows tended to decrease with decrease in solubility. Digestibility in vitro of the mixed diet given to the cows, calculated from digestibility of the separate components, agreed well with the values in vivo for diets with silages, but was high for that with dried grass. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)


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%.;


1992 ◽  
Vol 1 (5) ◽  
pp. 491-497
Author(s):  
Abate Tedla ◽  
Helena Airaksinen ◽  
M. A. Mohamed-Saleem

The influence of the improved drainage broadbed and furrow (BBF), as opposed to the traditional flat seedbed over the growing season on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of Avena sativa, Vigna unguiculata, Lablab purpureus, Vida dasycarpa, Trifolium steudneri and Sesbania sesban were studied on Vertisol. Up to 7 t/ha dry matter yield was recorded for Avena sativa and Lablab purpureus when planted on Vertisols with improved drainage. Dry matter yield of forage crops also increased with advance in stage of maturity or subsequent harvests. On both improved and traditional flat seedbed methods, the chemical analysis of forage crops showed similar declines in crude protein content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) levels as the maturity of forage crops progressed.


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