Methane emissions from lambs fed kikuyu hay alone or mixtured with lotus hay

Dietaryinclusionof contain­tanninlegumes mayreduce enteric methane emissioninruminants. Toevaluate methane emissions fromsheep fed with a kikuyu grass (Cenchrus clandestinus) diet partially substitutedwith lotus(Lotus uliginosus), twelve growing lambs, with 23 ± 2 kg average liveweight, were assigned randomly totwo treatments and with three measurement periods in a switchover design. Treatments consisted of 100 %kikuyuhay or 70 %kikuyu hay: 30 %lotus hay and with 6 lambs per treatment. Each of three periods lasted 20 d, where thefirst 15 d were for acclimatization and the last 5 d for measurements. Lambs were placed in metabolic cages and fedonce a day (8 AM) at 90 %of their voluntary feedintake, with free access to drinking water. Feedintake, fecalproductionandfeeddigestibility were determinedat eachperiod. Methane productionwas measuredfor eachtreatment group of 6 lambs using the poly­tunnel technique. Legume addition reduced total methane production(27.6vs.23.1 g animal­1; p < 0.01), methane production per dry matter intake (DMI) (18.8 vs. 12.2 g kg­1DMI; p <0.01), methane production per digestible OM(DOM) (36.1vs. 23.4 g kg­1DOM; p < 0.01) and methane productionper digestible NDF (DNDF) (43.5vs. 34.0 g kg­1DNDF; p < 0.01). In conclusion, lotus inclusion in pasture systemscould be a suitable legume to reduce methane emissions in grazing systems.

Physiological and biochemical responses to water deficit in Lotus uliginosus × L. corniculatus hybrids

Lotus uliginosus (greater lotus, GL) and L. corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil, BT) are species markedly different in their genetics, morphology and environmental adaptation. We evaluated the hybrids and parental species under differential conditions: in vitro culture, growth chamber and open field environments. The experimental evaluation included biochemical, physiological, developmental and productive parameters. Parental species exhibited significant differences in root growth under different osmotic potentials generated by polyethylene glycol, and hybrids exhibited variability in their response compared with their parents. Plants grown in pots and subjected to drought exhibited differences in biochemical parameters. Proline accumulation and oxidative damage measured by lipid peroxidation were higher in birdsfoot trefoil than any other genotype, and the lowest values were observed in greater lotus. The total phenolic content in shoot ranged from 147 to 279 mg gallic acid equivalents 100 g–1 dry mater. With regard to antioxidant capacity estimated by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, greater lotus had the highest value and birdsfoot trefoil the lowest, at almost one-third, whereas hybrids had intermediate values. Under stress conditions, water-use efficiency showed significant differences between both parental species. In the field, under either irrigation or drought, the dry matter accumulated by the hybrids was higher than that of the parents. Hybrids express recombination of features, making them an interesting material to continue evaluation.

A 'protein bank' of Lotus uliginosus cv. Maku as an alternative to conventional protein supplements for weaned lambs grazing on natural pastures during summer and autumn

The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of restricted grazing of an improved natural pasture as an alternative to conventional protein supplements for weaned lambs grazing natural pastures during summer–autumn. Two natural pastures that differed in dry matter allowances were used as basal diets. Sixty Corriedale lambs, 3 months old, were divided into 10 homogeneous groups. For each natural pasture, one group of lambs was randomly assigned to one of the following treatments (at 10 lambs/ha): continuous grazing (control); control + protein block (150 g/lamb. day); control + soybean meal (100 g/lamb. day); control + supplemental protein obtained from grazing for 3 h/day a natural pasture improved with Lotus uliginosus cv. Maku; or same as previous, except that grazing was allowed 1 in 3 days. Performance results (final bodyweight, average daily gain, and difference between initial and final body scores) were analysed as a completely randomised block design with subsampling. Lambs grazing 3 h/day or 1 in 3 days on improved pasture or supplemented with soybean meal showed better (P < 0.05) performance than non-supplemented lambs. Lambs consuming the protein block performed similarly (P > 0.05) to control lambs. The experiment demonstrated that feeding strategies using controlled grazing of natural pastures improved with lotus Maku or soybean meal supplementation are effective to achieve target growth rates of weaned lambs grazing natural pastures in summer–autumn.

Fungi of the genus Ramularia in the Słowiński National Park

In the years 1996-98 and 2001, the occurrence of fungi of the genus Ramulania in 11 plant associations of the Słowiński National Park (north-western Poland) was investigated. The plant associations included: <i>Angelico-Cirsietum oleracei, Betulo pendulae-Quercetum roboris, Carici arenariae-Empetretum nigri (CaEn), Elymo-Ammophiletum (EA), Empetro nigri-Pinetum, Filipendulo-Geranietum, Helichryso-Jasionetum litoralis, Myrico-Salicetum auritae (MSa), Phragmitetum australis (Pa), Ribeso nigri-Alnetum,</i> and <i>Vaccinio uliginosi-Betulelum pubescentis</i>. A total of 37 species of <i>Ramularia</i> were found. Of them, <i>R. galli</i> was newly found in Poland, and <i>R. archangelicae, R. calcea, R. chamaedryos, R. cynarae, R. didymarioides R. lactea, R. rhaetica, R. schulzeri R. tanaceti</i> and <i>R. triboutiana</i> were earlier infrequently recorded in this country. Eight <i>Ramularia</i> taxa were found on plants earlier not reported to be their hosts, i. e., <i>Ramularia chaerophylli</i> (on <i>Chaerophyllum temulum</i>), <i>R. lamii</i> var. <i>lamii (Galeopsis tetrahit), R. inaequale (Hieracium laevigatum, H. sabaudum</i> and <i>Hypochoeris radicata), R. schulzeri (Lotus uliginosus), R. grevilleana</i> var. <i>grevilleana (Potentilla erecta), R. uredinis (Pucciniastrum vaccinii z Vaccinium uliginosum), R. lactea (Viola palustris and V. tricolor)</i> and <i>R. veronicae (Veronica arvensis)</i>. Most species of <i>Ramularia</i> occurred in the <i>MSa</i> (18), and least in <i>EA</i> (1), <i>CaEn</i> (l), and <i>Pa</i> (1).

Producción de metano in vitro en mezcla de gramíneas-leguminosas del trópico alto Colombiano

Se determinó la producción de metano in vitro para mezclas de gramíneas:leguminosas del trópico alto colombiano, utilizando la técnica de producción de gas. En dos lotes diferentes, se recogieron muestras de dos gramíneas, ryegrass (Lolium perenne) y kikuyo (Pennisetum clandes-tinum), y dos leguminosas, trébol blanco (Trifolium repens) y lotus grande (Lotus uliginosus). Se evaluaron cuatro mezclas de las gramíneas y las leguminosas: kikuyo y lotus, kikuyo y trébol blanco, ryegrass y lotus y ryegrass y trébol en tres proporciones diferentes de gramínea:leguminosa (90:10, 70:30 y 50:50). La concentración de metano en el gas se determinó por cromatografía de gases. Al aumentar las proporciones de leguminosas en la mezcla con el kikuyo, la producción de metano por unidad de materia seca degradada disminuyó hasta un 14 % (p

Balance de nitrógeno en pastura de gramíneas y pastura de gramínea más Lotus uliginosus en la sabana de Bogotá, Colombia

<p>En esta investigación se determinó el balance de nitrógeno en dos tipos de pasturas de clima frío: una pastura mixta de dos gramíneas -kikuyo (<em>Pennisetum clandestinum</em>) y festuca alta (<em>Festuca arundinacea</em>)- y pastura asociada de la gramínea festuca alta más la leguminosa trébol pata de pájaro (<em>Lotus uliginosus</em>), en un área de 1 ha cada una, con un diseño al azar con la vaca como unidad experimental y la pastura como tratamiento. Se emplearon cinco vacas Holstein para cada tratamiento durante un período experimental de 14 días. Se determinó la producción de biomasa (g MS/m2), cantidad de nitrógeno en la pastura, suplemento, salidas en heces, orina y leche, y el valor de eficiencia de uso del nitrógeno por los animales. En el balance del nitrógeno en el animal, se observó mejor eficiencia en su uso en la pastura asociada comparada con la pastura mixta, y cambios en las vías de excreción, siendo mayor la salida en orina de los alimentados con pastura mixta y mayor en leche en los alimentados con la asociada. El balance de nitrógeno en la pastura in situ se realizó con un modelo de simulación, empleando los valores determinados en este ensayo, y se observó que fue positivo para la pastura asociada frente a la mixta; esto indica menor necesidad de nitrógeno externo en la pastura asociada. La pastura asociada mejoró la eficiencia de uso del nitrógeno en ganado para leche y presentó un balance positivo en el sistema de pastura. </p><p> </p><p><strong>Nitrogen balance in grass and grass plus </strong><strong><em>Lotus uliginosus </em></strong><strong>pastures in the west region of the Bogotá savanna, Colombia</strong> </p><p>This study determined the nitrogen balance in two types of template pastures: a mixed pasture of two grass kikuyu (<em>Pennisetum clandestinum</em>) and tall fescue (<em>Festuca arundinacea</em>) pasture and the associated tall fescue grass and legume bird foot trefoil (<em>Lotus uliginosus</em>), in an area of 1 ha, with a completely randomized design with cow as the experimental unit and pasture treatment. Five Holstein cows were used for each treatment for an experimental period of 14 days. Was determined the biomass production (g MS/m2), nitrogen amount in the pasture, supplement outlets in feces, urine and milk, and the value of efficiency of nitrogen use by animals. In animal balance was best efficiency in nitrogen use in the associated pasture in front of the mixed pasture, and changes in the excretion routes, with a greater output of nitrogen in the urine of mixed pasture fed and in more milk in the associate pasture fed. In situ nitrogen balance in the pasture was conducted, using a simulation model, which used the values determined in this trial and showed that the N balance was positive for the associated pasture in front of the mixed pasture, which indicates less need for external nitrogen in the pasture associated. Associated pasture grass legume most improved the efficiency of nitrogen use in cattle for milk and presented a positive balance in the pasture. </p>