Using On-Farm Monitoring of Ergovaline and Tall Fescue Composition for Horse Pasture Management

Central Kentucky horse pastures contain significant populations of tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinacea (Schreb.) Dumort) infected with an endophyte (Epichloë coenophialum (Morgan-Jones and Gams) Bacon and Schardl) known to produce several ergot alkaloids, with ergovaline in the highest concentration. While most classes of horses are not adversely affected by average levels of ergovaline in pastures, late term pregnant mares have a low tolerance to ergovaline and the related ergot alkaloids. Endophyte-infected tall fescue has been known to cause prolonged gestation, thickened placenta, dystocia, agalactia, and foal and mare mortality. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program utilizes ergovaline and endophyte testing, as well as pasture species composition, to calculate ergovaline in the total diet in broodmare pastures. This data is used to develop detailed management recommendations for individual pastures. Application of these recommendations has led to reduced tall fescue toxicity symptoms on these farms, as well as improved pasture management and improved forage quality and quantity.

Insights into the soil microbiome and prospects for its manipulation for improved pasture resilience

• The soil microbiome refers to the diverse collection of microorganisms present in soil, many of which can mediate essential soil functions such as nutrient cycling and plant pest and disease suppression. • There is growing international interest in the potential to manipulate the soil microbiome to deliver improved agricultural and environmental outcomes. • Molecular techniques are rapidly increasing understanding of the soil microbiome structure and function but manipulating soil microbiomes for pasture resilience still presents significant science challenges.

Meat production of the Boutsko breed of ewes in Epirus

A flock of 244 hill sheep of the indigenous Boutsko breed of Epirus (NW of Greece), 1-6 years old, reared under a transhumance system was used to study the growth of suckled lambs and their carcass quality. The results of the study have been summarized as follows: 1) Birth liveweight of lambs was 4.3 ±0.12 Kg (single males), 3.9±0,10 Kg (single females) (P<0.05) and 3.6±0.08 Kg (twins) (P<0.01). The corresponding liveweights at slaughterwerell.2±0.25Kg, 10.7±0.23Kg and 11.3±0.36 Kg and their carcass weights 7.1 ±0,17 Kg, 7.1±0,17 and 6.9 ±0.26 Kg. 2) The conclusion drawn from the results of this study is that the Boutsko breed is a useful and well adapted genotype of sheep. However, its meat productivity is very low and could be improved by further within breed selection and/or grazing on improved pasture.

The effect of weight and age on pregnancy rates in Brahman heifers in northern Australia

The performance of Brahman heifers at their first mating as yearlings (4-year groups of ~100 per year) grazing on improved pasture in the Douglas Daly region and as 2 year olds (3-year groups of ~100 per year) grazing on native pasture in the Victoria River District was studied. The relationships between pre-mating weight and pregnancy rate were established for Brahman heifers mated as yearlings on improved pasture, and as 2 year olds on native pasture with pre-mating weights recorded in late October/early November (before the wet season starts) and in late December (just before the start of mating). These relationships were found to be different indicating that there is an interaction between age and weight that modifies the effect of weight. The relationships were used to model pregnancy rates that are likely to result from different pre-mating weights for these three scenarios. These estimates can be used to identify target mating weights for different situations, and to predict the pregnancy rates for groups of heifers, which will be useful in budgeting and assessing the profitability of different management strategies.

Establecimiento y producción de materia seca de gramíneas promisorias en el departamento de Jutiapa, Guatemala

With the aim of sclecting improved pasture grasses for the sub-humid forcst conditions in the department of Jutiapa, Guatemala, Courteen acccssions previously selected wercevaluated. A split plot randomized complete block design with four replications was used where the main plots were accessions and sub plots cutting frequency (3,5,7 and 9 weeks). Measurements were made during the periods of maximum and minimum precipitation in 1988 and 1989. Mean ground cover was 82.9% ± 8.15 and 72.5% ± 8.34 for maximum and minimum precipitation periods, respectively. Significant (P<0.01) effects of year, precipitation period, accession, cutting frequency and interactions between these variables werc found for dry matter production. The average yield under maximum precipitation was 4.3 ton/ha with B. Dictyoneura, and 6.63 ton/ha for CIAT 6133, both of which being significantly better than the other materials (P ≤ 0.05). Under minimum precipitation, cutting frequencies of 7 and 9 wceks were equal or superior to 3 and 5 weeks, with mean yield of 4.92 t / ha. Entries B. decumbens CIAT 606, P. maximun CIAT 673, P. maximun (local), and P. purpureum cv. Mott were modcrately affected by insects. The entries P. maximun (local) and C. nlemfuensis EAP 138 showed moderate damage by discase.