Life Sciences Commons^™

Performance Of Finishing Nellore Beef Steers In Intensively Managed Pastures And Silvopastoral Systems In Southeast Of Brazil, P. P. A. Oliveira, Neto R. Pasquini, G. S. Pádua, L. H. C. Junior, R. Vechi, A. J. Furtado, G. V. Silva, A. A. Lobo, A. L. Abdalla-Filho, A. F. Pedroso, P. H. M. Rodrigues

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This study evaluated the average daily weight gain (ADG), stocking rates, and live weight gain per hectare (LWG) in different intensified animal production systems. The experiment was carried out from September 2020 to September 2021 at Embrapa Southeast Livestock, São Carlos, SP, Brazil. Thirty Nellore steers (285±21 kg of live weight and 12±13 months old) were randomly distributed into five treatments, with two replicates: 1) intensively managed and irrigated Megathyrsus maximus cv. Tanzânia pasture overseeded in the dry season with Avena byzantina and Lolium multiflorum (IHS); 2) intensively managed rainfed M. maximus cv. Tanzânia pasture (RHS); 3) intensively managed rainfed …

Agricultural Performance Of Diverse Pastures Of Complementary Species And Monoculture Pastures Defoliated According To The Leaf Regrowth Stage Window Of Opportunity Criterion, B. A. Oliviera, I. F. López, L. M. Cranston, D. J. Donaghy, P. D. Kemp, J. Dörner

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In a diverse pasture of complementary species (DPCS), individual species fulfil agro-ecological functions that confer growth asynchrony and complementarity of ecosystem functions. These attributes provide yield consistency with a more even forage supply pattern across the year compared to monocultures. A common leaf regrowth stage window opportunity (LSWO) for the diverse species enables pasture defoliation that stimulates growth and persistence. The study assessed seasonal and annual growth traits of Lolium perenne (Lp), Bromus valdivianus (Bv) and Dactylis glomerata (Dg) as single grass species (Mono) sown with Trifolium repens (Tr) and as DPCS with the four species (Lp+Bv+Dg+Tr=Mix). The defoliation criteria …

Forage Intake Of Nellore Steers Grazing A Cajanus CajanLegume-Grass Intercropped Pasture, P. P. A. Oliviera, A. J. Furtado, J. F. Bruno, Neto R. Pasquini, G. V. Da Silva, A. A. Lobo, A. L. Abdalla-Filho, F. Perna Junior, T. C. Alves, S. R. Medeiros, A. F. Pedroso, P. H. M. Rodrigues

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

This study evaluated forage, supplement, and total (forage + supplement) dry matter intake (DMI, expressed as kg/day and as percentage of average live weight, %ALW) of Nellore steers in different production systems, including a Cajanus cajan (Pigeon pea) legume-grass intercropped pasture by using external (titanium dioxide, TiO2) and internal (indigestible neutral detergent fiber, iNDF) markers. The experiment was carried out at Embrapa Southeast Livestock, São Carlos, SP, Brazil, in the rainy (January) and dry (July) seasons of 2021. Eighteen animals Nellore steers were randomly distributed into three treatments with three replications (1.5 ha paddocks each): 1) degraded pasture of Urochloa …

Theobroma Cacao Pod Silage Diets; Effect On Mineral And Anti-Nutrients Utilization By Goats, O. B. Omotoso, Adebowale N. Fajemisin, J. A. Alokan

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

A 63-day study was conducted to evaluate the mineral and anti-nutrients utilization and weight gain by west African dwarf goats fed Theobroma cacao pod silage diets. Cocoa pod husk used was collected, crushed to 2 cm particle size, divided into 4 equal portions, and ensiled differently with synthetic and non-synthetic fertilizer for 28 days under anaerobic conditions to increase the nutrients. Thereafter the ensiled products were dried and incorporated with other convectional feed ingredients at fixed amount to make four diets to feed twenty-four goats (six goats per treatment). Nutrient, mineral and anti-nutrient composition were assayed; sex effect on intake …

Livestock Production And Economic Implications From Augmenting Degraded Rangeland With Atriplex Halimus And Salsola Vermiculata In Northwest Syria, A. E. Osman, F. Bahhadi, N. Hassan, F. Ghassali, T. Al Ibrahim

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Three stocking rates (low: one sheep 2.25 ha-1, medium: one sheep 1.5 ha-1 year-1 and high: one sheep 0.75 ha-1 year-1) were studied for 7 seasons (1990/91-1996/97) on native range and on pasture over sown with fodder shrubs at Maragha, northwest Syria. There were 8 Awassi sheep in each stocking rate treatment, and the treatments were replicated 3 times in fenced paddocks. Milk yield, lamb production, live weight and supplementary feeding of the sheep were monitored. The results showed significantly higher forage availability on the range over-sown with fodder shrubs by 82% and 41% in the medium and high rainfall …

Feeds And Forages Intervention Strategies For Improved Livestock Nutrition And Productivity In The Northwest Highlands Of Vietnam, M. Atieno, T. B. N. Trần, V. T. Bùi, T. T. Mai, A. Duncan, S. Douxchamps, M. Peters

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Livestock production in Vietnam is critical for livelihoods particularly for ethnic minorities in the Northwest Highlands (NWH). Improved livestock management and productivity can be achieved through better feed management and increased cultivation of improved forages, to meet animal nutrition demand. This study aimed at assessing feed intervention strategies to address context-specific feed-related challenges, mainly winter feed shortage in Mai Son district, Son La province, Vietnam. Feed interventions included promotion of improved forages (grasses and legumes) and capacity building on animal nutrition techniques including feed preservation, feed mix and feeding regimes for cattle and pigs. Willing farmers selected from a list …

Physiological Impact Of Ergot Alkaloid Consumption In Ruminant Livestock, J. L. Klotz, S. K. Duckett, D. L. Harmon

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Ergot alkaloids in feeds and forages are a worldwide concern. Consumption of ergot alkaloids by ruminant livestock can range from extreme cases that threaten the life of the animal to more frequent and chronic outcomes where livestock productivity is decreased. Consumption of ergot alkaloids alters ruminant physiology such that it outwardly manifests in lower animal intake and gain, decreased reproductive efficiency, and a compromised circulatory system. This talk will cover current research that is improving our understanding of how ergot alkaloids alter cell and tissue physiology that results in the compromised growth and reproduction observed at the whole animal level.

Biodiverse Forage Mixtures For Bees And Beef Cattle, J. O. C. Kubesch, S. P. Greiner, G. J. Pent, J. L. Reid, B. F. Tracey

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Introduction: Beef cattle performance in the southeastern US is limited by tall fescue (TF) toxicosis. Native warm season grasses (NWSGs) can provide alternative forage for cattle and reduce TF toxicosis. Pollinator populations, especially bees, also have been declining across North America. Introducing native wildflowers into tall fescue grasslands might improve pollinator populations. An ongoing grazing experiment in central Virginia USA is testing the feasibility of integrating wildflowers and native grasses as a way to generate ecosystem services.

Objectives: This study sought to determine whether including native grasses and wildflowers in tall fescue pasture systems could improve beef heifer performance.

Methods: …

Winter Performance Of North American Bos Grunniens Offered Hay Harvested From Different Forage Species, Jeff Lehmkuhler, G. Dike, M. Mccarty

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Bos grunniens or the domesticated yak was brought to North America in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. In Asia, yaks have been observed to lose 25% or more of their body weight over the winter in the high mountain altitudes. Little research has been conducted with the domesticated yak and their nutritional needs. Maintaining positive weight change during the winter is expected to improve the profitability and viability of yak production systems in North America. An on-farm study was conducted near Wellington, KY, USA to investigate the winter performance of yaks and hay type. Four outdoor grass lots approximate …

An Example Of An Outreach Program For Horse Pasture Management And Education, Krista L. Lea, S. Ray Smith

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Kentucky boasts over 30,000 horse farms that house over 200,000 horses. The University of Kentucky Horse Pasture Evaluation Program began in 2005 to assist horse owners and managers in improving pasture quality and quantity. This program collects detailed botanical composition and tall fescue analysis to provide horse owners and managers with a comprehensive picture of pasture composition and field by field recommendations on management practices that will improve each pasture. Samples of tall fescue are also collected and analysed for endophyte presence and ergovaline concentration to evaluate tall fescue toxicity risk. Management recommendations include tall fescue mitigation or elimination strategies. …

Warm-Season Annual Grasses As Pinpoint Grazing Opportunities, Rocky Lemus, J. A. White

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

There is a need to determine the use of annual warm-season grasses (AWSGs) such as forage sorghum (FS), millets (M), sudangrass (SG), and sorghum-sudangrass hybrid (SSH) can be integrated for grazing or hay production when utilized with appropriate grazing management strategies. The objective of the study was to screen new cultivars with the potential for resistance to sugar cane aphid (SCA, Melanaphis sacchar) for biomass production and nutritive value in a one-cut system. Treatments consisted of 30 cultivars that included FS, SG, SSH, and millets (M). Treatments were replicated three times in a randomized complete block design. Cultivars influenced …

Tannins In Perennial Legume And Forb Functional Forages, J. Macadam, Juan Villalba, S. Lagrange, E. Stewart, S. Hunt, J. Legako, R. Christensen, R. L. Pitcher, A. Bolletta

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Feed is the greatest input cost for cattle producers. The studies summarized here employed non-bloating, tannin-containing irrigated perennial legume pastures or hay of legumes or a hydrolysable tannin-containing forb that were grown in the Mountain West USA, with non-tannin legume, grass, or feedlot treatments for comparison. Cattle grazing legume pastures or fed legume or forb hays had greater intake, gain and nitrogen retention, and in some cases, reduced enteric methane emissions compared with grass pastures or hay, and methane emissions were not different from feedlot-fed cattle.

Yearling Beef Cattle Grazing Diverse Summer Annual Swards, K. Mercier, Christopher D. Teutsch, S. R. Smith, K. H. Burdine, E. S. Vanzant, E. L. Ritchey

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Utilizing summer annuals is often regarded as “a breakeven proposition at best” due to high establishment costs. This study investigated using botanical diversity to increase forage yield or animal performance to improve the economic feasibility of grazing summer annual forages in western Kentucky, USA. Sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor spp. drummondii)-based treatments included a monoculture, a three-species mixture (two grasses, one legume), and a 12-species mixture (five grasses, four legumes, two brassicas, and one forb). Angus-cross yearling beef calves (329, 366, and 297 kg in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) grazed summer annuals in 2017-2019 for an …

Opportunities Of Grazing Personality Genetics For Steep And Rugged Rangelands, Moreno Garcia, T. M. R. Maxwell, R. Dynes, H. Zhou, J. Hickford

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Globally, extensive pastoral grazing systems are facing multiple pressures, including to address emerging public concerns about environmental impact and animal well-being. This may require new regulatory constraints to be met, while maintaining the economic viability of the systems. One novel approach to addressing these challenges is to capitalize on naturally occurring differences in livestock behaviors, specifically differences in grazing personalities, to assist the production systems deliver more effective and responsible use of rangelands. Herbivores may exhibit consistent grazing behaviors over time and across spatial contexts, which differ among individuals and between groups leading to distinctive grazing patterns known as grazing …

Intake, Relative Palatability Indices And Blood Parameters Of Vetch Varieties As A Component Of Goat Diet, N. H. Msiza, K. E. Ravhuhali, H. K. Mokoboki, Sydney Mavengahama, G. M. Chelopo

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the feed intake, relative palatability indices and blood parameters of vetch varieties as a component of goat diet. The field and palatability study was carried out at the North West University, Molelwane Farm, North West province, South Africa. Ten weaner goats (16 ±2 kg) were used in this experiment. Four feeds (Vicia sativa – common & volga vetch ), Vicia villosa Roth (haymaker plus vetch) and buffalo hay grass were used in this experiment and each goat was exposed to these treatment diets. A cafeteria feeding method was used, allowing …

Adaptive Multi-Paddock Grazing Of Cover Crops In Integrated Crop-Livestock Systems In Mediterranean Regions: A Review, G. A. Musto, A. Swanepoel, J. A. Strauss

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Small-grain farming systems in Mediterranean climatic regions are characterized by poor quality soils, high climate variability, and resulting heavy agrochemical reliance. The integration of continuously grazed monocrop pasture phases has improved soil fertility, crop productivity, and mitigated financial risk. However, emerging sustainability issues such as herbicide resistance, inputs costs rising disproportionately to product prices, and increasing climate variability and predictability, drive the need for ongoing innovation in crop-livestock integration. The option of growing multi-species cover crops as a dual-forage and service crop is evaluated within Mediterranean climate contexts. Furthermore, the option of subjecting the cover crops to adaptive multi-paddock (AMP) …

Stockpiling Tall Fescue In The Mid-Latitude Region Of The Eastern United States, H. D. Naumann

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Stockpiling grass is a method of growing forage for deferred grazing during winter. Tall fescue is the best adapted cool-season perennial grass available in the mid-latitude of the eastern United States (US) for stockpiling (accumulating growth of) forage for deferred grazing in the fall and winter. Thus it can provide much of the fall and winter feed for livestock. Grazing stockpiled tall fescue reduces winter feeding cost and better distributes nutrients compared to traditional hay feeding methods. This presentation focuses on how to stockpile tall fescue, how to graze stockpiled tall fescue, and benefits of stockpiled tall fescue compared to …

Dry Matter Intake, Milk Performance And Production Efficiency From Spring Calving Dairy Cows Offered Grass-Only, Grass-White Clover And Total Mixed Ration Diets, E. Fitzpatrick, Luc Delaby, Trevor J. Gilliland, D. Hennessy

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In pasture-based dairy production systems, dry matter intake (DMI) is one of the main factors curtailing milk production and production efficiency. The inclusion of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in swards of perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) can increase DMI from increased sward nutritive value over a grass-only sward. Feeding a fully balanced TMR diet can enhance milk production as a result of greater DMI and through greater control of feed quality. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the relationship between DMI, milk production, and energy efficiencies for dairy cows consuming different diets. A farm …

Forage Plant Secondary Metabolites At The Intersection Of Animal Health, Productivity, And Sustainability, Michael D. Flythe

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The nutritive value of forages and other feeds have long been studied. However, the roles of secondary metabolites produced by forage-plants and their endophytes are an emerging field. Historically, the term secondary metabolite was used for compounds that were less abundant in plant tissue than the primary metabolites, such as fiber, sugars, and protein. It has become clear that secondary metabolites play important roles in the ecology of forage plants, and that both the detrimental and beneficial impacts of secondary metabolites to forage-animals should not be underestimated. This thematic session will consider fescue toxicosis, a detrimental outcome of ergot alkaloids …

Biophysical, Grazing-Season Management, And Animal Traits Effects On Individual Animal Performance Of Cow-Calf Systems: Insights From A Long-Term Experiment In The Us Western Great Plains, G. Irisarri, P. A. Cipriotti, L. Castro Sardiña, M. Mortenson, J. D. Derner

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Beef grazing systems require information on management, biophysical, and individual animal influences on performance metrics. However, long-term controlled experiments are lacking to comprehensively ascertain these individual and likely interacting influences. We used a legacy data set from the USDA Agricultural Research Service where individual weight gains were determined from on and off weights of Hereford cows and calves grazing native northern mixed-grass prairie, during the June through September season, from 1975-2001 near Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA. The herd size varied from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 48 pairs across years. Management (on and off grazing dates and stocking …

Grazing Behavior Of The Endemic Lagune Cattle In The Sub-Humid Savannahs Of Benin, E. Sonon, G. G. Alowanou, B. I. Koura, O. J. Makinde, A. B. Gbangboche

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The indigenous Lagune, a breed tolerant to trypanosomiasis, is an excellent candidate to meet the ongoing environmental changes sustainably. This cattle breed could be kept like small ruminants, tethered in grasslands, or free grazing. A study was conducted to assess the grazing behavior of Lagune cattle under the two grazing systems to identify the best systems for sustainable production and conservation of the breed. For this study, four Lagune cattle farms, 02 under free-roaming and 02 others in the tethered system, were selected in the original belt of the Lagune cattle, the agro-ecological (AEZ) zones of Valley and Pobe. The …

Stockpiling Perennial Warm-Season Grasses: Bermudagrass Example, J. A. Jennings, K. J. Simon

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Winter feeding is the largest expense of maintaining a beef herd in terms of money and time. Stockpiled bermudagrass is an effective practice for reducing winter feeding expenses and extending the grazing season. Stockpiling forage is the practice of accumulating forage growth intended for grazing in a later season. In Arkansas, bermudagrass is stockpiled from early August to late October and is grazed from late October through mid-December. Rainfall during late summer can be erratic with high risk of drought stress, but an early start date maximizes the opportunity for acceptable stockpiled forage yield. Therefore, stockpiling bermudagrass should begin by …

Tall Fescue And Orchardgrass Productivity And Persistence Under Grazing Systems In Tennessee, K. Johnson, R. N. Oakes, G. Bates

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The primary forage species used by cow-calf producers in grazing systems in Tennessee is tall-fescue. Tall fescue is considered an excellent cool-season perennial forage crop due to its high quality, production, and extended growing season. However, most of these tall fescue grazing systems are composed of tall fescue cv. Kentucky 31, which is known for containing a fungus endophyte that can be toxic to animals. Alternatively, orchardgrass is also a vastly used and important perennial cool-season forage in the United States. It can be used as a pasture, hay, and is a high-quality forage that is desirable for most livestock …

Effect Of Apple Pomace Based Silage On Lactation Performance Of Crossbred Cows, Ngahanyui Kengoo, Rohit Bishist

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of inclusion of apple pomace based silage on milk performance of crossbred cows at Dr Y S Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Nauni, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, India. In a feeding trial of 90 days duration, 12 crossbred cows were selected on the basis of their milk yield and were divided into two groups of six animals each. Animals in the control group were fed with the standard feeding practices of the farm i.e., concentrate @ 4kg d-1, wheat straw @ 5 kg d-1 and Grewia optiva tree fodder @ 10 …

Leucaena Leucocephala As An Alternative Protein Supplement To Fishmeal For Small Holder Indigenous Lactating Cows In Bangladesh, M. A. S. Khan

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

In Bangladesh, locally produced fishmeal is being used as a protein source for lactating cows but sometimes it is scarce and expensive. There is a need for an alternative protein source such as a Leucaena species which can be grown by the roadside, embankment or in a small area close to home. An experiment was carried out to assess the effect on the performance of partially replacing fishmeal with fresh foliage from Leucaena leucocephalain the diet of lactating cows. Three diets containing (kg/day) urea-treated rice straw (11.0) with either fishmeal (0.25), fishmeal (0.15) and Leucaena (0.5), and fishmeal (0.075) and …

Corn Silage Yield And Quality, And Soil Health Metrics After Fall Cover Crop Grazing, J. D. King, K. A. Cassida, R. Erhardt, E. Burns, S. Snapp, M. Singh, C. Difonzo, A. Garmyn, S. Gruss, C. Macaluso

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Integrated crop-livestock systems can potentially produce more product per unit of land with minimal impacts on soil health and cash crop quality. In the Upper Midwest there is an opportunity to graze fall cover crops (CC) after winter wheat in a corn-wheat rotation. In East Lansing, Michigan, two CC treatments: 1) a pure brassica mixture (PURE), and 2) a complex mixture containing legumes, warm and cool season grasses, and brassicas (MIX) were planted after wheat, and grazed by lambs in the fall seasons of 2019 to 2021. The following year, soil health, corn yield and quality were measured from plots …

Response Of Pasture Plants To Shade In Agroforestry And Agrivoltaic Production Systems, H. Kirschten, M. Graham, S. Ates, T. M. R. Maxwell, A. Rosati

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Agrivoltaics production systems have gained traction globally, holding promise to supply energy and food concurrently from the same unit of land. Studies investigating shade tolerant crops to optimize production under solar panels have mostly followed the findings of agroforestry studies. However, spectral composition of transmitted radiation in agrivoltaic and agroforestry production systems may not be the same, inducing different shade responses of understory crops. A pot trial investigating the effect of shade source on biomass production and morphology of perennial ryegrass, ribwort plantain and white clover was established during spring, in Oregon, USA. Treatments were solar panel shade, hazelnut tree …

Forages For Horses Revamped, C. Gelley, E. Lyon, H. Zynda, S. Mastellar, E. Share, B. Hendershot, D. Kreager, G. Wilson, R. Purdin, J. Hampton, J. Morris, T. Wiseman, L. Beers, M. Sulc

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

The Forages for Horses program began in Ohio in1998 as a collaboration between the Ohio Forages & Grasslands Council and Ohio State University Extension. Over time, additional collaborations with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Department of Agriculture and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts expanded the program. At its inception, one to three educators would partner to provide eight hours of in-person lectures followed by a pasture walk to better the management practices of equine enthusiasts. From 2021 through 2022, the curriculum was adapted for a hybrid classroom and included three 90-minute live webinars featuring nine different presentations followed …

Bale Grazing: Feeding Hay On Pasture Using Rotational Grazing Techniques, Greg Halich

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Bale grazing is a novel winter-feeding method where bales are set out on pasture, typically in checkerboard fashion, and fed in a planned, controlled manner, much like rotational grazing. So far, the concept has not been widely adopted in the eastern US, but offers an improved alternative compared to conventional winter-feeding systems for beef cattle, which all too often results in wasted nutrients, polluted waterways, degraded soils, and unhealthy conditions for cattle. With good management, bale grazing can solve all of these problems, and also requires less labor and machinery use than conventional hay feeding. However, climatic conditions in the …

More Than Fiber: Forage Carbohydrates Affecting Animal Performance, M. B. Hall

IGC Proceedings (1997-2023)

Forages are well known as an important source of fiber in livestock diets. However, their carbohydrate contribution is more than fiber. Forage grasses and legumes supply sugars, fructans, and other water-soluble carbohydrates as well as soluble fiber that behave very differently than starch in the rumen. With a focus on ruminants, we will explore the forage supply, and ruminal and animal impacts.