Digital Commons Network^™

Statistical Analysis Of Nutrient Loads From The Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (Marb) To The Gulf Of Mexico, Phyllis Okwan, Yi Zhen, Huan Feng, Shinjae Yoo, Murty S. Kambhampati, Abreione Walker, Shayne Boykin, Joe Omojola, Noel Blackburn

Department of Earth and Environmental Studies Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

This study investigated the annual and seasonal variations in nutrient loads (NO₂⁻ + NO₃⁻ and orthophosphate) delivered to the Gulf of Mexico from the Mississippi-Atchafalaya River Basin (MARB) and examined the water quality variations. The results indicate that (1) annually, the mean NO₂⁻ + NO₃⁻ and orthophosphate loads showed a steady increase during 1996–1999, a persistent level during 2000–2007, and a moderate increase during 2008–2016; (2) seasonally, NO₂⁻ + NO₃⁻ and orthophosphate in MARB in spring and summer were higher than those in autumn and winter. Analysis of …

Impact Of Grazing On The Silage Yield Of Forage Oat Crops, Keith G. Pembleton, Matthew T. Harrison, Richard P. Rawnsley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Winter forage oat crops are increasing in acreage on Tasmanian dairy farms. Such crops can be grazed multiple times during vegetative development in winter then later harvested for silage at the booting or soft dough growth stages in spring. Although effects of grazing on grain yield of winter cereal crops have been well characterised (Harrison et al. 2011), little research has been conducted on the influence of grazing on the forage and silage yield potential of oats grown in Tasmania.

We aimed to explore the influence of grazing management on the yields of forage for grazing and ensiling of …

Effects Of Additives On The Quality Of Leymus Chinensis Silage, J. J. Sun, Zhu Yu, Yanlin Xue, C. S. Bai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Leymus chinensis, which is a perennial plant with good palatability and high forage value, is widespread from the southern Chinese Loess plateau to northern Russian Baikal and from the Sanjiang plain of eastern China to Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia. Grazing and hay are the most common ways Leymus chinensis is utilized. The quality of Leymus chinensis silage is poorly understood. This study was conducted to investigate the fermentation quality and the in vitro digestibility of Leymus chinensis silage treated with lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and cellulose (CE).

Effect Of The Ratio Of Materials Used In Fermented Total Mixed Ration On The Aerobic Stability Of The Tmr Compared With A Mixed-Silage, C. S. Bai, Yanlin Xue, Zhu Yu, H. D. Fu, J. P. Tan, Qing Zhang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fermented Total Mixed Ration (TMR) is an important forage for livestock, but if it has a high content of protein, the aerobic stability is poor (Wang, 2008). There is little published information about the aerobic stability of fermented TMR. This experiment was undertaken to study the effects of the ratio of materials used in TMR and mixed-silage on the pH, the numbers of lactobacillus, mould and yeast, and the temperature of the fermented TMR and mix-silage after opening.

Winter Crop Evaluation For Silage And Forage Quality In Korea, J. D. Kim, H. W. Lee, J. K. Lee, J. K. Kim, C. H. Kwon

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Winter crops of rye, barley, oats and Italian ryegrass are used alone or combined as silage crops or green forage in autumn and spring in Korea. The production and utilization of winter crops have been increasing since 2000, because of high yield and double cropping potential in the rice field after harvesting rice. An advantage of these winter crops is that they are produced in the cool season. However, a main problem in making silage with these winter crops is that they are sometimes poor in quality for various reasons.

Therefore we conducted a survey of farms and forage selling …

Effects Of Lactic Acid Bacteria On The Quality Of Achnatherum Splendens Silage, Yanlin Xue, G. M. Yin, H. P. Zhao, Q. Z. Sun, Zhu Yu, C. S. Bai

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Achnatherum splendens is an important forage for ruminant animals, but it has a high fiber content, and there is little information about the quality of Achnatherum splendens silage. This experiment was undertaken to study the effects of lactic acid bacteria on the quality of Achnatherum splendens (AS) silage.

Quality Of Baled Grass-Clover Silage As Affected By Additives And Harvest Methods, Elisabet Nadeau, Ola Hallin, Horst Auerbach, John Jakobsson, Annika Arnesson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Previous studies have shown increased loading and ensiling capacities with a rotor cutter wagon compared to a precision chopping wagon with no effects on silage fermentation (Arvidsson and Lingvall 2005; Lingvall and Knicky 2008). However, to our knowledge, there are no studies on the effects of different mowing techniques in combination with chopping/cutting of the forage at harvest when the forage is ensiled with different types of additives.

The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of mowing method, chopping vs. cutting of the forage, types of additives and their interactions on grass-clover silage quality.

Improving Lucerne Forage Quality And Utilization By Using Novel Silage Inoculant, Vilma Vrotniakiene, Jonas Jatkauskas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) is a protein-rich forage that farmers often combine with energy-rich feed sources to dairy cattle. Lucerne ensiles poorly, however, due to low sugar concentration and high buffering capacity. Ensiling is improved by wilting the crop and using an appropriate silage inoculant. The principal goal of inoculants is to improve fermentation quality, to preserve as much of the nutritive value of the crop at harvest as possible for the livestock consuming the resulting silage and to increase production (Meeske et al. 2000, Muck 2012).

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of …

Silage Inoculants Improves Quality And Aerobic Stability In Grass, Clover-Grass And Lucerne Silage, Jonas Jatkauskas, Vilma Vrotniakiene, Christer Ohlsson, Bente Lund

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The type of silage additive will influence the characteristics of fermentation, dry matter (DM) losses, hygienic quality and aerobic stability of silage. The appropriate use of an additive also depends on the crop to which it is applied. Homofermentative lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains are selected for rapid growth under under variable temperatures, herbages and dry matter concentrations. The homofermentative LAB are highly competitive and produce largely lactic acid and reduce pH and ammonia-N content compared to untreated silage (Muck 2012). Heterofermentative LAB such as Lactobacillus buchneri reduce the growth of yeast and mould and increase aerobic stability. These effects …

Α-Tocopherol And Β-Carotene Concentrations In Legume-Grass Mixtures As Affected By Wilting And Ensiling, Elisabet Nadeau, Hanna Lindqvist, Søren Krogh Jensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fresh or preserved forage is the largest source of natural α-tocopherol and β-carotene for dairy cows. Plant species, wilting and method of preservation can affect the vitamin content of forage and, consequently, have a large impact on the concentrations of these vitamins in plasma of dairy cows (Agabriel et al.2007).

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of species mixture, wilting, ensiling and additive on the contents of α-tocopherol and β-carotene in legume-grass forages.

Effects Of Chemical Additives On Whole-Crop Maize Silage Traits, Horst Auerbach, Elisabet Nadeau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fungi-associated aerobic instability of maize silages occurs frequently under practical farming conditions. The use of heterofermentative lactic acid bacteria inoculants of the Lactobacillus buchneri-type has been demonstrated to improve stability of silages exposed to air (Kleinschmidt and Kung 2006) but is not a viable option if the silo is closed for less than 8 weeks, and for the treatment of the upper layers, which are particularly prone to deterioration due to lower compaction. In those cases, antimycotic chemicals must be applied of which sorbates, benzoates and propionates are most efficient against fungi (Auerbach 1996; Woolford 1975). However, as commercial …

Using Fermented Juice Of Epiphytic Lactic Acid Bacteria (Fjlb) And Molasses To Improve Digestibility And Rumen Fermentation Characteristics Of Ruzigrass Silage Fed To Dairy Cows, Smerjai Bureenok, Chalermpon Yuangklang, Kraisit Vasupen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (FJLB) and molasses (MO) on ruzigrass silage digestibility and rumen fermentation characteristics in dairy cows were studied. All treated silages were well-preserved as indicated by the pH value and NH3-N content. Silage treated with MO or MO-FJLB had lower pH and higher lactic acid contents than untreated silages and FJLB silages. Butyric acid was not detected in the FJLB silage. Water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) was higher in the MO silages; neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) did not differ significantly. Dry matter intake in cows fed with …

High-Sugar Alfalfa For Dairy Cows, Robert Berthiaume, Andre F. Brito, Gaëtan F. Tremblay, Gilles Bélanger, Carole Lafrenière, Annick Bertrand, Yves Castonguay, Réal Michaud, Guy Allard

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Alfalfa proteins are extensively degraded during wilting, silage fermentation, and in the rumen. To efficiently use alfalfa non protein N, rumen microbes need a readily available energy source such as nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC); otherwise, surplus N in the form of rumen ammonia is converted into urea and excreted in the environment. Increasing the NSC concentration of alfalfa was thus the focus of our research program. Our objectives were to assess the impact of high NSC alfalfa on digestibility and microbial protein synthesis measured in vitro, and on ingestion, rumen metabolism, N use efficiency, and dairy cow performance. Increasing NSC concentration …

Lessons From Silage Adoption Studies In Honduras, Christoph Reiber, Rainer Schultze-Kraft, Michael Peters, Volker Hoffmann

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Silage adoption has so far been low in the tropics, particularly under smallholder conditions. Innovation and adoption processes of silage technologies were promoted in drought-constrained areas of Honduras using a flexible, site-specific and participatory research and extension approach. A total of about 250 farmers participated in training workshops and field days conducted in 13 locations. Smallholders successfully ensiled maize, sorghum and/or Pennisetum spp. mainly in heap and earth siloswhereas little bag silage (LBS) adoption was low. LBS proved useful as a demonstration, experimentation and learning tool. A ‘silage boom’ occurred in five locations where favourable adoption conditions included the presence …

Novel Results On The Formation Of Volatile Organic Compounds (Voc) In Silages, Kirsten Weiss, Horst Auerbach

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The incidence of volatile organic compounds, including ethyl esters of lactic and acetic acids, in grass silages was evaluated based on a total of 620 samples from 10 different lab-scale ensiling experiments. These substances were detected after cold-water extraction by gas-chromatography. The correlations between ethanol and esters concentrations varied greatly depending on the trial. It was shown that ethanol concentration and pH of the silages affected ester formation. Low silage pH stimulated ester accumulation. Up to pH of 4.3, a stronger relationship between ethanol and esters contents was found than in grass silages having higher pH values. By allocating the …

Challenges And Solutions For Forage Conservation For Small And Large Enterprises, M. Goto, H. Kawamoto, H. Matsuyama, Ryuichi Uegaki

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage conservation, particularly silage making, is one of the major technologies used as an interface between forage production and animal production, and the advanced technology of biological, chemical, and enzymatic additives for making silage has contributed significantly to the development of livestock production. However, the increasing demand for meat and dairy products, severe environmental deterioration induced by livestock production, and the critical risks to human health associated with mycotoxin contamination of forage crops remain to be addressed. Here we review the extant literature regarding treatment with various silage additives in relation to new paddy field forage production systems, mycotoxin contamination …

Fibre Quality In Timothy, Festulolium And Tall Fescue Around First Cut, Magnus A. Halling

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fibre quality and available energy expressed as iNDF (indigestible neutral detergent fibre) decrease with maturity stage in timothy (Nordheim-Viken and Volden 2009). It is widely accepted that fibre quality also decreases with plant age in other forage grasses. However, climate factors such as temperature and water availability can interact with maturity stage in determining iNDF (Nordheim-Viken and Volden 2009). In the Norfor system, iNDF is an important measure of available energy in forage evaluation for ruminants (Åkerlind et al. 2011). This study examined how fibre quality in different forage grasses was affected by maturity stage and climate.

Pastures In Production Management In Madagascar, Isabelle H. Hantanirina, Jean De N. Rakotozandriny

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Madagascar, natural pasture is found across extensive areas of the landscape and has inherently low productivity. There is limited management of these areas and limited management inputs, such as fertiliser or introduced sown pastures (Morat 1973). Natural pasture has a prominent place in animal production, however, consumer demand for milk, meat and other products mean that greater animal productivity is required than that achieved on natural pastures. This is the case for dairy farming in the highlands of Madagascar. The use of exotic pastures has become necessary for better production.

The aim of this study was to evaluate feed …

Use Of N-Alkane Technique To Estimate Sheep Dry Matter Intake, Glaucia A. Amaral, Teresa C. M. Genro, Armindo B. Neto, Jean V. Savian, Diego B. De David, Eduardo B. Azevedo, Felipe Jochims, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Given the complexity of evaluating intake on grazing, some compounds have been studied to promote qualitative and quantitative estimates of animal physiology. In this sense, the technique using n-alkanes as a marker has been used in several animal species, especially in grazing ruminants (Dove and Mayes 1996). By definition, validation under grazing or browsing conditions is not possible, because actual intakes are unknown (Dove and Mayes 2005). Thus, the aim of the study was to evaluate the methodology of n-alkanes to estimate herbage intake by sheep in metabolic cages.

Fatty Acid Profile Of Elephant Grass Pastures With Different Grazing Heights, Kamila M. Dias, Giselle R. Rodolfo, Daniel Schmitt, Raphael S. Pereira, Guilherme N. Camargo, Francisco C. Deschamps, André F. Sbrissia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ruminant milk and meat are a source of CLA and omega-3 in the human diet and these fatty acids (FAs) have a beneficial effect on human health (Mcguire and Mcguire 2000). The increase in CLA and omega-3 in ruminant products is mainly related to proportion of C18:2 and C18:3 in the animal feed, like forage and to incomplete ruminal biohydrogenation (Bauman et al. 2000). Evaluation of FAs have been performed in temperate forage pastures, without the interaction of animal grazing, and presenting samples collected at ground level and at fixed re-growth intervals or seasons as the main sampling criteria. …

Effect Of Plant Density On Yield And Forage Quality Of Corn For Silage, Lorena Machinandiarena, Jonatan Camarasa, Pablo Barletta, Jorge O. Scheneiter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is evidence that plant density of maize crops for silage affects herbage yield and quality (Cusicanqui and Lauer 1999). However, most of experimental information comes from trials with a range of plant densities between 20,000 and 140,000 plants per hectare (Pl/ha). This range would be insufficient to establish functional relationships between yield, forage quality, light interception and plant composition (Bertoia 1994). In addition, it is known that dry matter partitioning between plant components varies according to the environmental conditions of a given year (Andrade et al. 1991).

The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between …

Daily Faecal Excretion Of Alkane C32 In Beef Cattle Females Grazing Natural Grasslands In Southern Brazil And In Uruguay, Teresa C. M. Genro, Carolina Bremm, Júlio K. Da Trindade, Alexandre C. Varella, Pablo Soca

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The n-alkane technique is accepted as an appropriate method to estimate herbage intake by grazing ruminants. This method reinforces issues similar to those raised by other methods based on markers such as the effect of carrier matrix or dosing method and frequency on the excretion kinetics of the dosed n-alkanes (Dove et al. 2002; Molina et al. 2004, Oliván et al. 2007). The time of dosage needed to reach the dynamical equilibrium between the concentrations of alkanes in the diet and in the faeces of ruminants is still unclear for the natural grassland environments. The aim of this study was …

Use Of N-Alkanes To Estimate The Intake Of Beef Heifers On Natural Grassland In Southern Brazil, Teresa C. M. Genro, Júlio K. Da Trindade, Paulo C. De F. Carvalho

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The technique of alkanes to estimate dry matter intake (DMI) by wild and domestic herbivores has advanced considerably in the last 20 years (Dove and Mayes, 2006). Alkanes are long chain, saturated hydrocarbons present in the plant cuticle. They are relatively indigestible in the gastrointestinal tract and can be recuperated in the faeces. Compared to other markers normally used (e.g. chromium oxide, ytterbium), it is possible to determine simultaneously the external and internal marker in a unique analysis and to estimate digestibility, faecal excretion, DMI and diet composition (Dove and Mayes 1991). This is a great advantage of …

A Comparison Of Fermentation Kinetics In The Rumen Of Grazing Sheep On A Dwarf Bamboo Pasture And A Grass Pasture, Masato Yayota, Noriya Tanaka, Kazuya Doi, Shigeru Ohtani

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native grasses grown as forest understory are important forage resources for grazing ruminants and in agroforestry. Dwarf bamboo is one such typical grass and has traditionally been used in Japan. The name “dwarf bamboo” refers to a group of native grasses from certain genera (e.g., Sasa spp. and Pleioblastus spp.). These grasses are generally rhizomatous, perennial, and semi-woody (Usui, 1961). The results of an earlier study suggested that the in sacco ruminal degradation of the dwarf bamboo was inferior to that of a common tropical grass (Yayota et al. 2009), and cattle grazing on a forest …

Mineral Composition Of Brachiaria Brizantha Cv. Mg5 Irrigated And Non-Irrigated Subjected To Grazing, Rita C. R. Carvalho, Wellington W. Rocha, Bruno S. Pires, Luziney D. Silva, César T. Piza, Paulo R. V. Leite, Eliel A. Ferreira

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Brachiaria brizantha cv. MG5 is an important component of pastures in Brazil. Past studies (Corsi and Marta Jr. (1998), Maya (2003)) have shown significant pasture and animal production increases can be obtained through irrigation and associated grazing management. Such systems can significantly increase economic viability of production systems based on these pastures (Cedeño 2003). However, past studies have not measured possible differences in mineral composition of such pastures throughout the year with and without irrigation. Such differences, if present, may have implication for animal productivity.

This study had the objective of evaluating the mineral composition of Brachiaria brizantha cv …

Forage Quality Indices Of Some Important Grass Species Of Iranian Rangelands, Hossein Arzani, Javad Motamedi, Mohammad Ali Zarechahouki

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To be informed of the forage quality indices is one of the fundamental essentials for determination of the amount of forage sufficient for the daily requirements of animal in rangelands and wildlife habitats. This amount would be different depending on the vegetative composition and consequently the forage quality (Arzani, 2009). In this regard, grasses are considered one of the most important plants in the vegetative composition of rangelands in the country’s different climate zones that are grazed by the animals and meet a considerable amount of animal requirements (Arzani et al. 2010). Therefore, the values of forage quality indices …

Effect Of Cultivar On Yield, Chemical Composition And British Thermal Unit Content Of Three Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) Cultivars, Kyung I. Sung, Jalil G. Nejad, Bae H. Lee, Do H. Ji, Jing L. Peng, Byong W. Kim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Switchgrass varieties with different sowing times and years of cultivation may change nutrient parameters, dry matter production and bio-fuel characteristics expressed as British Thermal Unit (BTU). The objective of this study was to report the effect of cultivar on dry matter yield, chemical composition and bio-fuel value of three Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) cultivars. Fossil fuel usage is a key human-related factor contributing to the production of green house gases. Biomass conversion into forms of energy is an old idea but one that is receiving increasing attention largely because of environmental, energy supply and agricultural market condition concerns …

Morning And Afternoon Sampling And Herbage Chemical Composition Of Rotationally Stocked Elephant Grass Cv. Napier, Laiz P. De Oliveira, Adenilson J. Paiva, Lilian E. T. Peireira, Eliana V. Geremia, Sila C. Da Silva

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nutrient intake by grazing animals depends on the amount of dry matter consumed and its chemical composition. Forage grasses, as with any other plants, produce assimilates during the day via photosynthesis to sustain live tissues, plant growth and organic reserves (Taiz and Zeiger 2013). In that context, herbage chemical composition may vary according to variations in the photosynthesis-respiration balance throughout the day. From dawn to dusk the balance increases and herbage dry matter content as well as concentration of soluble carbohydrates increase, the reverse happening from dusk to dawn. That could interfere with nutritive value and nutrient intake of grazing …

Forage Quality Characteristics Of Lotus Tenuis, Narrow-Leaf Birdsfoot Trefoil, Adam D. Langworthy, Peter A. Lane, David Parsons, Eric Hall

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Narrow-leaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit.) is a herbaceous perennial legume of Mediterranean origin, which can grow in saline and waterlogged environments (Teakle et al. 2010). If this species is to be cultivated in regions constrained by these abiotic factors, it is also vital that herbage produced has a forage quality acceptable for ruminant production. In addition, proanthocyanidin (PA) content is important, and legume species can cause animal production issues if PA content is low, (< 0.02%), e.g. fro-thy bloat, or high (> 5 %), e.g. decreased palatability and digestibility (Larkin et al. 1999). This study examined the PA content and …

Quality And Vitamins In Forage Herb And Legume Species, Anjo Elgersma, Karen Søegaard, Søren Krogh Jensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasslands provide an important part of the feed used by domestic and wild ruminants. Fresh herbage is an important natural source of vitamins in ruminant diets. Concentrations of vitamins in plants depend on factors such as regrowth stage, temperature and day length, N fertilisation and leaf proportion in the harvested herbage. Most studies on vitamin concentrations in forages have been carried out with agronomical important grass species such as perennial ryegrass and legume species such as white clover, but hardly with other grassland forage species. As data of dicotyledonous species grown in a sward are scarce, yield, quality and vitamin …