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Minimising Bloat Through Development Of White Clover (T. Repens) With High Levels Of Condensed Tannins, M. T. O’Donoghue, C. Spillane, E. Guiney

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White clover constitutes a low percentage of the overall sward content in Irish pastureland despite EU directives limiting the use of nitrogenous fertilizers. This is mainly due to the tendency of large amounts of white clover to cause bloat. Bloat is a potentially fatal build up of proteinaceous foam in the guts of ruminants. Some lesser cultivated legumes such as Lotus species contain condensed tannins (CT) that decrease the incidence of bloated animals. The project’s objective is to reduce the risk of bloat by generating white clover cultivars with high CT content. We are investigating whether expression of the ANTHOCYANIN …

Polyphenolic Phenomena: Transgenic Analysis Of Some Of The Factors That Regulate The Cell-Specific Accumulation Of Condensed Tannins (Proanthocyanidins) In Forage Crops, Mark P. Robbins, G. Allison, D. Bryant, P. Morris

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Condensed tannins biosynthesised within crops are a well-established mechanism for protecting plant protein in the rumen of grazing livestock. Protein protection mediated by these polymeric flavonoid molecules has been characterised in Lotus spp. and offers an interesting contrast to the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) system that confers protein protection in red clover.

Changes In Gene Expression During Acclimation To Cold Temperatures In White Clover (Trifolium Repens L.), M. Lowe, R. P. Collins, M. T. Abberton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

White clover is an important component of many temperate pastures and improved winter hardiness is a major objective of breeding programmes in many countries. Exposure to cold and fluctuations in temperature are components of winter stress and although some studies have investigated the agronomic and physiological mechanisms of cold tolerance, little research has been carried out to identify the genes involved. We are complementing mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL) responsible for cold tolerance with studies of variation in gene expression between plants growing at different temperatures. In particular we are initially focusing on the process of acclimation by analysing …

Future Directions In The Molecular Breeding Of Forage And Turf, G. C. Spangenberg, J. W. Forster, D. Edwards, U. John, A. Mouradov, M. Emmerling, J. Batley, S. Felitti, N. O. I. Cogan, K. F. Smith, M. P. Dobrowolski

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key points

1. Molecular breeding of forage and turf plants and their endosymbionts has entered the post-genomic era with a large amount of structural genomics information and genomic resources available for key forage and turf species and relevant model systems.
2. A primary future challenge is the conversion of this information into useful functional knowledge for the development of molecular breeding technologies and products that address a range of high impact outcome scenarios in forage and turf.
3. High-throughput approaches for spatial and temporal analysis, from genome to phenome, and the respective data integration in a systems biology context will be critical for …

Crown Rust Resistance In Transgenic Italian Ryegrass (L. Multiflorum) Expressing A Rice Chitinase Gene And Crosses With Cytoplasmic Male Sterile Hybrid Ryegrass, W. Takahashi, M. Fujimori, Y. Miura, T. Komatsu, S. Sugita, A. Arakawa, Y. Nishizawa, H. Sato, Y. Mano, T. Hibi, T. Takamizo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) is one of the most important forage grasses in the temperate region. In ryegrasses, crown rust (Puccinia coronata) is the most serious foliar fungal disease and brings about a reduction of herbage yield and loss of palatability to grass-eating domestic animals. In this study, we tried to increase tolerance to the pathogen by introducing a rice chitinase gene using particle bombardment.

Genetic And Molecular Characterization Of Temperate And Tropical Forage Maize Inbred Lines, B. Alarcón-Zúñiga, E. Valadez-Moctezuma, T. Cervantes-Martinez, T. Cervantes-Santana, M. Mendoza‐Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Livestock feeding in the Central highland of Mexico is based on harvest, grazing and annual forage conservation, with forage maize being the most important silage crop (Alarcón, 1995). Even though forage maize is extensively bred in Europe, USA and Asia since the 1900’s, this started in Mexico only in the 1960’s, and little is known about genetic diversity in both agronomic and nutritive value traits. Our breeding program goals are to analyze combining ability of biomass and quality predictors and to study the genetic relationship of inbred lines between lowland tropical and temperate races from Mesa Central, by genetic and …

Improving Forage Quality Of Tall Fescue (Festuca Arundinacea) By Genetic Manipulation Of Lignin Biosynthesis, Z. -Y. Wang, L. Chen, C. -K. Auh, A. Hopkins, P. Dowling

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Lignification of plant cell walls is a major factor limiting forage digestibility and concomitantly animal productivity. Improvement in forage grass cell wall digestibility has become an important goal of many plant-ruminant animal research programs. Lignins are complex phenolic heteropolymers associated with the polysaccharidic components of the wall in specific plant cells. Lignin in forage grasses comprises guaiacyl (G) units derived from coniferyl alcohol, syringyl (S) units derived from sinapyl alcohol, and p-hydroxyphenyl (H) units derived from p-coumaryl alcohol. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) and caffeic acid O- methyltransferase (COMT) are key enzymes involved in lignin biosynthesis. Tall fescue …

Manipulating The Phenolic Acid Content And Digestibility Of Forage Grasses By Targeted Expression Of Fungal Cell Wall Degrading Enzymes, M. M. De O. Buanafina, P. Morris, T. Langdon, S. J. Dalton, B. Hauck, H. Porter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grass cell walls constitute 30-80% of forage dry matter, representing a major source of energy for ruminants. Ferulic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxy-cinnamic acid) and other hydroxycinnamic acids are ester linked to arabinosyl residues in arabinoxylans of grass cell walls and undergo oxidative coupling reactions resulting in the formation of a variety of dehydrodiferulate dimers which cross-link cell wall polymers. Although such cross-links have a number of important roles in the cell wall, they also hinder the rate and extent of cell wall degradation by ruminant microbial and fungal enzymes. We have shown previously the expression of a ferulic acid esterase gene from …

An Agronomic Evaluation Of Grazing Maize Combined With Companion Crops For Sheep In Northwestern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa, C. S. Dannhauser, E. A. Van Zyl

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Northwestern KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), in South Africa, is well known for its sheep production from natural rangeland in summer (October to May). During winter however, the nutritional value of the rangeland cannot maintain young growing sheep or pregnant and lactating ewes. With this in mind Lyle (1991) suggested the use of planted pastures for the winter. Crichton, Gertenbach & Henning (1998) and Esterhuizen & Niemand (1989) suggested maize crop residues for both cattle and sheep during winter, whereas Moore (1997) evaluated grazing maize (not harvested) for this purpose. He found that the protein content of the crop was inadequate and for …

Effect Of Pre-Planting Seed Treatment Options On Dormancy Breaking And Germination Of Ziziphus Mucronata, Abubeker Hassen, N. F. G. Rethman, Willem A. Van Niekerk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ziziphus mucronata (Buffalo thorn) is a multipurpose tree, widely adapted to a range of ecological conditions and tolerant of extreme climatic conditions, including frost and drought (Venter & Venter, 1996). It is a valuable fodder tree for livestock and game animals, especially in the drier parts of Africa (Rothauge et al. 2003). Similar to many other leguminous species, establishment is constrained by low and erratic germination of the seed, which has been attributed mainly to the physical barrier of the stony endocarp and dormancy associated with seed coat impermeability. This experiment aimed to compare the suitability of various seed treatment …

Grazing Animal Production Systems And Grazing Land Characteristics In A Semi-Arid Region Of Greece, I. Hadjigeorgiou, G. Economou, D. Lolis, N. Moustakas, G. Zervas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Rough grazing in Greece cover about 40% of the total land area, is publicly owned and managed extensively (Hadjigeorgiou et al., 2002). The Prefecture of Larisa is in the centre of Greece, and has 212,000 ha of rough grazing land, with a variable topography ranging from sea level up to 3,000 m a.s.l. This area is utilized by a total population of 135,000 LU (mainly sheep, goats and some suckler cows), which consumes annually an appreciable fraction of their total nutrient requirements from rough grazing.

The Long Road To Developing Native Herbaceous Summer Forage Legume Ecotypes, James P. Muir, T. J. Butler, W. R. Ocumpaugh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Only a handful of well-adapted herbaceous summer forage legumes are currently marketed for drier regions of North America and even fewer are true natives. There is a growing demand for native germplasm in the region as a new generation of landowner attempts to return grasslands to a semblance of their original species and diversity. The objective of this paper is to describe preliminary research results of a grasslands team collecting, studying and promulgating native leguminous germplasm in Texas.

Working Within Constraints: Managing African Savannas For Animal Production And Biodiversity, J. T. Du Toit

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The mean density of livestock biomass on African rangelands now greatly exceeds that of indigenous large herbivores, although livestock cannot fully substitute for wildlife with respect to co-evolved ecosystem processes involving herbivory. The dominance of livestock in semi-arid rangelands is largely due to water provision, which uncouples livestock population dynamics from the rainfall-driven trajectories followed by indigenous ungulate species in wildlife areas. Ecological sustainability cannot be achieved with a few exotic species maintained at unprecedented biomass densities in savanna ecosystems, which are evolutionarily adapted for species-rich communities of ungulates of a wise range of sizes. Integrating wildlife and livestock in …

Sustainable Semi-Arid Grazing Management Based On Indigenous Shona Practices Prior To Introduction Of Western Ideas In Zimbabwe, O. Mugweni, R. Mugweni

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the Shona culture the land, i.e. the plants, animals, soil, water, air and others, evolved with herding animals. Hence, the absence of one results in the destruction of the other. It is argued that the conventional grazing management belief that too many animals cause overgrazing is a misconception of the semi-arid savanna environments of Southern Africa where these environments evolved with thousands of herding grazers and mega-faunas such as elephants, wildebeests and buffalo. The objective of the research is to establish that grazing with an adequate recovery period for grazed plants, as a result of domesticated animals being managed …

Profitable And Sustainable Grazing Systems For Livestock Producers With Saline Land In Southern Australia, N. J. Edwards, D. G. Masters, Edward G. Barrett-Lennard, M. Hebart, M. Mccaskill, W. King, W. Mason

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Dryland salinity affects over 2.5 M ha in Australia, mostly in southern states and is expanding at 3-5% per year (NLWRA, 2001). The prognosis is for considerable expansion of the area affected by salinity and waterlogging (12–17 M ha at equilibrium), because groundwater levels continue to rise and only small-scale land management programmes have been implemented. In addition, many waterways are increasingly saline, especially in the Murray Darling Basin and in Western Australia (WA). Sustainable Grazing on Saline Land (SGSL) addresses the need to make productive use of saline land and water resources. Its research component operates at 12 sites …

Cow-Calf Production On Perennial Pastures In The Central Semi-Arid Region Of Argentina, C. A. Frasinelli, K. Frigerio, J. Martínez Ferrer, J. H. Veneciano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In cow-calf production systems in San Luis, the annual crops are heavily used (eastern region) or the natural pastures are over-used (western region). Both cases constitute unsustainable systems. In the present study, the possibility of structuring an efficient and stable stockbreeding agroecosystem based exclusively on perennial summer grasses was tested. The objectives were: 1) to test a cow-calf production system based on perennial pastures: Digitaria (Digitaria eriantha Steudel subsp. eriantha cv Irene), without protein supplement during winter, and 2) to determine the physical and economical efficiency of the production system and sustainability of such indicators in the short-term (6 …

Growth Performance Of Crossbred Steers On Unfertilised Mountain Pastures At Low Stocking Rates, A. Chassot, J. Troxler

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

As a consequence of increasing economic pressure on Swiss agriculture, marginal areas are threatened by abandonment, especially in the mountainous regions. Using these areas for extensive beef production might preserve an open landscape and favour biodiversity. A grazing experiment was conducted with steers on an unfertilised mountain pasture to study the effects of a reduction of stocking rate on the growth of the animals and on changes in the vegetation.

Optimising Forage Production On Degraded Lands In The Dry Tropics Through Silvopastoral Systems, P. S. Pathak

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In India, 187 M ha out of a total area of 328 M ha face the problem of land degradation, mostly due to water and wind erosion. The problems are aggravated by poor land cover and increasing pressure of human and livestock populations. There is over-exploitation of the scarce resources of forage and firewood. Several techniques, including watershed based silvopastoral land use have been proposed (Patil & Pathak, 1977). Tree, grass and legume based systems have been tried after land treatment to reduce runoff and soil loss while meeting the forage needs of the livestock and firewood for cooking in …

Agroforestry Systems In Cuba: Some Aspects Of Animal Production, J. M. Iglesias, L. Simón, L. Lamela, I. Hernández, M. Milera, T. Sánchez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The silvopastoral systems, that nowadays constitute scientific achievements of the Grasses and Forages Research Station “Indio Hatuey ", have been developed from the results of investigations that were carried out since the 1980s, to improve the productivity of natural pastures through the introduction of valuable herbaceous species and tree legumes. Those investigations also determined the essential elements of pasture management such as the optimal stocking rates for low input systems and suitable methods of grazing to obtain sustainability of grasslands.

Hedgerow Systems And Livestock In Philippine Grasslands: Ghg Emissions, D. B. Magcale-Macandog, E. Abucay, R. G. Visco, R. N. Miole, E. L. Abas, G. M. Comajig, A. D. Calub

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Hedgerow systems are widely adopted in the smallholder farms in the sloping grassland areas of Claveria, Mindanao, Philippines. The system is effective in addressing soil erosion problems and in conserving the topsoil. Gmelina arborea and Eucalyptus deglupta are two fast-growing timber species that are planted in hedgerow systems while maize is planted in the alley areas in between the hedgerows. Livestock holdings are widespread in Claveria, with 74% of the households having livestock. Cattle and carabao are the most common livestock in smallholder farms providing draught power for land preparation and transportation. In hedgerow systems, fodder tree leaves and crop …

Effect Of Urea-Treated Pennisetum Pedicellatum And Supplementation Of Concentrates With Urea On Milk Production Of "Mossi" Ewes, V. M. C. Bougouma-Yameogo, A. J. Nianogo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The "Mossi" sheep is a near parent of "Djallonke" sheep that live in sudano-sahelian area of Burkina Faso. However, there are few available results on dairy production from this breed. The treatment of straw with urea is a technique used in several developing countries to improve the nutritional value of gramineous forages (Sourabié et al., 1995). The aim of this study was to test the influence on the performance of "Mossi" ewes and on milk composition of treatment of Pennisetum pedicellatum (Pp) with urea in comparison with addition of urea to the concentrate feed.

Geographic Patterns In The Genetic Diversity Of Elymus Species From Qinghai-Tibetan And Inner Mongolian Plateau, Xuebing Yan, Yuxia Guo, Z. He, W. Kun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The genus Elymus is the largest genus in the tribe Triticeae with about 150 species distributed in most temperate regions of the world (Dewey, 1984). The genetic diversity of Elymus spp. from alpine regions is very important for improving resistance to adverse condition. The goals of this study were to investigate micro- satellite and enzyme polymorphism and population structure of different regions and Elymus spp. in China.

Germplasm Collection And Dry Matter Production Of Mongolian Forage Plants, D. Tsogoo, Sh. Batsukh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Mongolian rangelands harbour 564 genera, 128 families and 2,823 species of plants (Gubanov, 1996). Approximately 600 species can be used as forage plants (Yunatov, 1968). There are 5 to 6 species of perennial forage plants that are unique to Mongolia and the country has a domestic cultivar "Burgaltai" of lucerne. This paper provides the results of a study on vegetative and seed yield of germplasm collected from naturally occurring forage plants during 1976-2003. To date, seeds have been collected and are involved in the experimental work from approximately 70 percent of forage plants available at the forage plant …

The Feasibility Of Autoclave-Assisted Water Soluble Carbohydrate Extraction To Distinguish Annual Ryegrass Genotypes At The Seedling Stage, L. P. Passos, F. B. De Sousa, A. Mittelmann, M. C. Vidigal, I. G. Perry, L. O. Cruz, J. A. Magalhães

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) swards are being used increasingly in Southern Brazil as animal forage (Carvalho et al., 2001). As observed elsewhere, reduced forage availability and quality during dry or cold seasons often limits the efficacy of pasture utilisation. As reported by Meissner et al. (1992), this demands breeding efforts to improve forage nutritive value. However, lack of concurrent examination of large number of samples for important nutritional parameters, like water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels, which could lead to more precise selection strategies, is a common constraint of those programs. This study aimed to verify the suitability …

Variability And Correlations Of Some Investigated Traits Of Perennial Ryegrass Populations, D. Sokolovic, S. Ignjatovic, Z. Tomic

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is one of the most important perennial forage grasses for temperate climates. It is a highly productive grass with the highest nutritive value (Sokolovi et al., 2002). In Serbia, breeders have developed perennial ryegrass cultivars with high stabile yield and quality with different times of maturity and resistance to drought and frost. The initial breeding material were usually wild populations (Charmet et. al., 1996) with high variability and adaptability. These characteristics lend themselves for selection of superior genotypes. But breeding for some important agronomic traits may influence others. This relationship between traits …

Cattle Production From Native Pastures In The Semi-Humid Grasslands Of Uganda, S. Okello, Elly N. Sabiiti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The cattle population of Uganda, estimated at 6 million, consists of more than 95% indigenous stock, raised on the semi-arid and semi-humid grasslands that make up 48% of the total land area and which supply over 85% of the marketed milk and meat. Native grassland pastures, which vary seasonal in quantity and quality due to rainfall and temperature variations, are the sole feed resource for cattle (Mbuza et al., 1992). This study examined the effects of seasonal herbage mass (HM), dietary crude protein (CP_d), detergent lignin (ADL_d) and digestibility (DiG) on body condition scores of …

The Seasonal Dry Matter Production And Carrying Capacity Of Kikuyu Oversown With Ryegrass And Clover, Philip R. Botha, Robin Meeske, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the main milk producing areas of the Southern Cape, kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is considered an important summer and autumn pasture which is climatologically well adapted. The main problem experienced with kikuyu is that winter and spring production is low and the exclusion of legumes make it dependent of nitrogen fertiliser and that increases the input cost. The aim of the study was to quantify the seasonal dry matter (DM) yield and carrying capacity of kikuyu (K) through treatments involving kikuyu oversown with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum spp.) (KR), kikuyu oversown with a mixture of perennial ryegrass …

The Seasonal Botanical Composition, Calcium And Phosphorus Content Of Kikuyu Oversown With Ryegrass And Clover, Philip R. Botha, Robin Meeske, Hennie A. Snyman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) is one of the major grasses used for summer and autumn grazing in the Southern Cape coast area of South Africa. Annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum spp.), perennial white (Trifolium repens) and red clover (Trifolium pratense) can be incorporated into an existing kikuyu stand to improve pasture quality and spring production. The aim of this study was to determine the persistence of these species and effects on the calcium and phosphorus content of kikuyu (K), kikuyu oversown with annual ryegrass (KR), kikuyu oversown with a mixture of perennial ryegrass (L. …

Variability In Quantity And Composition Of Water Soluble Carbohydrates Among Irish Accessions And European Varieties Of Perennial Ryegrass, S. Mcgrath, S. Barth, A. Frohlich, M. Francioso, S. A. Lamorte, T. R. Hodkinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this study was to identify perennial ryegrass accessions displaying high fructose and glucose contents and an improved ratio between fructose and glucose fractions across different time points throughout the year. Fructose and glucose are the main constituents of the water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) fraction in perennial ryegrass. For animal nutrition the amount of WSC is crucial as it is the primary energy source available to metabolise the intake of plant protein. The ratio between fructose and glucose fractions is important since fructosan chains, which are an excellent energy source for ruminants, are built from fructose. Furthermore the …

A Survey Of European Regional Adaptation In Italian Ryegrass Varieties, T. J. Gilliland, A. J. P. Van Wijk

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ryegrass is widely adapted to cool temperate eco-zones and breeders often submit individual varieties for testing in a number of EU countries. National testing programmes often combine data from several trial sites that may differ climatically, but not from sites in other member states, despite the possibility of high ecological similarity. Given increasing interest in animal value characters (soluble sugars, lipids, sward geometry), additional testing for these would be valuable but is prohibited by capped or declining funding. Data sharing between EU national authorities could be advantageous but is inhibited by the lack of statistically valid data on the sensitivity …