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Effectiveness And Cost Of Shrub Removal Methods In Degraded Woodlands Being Converted To Silvopasture, S. Cartoni-Casamitjana, M. J. Renz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Transforming degraded woodlands to silvopasture is of interest in the Midwestern USA as it increases profitability of farms and benefits animal health. Invasive shrubs within woodlands, however, are a major obstacle to silvopasture establishment. Research was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness, cost and resulting herbaceous canopy light interception of common brush-control methods when used alone or integrated over a two-year timeframe. Five treatments were established in a randomized complete block design. In the first year, treatments were either forestry mowed (mow) or rotationally grazed by goats (goats) at a stocking density of 5700 to 6000 kg per hectare. In the …

Herbage Accumulation And Mass In Massai Grass Plots Mixed With Forage Peanut And Fertilized With Nitrogen, Carlos A. B. Carvalho, M. O. Leal Junior, P. P. Carneiro, J. V. B. Ramos, N. Schultz, J. C. C. Almeida, A. J. Paiva

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The objective of this work was to evaluate herbage accumulation and mass during the growing season of Massai grass mixed with peanut forage and fertilized with nitrogen. The work was carried out at Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 11/2021 to 03/2022. A randomized block experimental design was used, in plots of Massai grass Megathyrsus maximus, in a factorial arrangement, with seven replications. Four treatments formed by the combination of the presence or absence of Archis pintoi and nitrogen fertilization (0 and 50 kg ha^-1 of N). Canopy heights of the plots were evaluated weekly …

Brs Sarandi: A New Andropogon Gayanus Cultivar For Tropical Pastures, Marcelo A. Carvalho, C. E. F. Lazarini, Allan K. B. Ramos, Gustavo J. Braga, Claudio T. Karia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

BRS Sarandi is adapted to low and medium fertility soils. It has a medium-high height, with a semi-erect growth habit and a high total number of tillers. The annual productivity of dry matter is 11 t ha-1, concentrated in the rainy season (90%). Of the total DM produced, 60% are leaves. The levels of crude protein (CP), in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) are, on average, 8.7, 56.5, 66.7 and 38.2%, respectively. . The average daily weight gain was 0.7 kg/head/day, the gain per was and 1.7 kg ha-1 day with …

Production And Management Simulation Of Family Pasture In Different Pastoral Areas Based On Ommlp Model, Chen Chen, G. D. Han, Z. G. Li, S. J. Lv

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Family ranch grassland livestock production optimal management model was used to simulate the grassland supply and livestock demand, family economic status under different stocking rates senarion with collection of grassland, livestock, and economics data from Wuzhumuqin Banner and Tongliao as two types of pastoral areas in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The livestock is grazing all year long in Wuzhumuqin Banner, but the livestock is grazing in summer and feeding in hovel in winter in Tongliao, which we call it as semi-farming and semi-pastoral area. The results showed that summer grassland productivity could meet the energy demand of livestock. As the …

Mass Production And Morphology Of Brauna Brachiaria Under Different Nitrogen Rates In The Brazilian Savannah, E. A. Collao-Saenz, M. F. P. Carvalho, P. S. Ribeiro, R. A. De O. Rodrigues, T. A. Cavalcante

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen is the nutrient that most contributes to increase forage productivity and quality. The objective was to evaluate Brauna brachiaria (Urochloa brizantha cv. Brauna) submitted to nitrogen doses in the Brazilian savannah through the total and green mass production, leaf:stem and brachiaria:weed ratio. Plots were established in a randomized block design, with four replications and four N doses 0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N/ha). After the uniformization cut, the data collect cycles occurred when the canopy reached 30 cm average height. Samples were taken until 15 cm from the ground in an area of 0.25 m² . …

Persistence Of Perennial Ryegrass, Tall Fescue And Cocksfoot Following Sequential Annual Sowings: Influence Of Species, Cultivar And Pasture Age On Inter-Annual Variability In Yield And Botanical Composition, G. P. Cosgrove, T. R. Maxwell, B. Wynne-Jones, G. R. Edwards, M. R. Staincliffe, Katherine N. Tozer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The persistence of sown, temperate pasture species is an important determinant of perennial pasture-grass productivity. Defining the traits that affect persistence is essential for improving pasture longevity through plant breeding and for identifying criteria that should be included in cultivar ranking indices such as the DairyNZ, Forage Value Index. Compared with a conventional longitudinal study, in which pasture from a single sowing is monitored over time, repeated annual sowings allow the effects on persistence of sowing year and the ensuing interactions between environment and age of pasture to be identified. A repeated sowings experiment was commenced at two sites: under …

Urochloa Brizantha Cv. Paiaguás Herbage Mass Production Under Continuous Grazing During The Rainy/Dry Transition Period In Brazilian Savanna, W. R. Da Silva, M. F. P. Carvalho, P. S. Ribeiro, R. A. De O. Rodrigues, T. A. Cavalcante

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

During the transition period between rainy and dry season, unfavorable climatic conditions such as limited water availability, temperature and light limit forage production and quality. Because of the seasonal pattern, it is essential to quantify forage mass for pasture management and planning purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate Paiaguas herbage mass in pasture managed under continuous stocking with steers supplemented with protein concentrate offered in feed bunk and onground. The experiment was carried out in the Beef Cattle Facilities of Jatai Federal University (UFJ), from March to June 2020, in a completely randomized design, using 18 male …

Micro Mineral Concentrations Of Congo Grass As Affected By Shading And Harvesting Age, P. A. Dele, J. I. Akinyode, A. A. Eesuola, B. T. Akinyemi, F. E. Enwete, C. C. Anotaenwere, O. I. Awoola, O. L. Aiyesa

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study investigated the effect of levels of artificial shading and harvesting age on four micro mineral concentrations (iron, manganese, copper and zinc) of Congo grass (Brachiaria ruzizinensis Germain & Evrard). The experiment was a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement in a split plot design with four replicates, which is three levels of artificial shading (0, 30 and 60% shading) as the main plot and three harvesting age (3, 6 and 9 weeks after cutback). The grass was established in May 2017 and grazed in 2018 and 2019, but a cutback was done in May 2020 for this study …

In Vitro Digestibility And Methane Production Of Two Tropical Grasses: Plant Spacing And Grazing Frequency, F. E. Enwete, P. A. Dele, O. L. Aiyesa, O. I. Awoola, C. C. Anotaenwere, J. I. Akinyode, T. A. Amole, Olufemi S. Onifade

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was carried out to investigate the influence of plant spacing and grazing frequency on the in vitro gas production, digestibility, and methane production of Guinea grass (Megathyrsus maximus) and Elephant grass (Cenchrus purpureus) in the humid southwest part of Nigeria. The experiment was laid in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a split-split-plot design with three replicates, which consisted of two grazing frequency (3 and 6-week) as the main plot, two grass species: Guinea grass (M. maximus) and Elephant grass (C. purpureus) as the sub plot and …

Evaluation Of New Dwarf Elephant Grass Genotypes For Grazing, Carlos A. M. Gomide, R. B. Silva, K. G. Riberiro, F. K. S. Ledo, Domingos S. C. Paciullo, E. M. Barradas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Elephant grass stands out for its production potential, forage quality and acceptance by animals. However, its tall size makes management under grazing difficult and dwarf cultivars have been selected and evaluated to overcome this limitation. The objective was to characterize agronomic aspects of dwarf elephant grass genotypes submitted to two defoliation intensities. The experiment was installed in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with five elephant grass genotypes (2022, 1810, 2111, 2035, BRS Kurumi) and two residue heights after defoliation (25 and 45 cm). A randomized block design with three replications in 4x3m plots was used. Forage above the residue …

Molecular Approaches In The Analysis Of Red Clover Rhizobium Symbiosis, Randy D. Dinkins, L. Koch, M. L. Sullivan, H. Zhu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is an important forage and pasture legume grown throughout temperate regions. Because it can form a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium, it is able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Due to the high cost of nitrogen fertilizers, pasture legumes have been increasingly important in forage production settings. Red clover has not been a model legume primarily due to selfincompatibility and the associated high level of genomic heterozygosity, therefore it has not been a significant contributor in molecular or genetic studies and basic information on red clover legume/rhizobium symbiosis is lacking. Using recently annotated genomic resources, RNA-seq …

Variation In Grazing Sward Chicory Content After Periods Of Low Rainfall, Kevin Dolan, C. Hearn, D. Hennessy, R. Henriques, M. B. Lynch, Michael O’Donovan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Multispecies (MS) swards can reduce chemical nitrogen (N) fertiliser requirement due to the legume components of the sward mixtures, and have the potential to increase drought tolerance, particularly where chicory (CH, Chicorium intybus L.) is included in the sward mixture. A grazed plot experiment was established to investigate the persistency of forage herb species in MS swards under typical Irish grazing conditions. The swards contained three plant functional groups: grass, legume and herb; four sward types were established which included sward mixtures of the following species: perennial ryegrass (PRG, Lolium perenne L.) white clover (WC, Trifolium repens L.), red clover …

Grass Vegetation Dynamics In Wetlands With Different Utilization, Dorai Pandian Kannan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The land-use patterns, combined with the biotic interactions, are likely to substantially affect the grass community of tropical wetlands. However, we need more information to understand the vegetation cover and, particularly, the diversity of grasses in the protected sites, where the naturally occurring interactions with extreme complexity. Hence a thorough understanding of these interactive effects on grass dynamics would help develop wildlife management guidelines to predict the grass-woody herbs and other associated vegetation. In light of this, a beta vegetation survey and diversity analysis in two varying wetland ecosystems of natural mountain streams and temporary ponds. Grass communities occurred along …

Weed Management Affects Pasture Productivity And Animal Performance, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., I. L. Brêtas, L. M. D. Queiroz, H. A. Koury

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Weed can be defined as any plant growing in undesirable locations. Weeds are considered one of the main challenges in agricultural fields. Weeds affect pasture productivity mainly because of the competition for limited resources such as nutrients, water, and light with forage plants. Weeds encroach pastures spontaneously and spread quickly through the farm and neighboring areas, making their control difficult. In addition, weeds can affect forage nutritive value, grazing behaviour, voluntary forage intake, animal health, and consequently animal performance. The low efficiency of mechanical weeding and the global concern about indiscriminate use of herbicides impose challenges for producers in grazing …

Improving Forage Production Practices Of Livestock And Hay Producers, S. Dyer, L. Baxter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

By the year 2060, the U.S. population is expected to reach 417 million, up from 319 million in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Following historical trends, the U.S. continues to produce more food with a decreasing amount of land. This is possible because of continuous research and innovation of advanced agricultural technologies. Educating farmers of agricultural best practices and the newest resources available to them to improve their operation is vital to improving overall agricultural production. To improve livestock forage and hay production practices, Dade Extension conducted a monthly forage management series. The series covered an entire year …

Do Grass And Legume Vitamin Contents Change During Extended Growth In Spring?, A. Elgersma, Karen Søegaard, S. K. Jensen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage vitamins affect performance of grazing and grass-fed cattle. In silages, knowledge of vitamin contents in herbage is desired to balance supplements in indoor feeding rations. This is of particular interest in organic farming systems. Information on companion species effects in grass-legume mixtures on changes during prolonged growth is scarce, while this is relevant in view of delayed harvests that frequently occur in practice. Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) was sown with either red clover (Trifolium repens), white clover (Trifolium pratense), lucerne (Medicago sativa) or birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and white …

Morphogenesis Of Marandu Brachiaria Under Different Nitrogen Rates In The Brazilian Savannah, V. L. Banys, I. I. Silva, L. V. D. Ribeiro, M. S. Soares, T. P. Evangelista

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen fertilization contributes to grass growth and, for this reason, the objective was to evaluate the morphogenic characteristics of Urochloa brizantha cultivar Marandu subjected to different nitrogen rates (0, 50, 100 and 150 kg N.ha^-1) in the Brazilian savannah through the variables number of leaves.tiller^-1, leaf growth, leaf average size, senescent leaf.tiller^-1 number and stem+pseudostem average size. The experiment was established in the Forage and Pastures Sector of Jatai Federal University (UFJ) and, after the soil correction and fertilization, the Marandu grass plots were installed in a randomized blocks experimental design, with four treatments and …

Ohio Pastures For Profit Online, C. Gelley, E. Lyon, D. Bender, S. Boyles, M. Estadt, C. Finney, A. Gahler, J. Hartschuh, B. Hendershot, A. Holden, C. Jagger, D. Lima, C. Little, J. Morris, C. D. Penrose, R. Purdin, G. Ruff, M. Sulc, C. Turner, G. Wilson, B. Campbell, M. Joyce, T. G. Wiseman

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Pastures for Profit program is an established course created through a collaboration between Ohio State University Extension, Central State University, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Ohio Department of Agriculture, and the Ohio Forage and Grasslands Council. In 2021, due to COVID-19, the Pastures for Profit curriculum was adapted to a virtual classroom setting and was offered again in 2022. The virtual experience consisted of three live webinars pairing with corresponding modules in Scarlet Canvas. Enrolled students were also mailed traditional course materials for personal use. Module content was newly developed and compiled …

Effect Of Using A Prototype Aerator On The Botanical Composition And Fodder Production On Grassland With Low Soil Porosity, Piotr Goliński, Barbara Golińska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Permanent grasslands located on some organic soils can be sensitive to compaction due to the use of agricultural machinery and their natural tendency for compactness. The aim of our study was to determine the effect of using innovative own constructed aerator on sward botanical composition, dry matter yield and forage quality. The study also looked at the physical properties of the meadow soil. The research was carried out in 2018-2019 using a single-factor field experiment established on a dairy farm located in Wielkopolska region on grassland with the natural organic peat-muck soil compaction. The aerator was constructed by the farmer …

Inhibiting Dhurrin Biosynthesis Effects On Stocker Cattle Daily Gains, S. M. Gruss, K. D. Johnson, R. P. Lemenager, M. R. Tuinstra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate change has made resilient crops more valuable in many agricultural production systems. Sorghum is an important resilient grain and forage crop due to its high drought tolerance and ability to thrive in low-N environments. All current commercial sorghum varieties produce the cyanogenic glucoside dhurrin. Cell maceration causes the conversion of dhurrin to hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which is toxic to animals. Toxicity symptoms range from labored breathing and convulsions to death within minutes. The dhurrin biosynthesis pathway was altered to inhibit dhurrin production by a mutation that inactivated CYP79A1, the first enzyme in the pathway. The dhurrin-free phenotype eliminates the …

Perennial Ryegrass ‘Virazón’, A New Cultivar For Warm Temperate Areas In Uruguay And South America., Felix Gutiérrez, Javier Do Canto, R. Reyno, C. Rossi, A. Stewart, M. Carrere, F. Nolla

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

‘Virazón’ perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), a grazing-type tetraploid cultivar, was developed by the National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIA) in Uruguay as a part of the Joint Venture with PGG Wrightson Seeds and Grasslands Innovation Limited and commercially available since 2021. ‘Virazón’ was developed after 6 cycles of selection from crosses with cultivar Horizon from New Zealand based on climate adaptation, dry matter production, vigor, rust resistance, seed yield, and persistence under Uruguayan conditions. The aim was to obtain a perennial ryegrass with 3 years of consistent production. ‘Virazón’ was evaluated in forage yield trials in comparison with …

Short-Term Effect Of Forage Grasses On Carbon Sustainability, Fodder Security, And Soil Properties In Poor Soils Of Semi-Arid India, H. M. Halli, P. Govindasamy, M. Choudhary, R. Srinivasan, M. Prasad, Vinod K. Wasnik, Vijay Kumar Yadav, A. K. Singh, S. Kumar, D. Vijay

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grasses are essential sources of fodder for livestock and provide options for climate resilience due to their broad range of adoption. They are also valuable resources for soil quality enhancement. Therefore, a six-year field study using nine grasses (2013 to 2019) was initiated in a semi-arid region of central India. The study aimed to assess the short-term impact of these nine grasses on soil carbon stock, selected soil physiochemical and biological properties, and green fodder yield. Results (after six years) revealed that a greater carbon stock (7.0 and 7.2 Mg ha^–1), carbon sustainability index (71.6 and 89.3), and …

Improvement In The Nitrogen Use Efficiency And Uptake Of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium Perenne) Caused By The Epichloë Fungal Endophyte Ar37, M. A. Harmer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The forage yield and pasture persistence benefits of Epichloë fungal endophyte strain AR37 (AR37) in high rainfall perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) pastures in Australia and New Zealand are recognised. However, the effect of beneficial endophytes on nitrogen (N) use efficiency, yield response to applied N and N uptake had not been determined.

To investigate this, a replicated trial was managed for three years under irrigation in southern Australia. Five N application rates (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg N/ha) were applied every second harvest to a tetraploid perennial ryegrass variety with and without AR37. Ryegrass biomass was …

Looking At Cell Wall Components With Our Customers In Mind, D. J. Heuschele, Z. Xu, J. F. S. Lamb, H. J. Jung, D. A. Samac

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Fiber digestibility of alfalfa for animal nutrition is a complex system encapsulating animal, plant, and microbe biological traits. Understanding all components within the system is key to predicting forage quality. We investigated the relationship between alfalfa cell wall components and invitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility (IVNDFD) speed (16-hr) and potential (96-hr) of by cattle ruminant microbes. A composite alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) population from seven commercial cultivars underwent two cycles of bidirectional selection for plants with low or high stem 16-hr IVNDFD and low or high stem 96-hr IVNDFD. The resulting selected populations were then evaluated by near inferred spectrometry …

Effects Of Intrinsic Tannins On Metabolome During Sainfoin Ensiling, Rongzheng Huang, Chunhui Ma, Fanfan Zhang, Xuzhe Wang

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Condensed tannins (CT) from sainfoin have a high capacity to inhibit proteolysis. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of CT (following supplementation of deactivated CT with polyethylene glycol [PEG]) on the metabolome during sainfoin ensiling. In total, 510 metabolites were identified after 60 d of sainfoin ensiling, with 33 metabolites were annotated in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Among those metabolites, phospholipids were the most abundant (72.7% of total 33 metabolites). In addition, 10 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated metabolites, respectively, were identified in the PEG treated group when compared with the …

Stability And Purity Of Epichloë Endophyte Infection In New Zealand Ryegrass Pastures, David E. Hume, Grant M. Rennie, W. Mcg. King, A. L. Taylor, Marty J. Faville, D. Luo, Katherine N. Tozer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in New Zealand pastures is typically infected with the mutualist Epichloë fungal endophyte, which assists the plant in resisting biotic and abiotic stresses. Ryegrass that has naturalised in New Zealand is highly infected with the ‘Standard’ strain of endophyte. This strain provides good protection from a range of invertebrate pests but negatively impacts livestock productivity and health in the warmer seasons of the year. Grass-endophyte associations have been developed between elite perennial ryegrass cultivars and selected endophyte strains to provide protective properties to the host plant and lessen or eliminate the negative effects on …

A Global Perspective Of Epichloë Endophyte Toxicity In Sown Pastures, David E. Hume, S. C. Finch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The asexual Epichloë fungal endophytes that form mutualistic, obligate, asymptomatic associations with ryegrasses (Lolium spp.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) are critical components of pastures in the USA, Australia and New Zealand. Research has convincingly demonstrated that these endophytes enhance agronomic performance of their grass hosts, due to protection from biotic and abiotic stresses such as insect pests and drought. However, although beneficial in terms of enhancing forage quantity, the widespread occurrence of ‘common-toxic’ strains of endophyte negatively impacts the quality of forage for livestock. These bioprotective and anti-quality properties are due to endophyte-expressed secondary metabolites. It …

New Insights For Benefit Of Legume Inclusion In Grazing Systems, David M. Jaramillo, José C. B. Dubeux Jr., L. M. D. Queiroz, L. Garcia

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The benefits and challenges of legume inclusion in grazing systems have been well documented over time and across different regions. Recent investigations have provided novel insights into the benefits of legume inclusion in grazing systems. Our objective is not to provide a wide overview of the benefits of legume inclusion but to explore novel insights of recent advancements made from studies evaluating legume inclusion in grazing systems. Efficiency of resource use through legume inclusion in grazing systems can reduce the water footprint associated with beef production through improvements in forage nutritive value and animal performance. These efficiencies also translate into …

Genotype-By-Environment Interaction In Interspecific Urochloa Hybrids Using Factor Analytic Models, R. N. Jauregui, L. M. Hernandez, J. S. Aparicio, L. J. Mazabel, J. A. Cardoso Arango, L. M. Atencio-Solano, S. L. Mejía Kerguelén, V. Castiblanco, M. Peters

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Environmental factors can influence plant phenotypes shaping the expression of pastures. The ability to test genotypes in multiple environments is critical in a breeding program because important traits are heavily influenced by the environment. Nutritional quality is critical in forage breeding because it affects the rate of live weight gain in livestock as well as the quality of end products such as milk and meat. However, there is not much information on the environmental effect on agronomic and nutritional quality traits in tropical forages. For this reason, the objective of the present study was to investigate the genotype-by-environment interaction in …

Win-Win For Dairy Farms: Heifers Raised On Pasture Reduce Cost And Produce More Milk At First Lactation, Ken F. Kalscheur, C. H. P. Camisa Nova, D. M. Jaramillo, G. E. Brink

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pastures under good management promote environmental, economic, and animal welfare advantages. However, comparisons of animal performance for pasture-raised dairy heifers versus confinement-raised dairy heifers are scarce. A study was conducted to evaluate the performance of dairy heifers raised on pasture or in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture had similar body weight and age at calving and greater dry matter intake in the end of 2^nd grazing season. Cost of heifers raised on pasture was 26.7% less in the first grazing season and 58.4% less in the second grazing season compared to heifers raised in confinement. Heifers raised on pasture …