Agricultural Science Commons^™

Fermentation And Cell Wall Degradation In Guineagrass And Italian Ryegrass Silages, Mitsuhiro Niimi, O. Kawamura

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Guineagrass (Panicum maximum Jacq.) was ensiled at the room temperature and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L.) was ensiled at the room temperature and at 30 under the laboratory conditions. As a result, the acetic acid silage was made from Guineagrass and the lactic acid silages were made from Italian ryegrass. The loss of cell wall components during ensiling was the most in hemicellulose followed by NDF, but those of cellulose and AD-lignin were slight. In the hemicellulosic monosaccharides, the loss of hexose (galactose and glucose) was relatively high and that of pentose (arabinose and xylose) was relatively low …

Evaluation Of Forage Sorghum Silages With The Addition Of Sorghum Grain, M. De León, E. Ustarroz, M. A. Brunetti, C. Boetto, M. Bulaschevich

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of additional sorghum grain and stage of maturity of forage sorghum silage on the animal performance. Two feeding trials were conducted with forage sorghum silage made at different stage of plant maturity. In trial 1, early silage was made with the crop harvested in early bloom stage. Four diets based on different ratios of silage: sorghum grain were evaluated: 100% silage (ES); 80% silage: 20% dry grain (ES20D); 60% silage: 40% dry grain (ES40D) and 60% silage: 40% wet grain silage (ES40W). In trial 2, late silage was made with …

Influence Of Additive Aiv-2000 And Pre-Wilted Big Bale On Silage Quality, Animal Performance And Rumen Metabolism, Jonas Jatkauskas, V. Vrotniakienė

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Silage treatment with AIV-2000 or making of silage big bales resulted in a higher level of lactic acid and organic matter digestibilities and reduced concentrations of butyric acid and ammonia-N. Feeding AIV-2000 treated and big bale silages increased weight gains of young fattening bulls by, respectively, 5.44 and 6.77% in comparison with the ordinary made silage. AIV-2000 treated and big bale silages affected microflora activity in the rumen. Infusoria count was higher by 13.5 and 30.34% (P < 0.05), VFA concentration increased by 0.39 and 8.45%, the pH value decreased by 0.05 and 0.1 unit, the content of total nitrogen was by 14.67 and 18.73 mg/100 ml, protein nitrogen by 14.12 and 16.63 mg/100 ml and non-protein nitrogen by 0.53 and 1.39 mg/100 ml higher, respectively for AIV-2000 and big bale groups in comparison with the control group.

Quality And Nutritive Value Of Mott Dwarf Elephantgrass Silage With Biological Additives, T. Clavero

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of cellulase enzymes and lactic acid bacteria on the fermentation characteristics, chemical composition and nutritive value of Pennisetum purpureum cv Mott silage. Five kinds of preparation were tested: sugar molasses (control); sugar molasses and cellulase enzymes; cellulase enzymes; concentrate of lactic acid bacteria and sugar molasses and concentrate of lactic acid bacteria. Significant differences (P< 0.05) were found in fermentation quality and chemical composition of control silage as compared to the biological additives treated silage. Addition of cellulase enzymes and lactic acid bacteria resulted in decrease of pH value, cell wall content and increased lactic acid concentration. The biological additives increased silage intake and daily live weight by growing steers.

Effects Of Different Additives On Silage Quality Of Napiergrass, Y. K. Cheng, C. S. Chen, P. W. Peng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Objectives of this experiment were to determine the effects of different additives on silage quality of napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum). The cultivar of TLG2 with high water soluble carbohydrates was used to making silages added with or without 5 and 10% corn meal or wheat bran, and then treated with or without enzyme. Crude protein, acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, water soluble carbohydrates and volatile fatty acid contents of silage were determined to evaluate silage quality. From the results, it showed that var.TLG2 could be making good silages without any additives but the dry matter was low. Adding …

American Burying Beetle, Plant Richness, And Soil Property Responses To Collapse Of Juniperus Virginiana Woodlands With Fire, Alison K. Ludwig

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Grasslands are declining in the Great Plains due to land use changes, woody plant encroachment, and loss of historic fire cycles. Prescribed burn associations have utilized prescribed fire to collapse invading woodlands and allow the restoration of grasslands. This fire is considered “extreme” because it is capable of changing the structure and function of an ecosystem. Our study site is the Loess Canyons Experimental Landscape, a long-term, ecoregion-scale experiment to apply prescribed fire across the region to restore grasslands. The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project established the Loess Canyons ecoregion as a Biologically-Unique Landscape in 2005 with the state’s wildlife action …

Livestock Grazing Impacts On Crop And Soil Responses For Two Cropping Systems, Alyssa Kuhn

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Diversified crop, forage, and livestock systems are assumed to be more sustainable and economically competitive than traditional cropping systems. Objectives of this study were to determine effects of integrating grazing livestock into corn (Zea mays)-soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) (C-S) and corn-soybean-wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (C-S-W) cropping systems on plant population, grain yield, soil nutrients and soil carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux following winter grazing corn residue (both systems) and an oat (Avena sativa) cover crop (C-S-W only) planted after wheat. For the 2019 and 2020 production seasons, neither corn nor soybean plant …

A Method For Visualizing Water Flow Through Modified Root Zones, Dallas M. Williams

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

As the number of impervious surfaces in urban environments increases, the ability of modified root zones to infiltrate water is becoming more important. Current methods of tracing water flow through soil profiles include excavating large pits in situ or analyzing soil cores in the laboratory with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. While useful, these methods may not be suitable for urban settings or practical in every laboratory. We propose a new method that is less invasive, does not require extensive technical equipment and can reliably trace water movement through the soil profile in order to calculate flow rate based …

Forage Production From Perennial Vs. Annual Crop R~ On In Sandy Soils In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage production was studied on newly reclaimed sandy soil in Egypt trom perennial lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and two annual crop rotations. The cropping systems were: A) lucerne, B) berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) in the winter followed by pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum R. Br. Emend. Stantz.) in the summer and C) triticale (XX Triticosecale Wittm.) (forage cut + grain harvest) in the winter followed by maize (Zea mays L.) (grain + stover) in the summer. Mean annual dry matter yields (t ha^-1 ) were 20.65, 26.59 and 27.48 from A, B and C, respectively. However, …

Carry-Over Effect In Forage Rotations On Newly Reclaimed Sandy Soil In Egypt, Z. Abdelhalim, O. Niemeläinen, I. A. Hanna, A. M. Rammah

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was carried out to investigate the carry-over effect of a preceding crop on the productivity of the following crop in various rotations in newly reclaimed lands in Egypt. The productivity of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.), soyabean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), maize (Zea mays L.) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum (L.) R. Br.) in summer season were much higher following berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) or lentil (Lens culinaris Medic) than after wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) or barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in both years of the study. Soyabean was the best summer …

Direct Drilling Of Soybean In A Pensacola Bahiagrass Pasture In The Northwest Region Of Rio Grande Do Sul, Brazil, R. B. Medeiros, J. Riboldi, J. C. De Saibro, J. E. G. Zambra

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The response of methods of soil preparation (M₁=conventional tillage, and with notillage using the following herbicides M₂=50% Paraquat plus 50% Orizalin; M₃=50% Paraquat plus 50% Diquat and M₄=Paracol (20% Paraquat plus 20 Diuron)) and row spacing (E₁=17 cm, E₂=24 cm, E₃=51 cm and E₄=68 cm) on soybean grain yield direct drilled in an eight-year-old grazed sward of Bahiagrass cv. Pensacola (Paspalum notatum var. saurae Parodi) were studied in southern of Brazil. The results showed that direct drilling of soybean on Pensacola accompanied by …

Forage Quality Evaluation Of Chopped Elephantgrass Hay Through Intake And Digestibility Trial, E. M. De Aguiar, G. F. Da C. Lima, L. G. Da Paz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The research was carried out to evaluate forage quality of chopped elephantgrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) hay and to define a proper stage for cutting and haymaking of this grass. Chemical composition, voluntary intake, and apparent digestibility of the hays were studied at five different growth stages (30, 48, 63, 76, and 91 days). Twenty-five common wethers were utilized in a completely randomized experimental design. Dry matter (DM) voluntary intake was not different (P> 0.05) from 30 to 63 days of regrowth and from 63 to 91 days and comprised 3.9; 3.5; 3.2; 2.1; and 2.4% of animal liveweight, respectively …

Seeding Rate Effects On Forage Mass And Vegetation Dynamics Of Cool-Season Grass Sod Interseeded With Sorghum-Sudangrass, John A. Guretzky, D. D. Redfearn

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Interseeding annual warm-season grasses into perennial cool-season grasses has the potential to increase summer forage mass and nutritive value. Knowledge of how seeding rate affects annual warm-season grass establishment, forage mass, and vegetation dynamics remains limited. From 2016–2017, we conducted a field experiment evaluating the effects of seeding rates on sorghum-sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor x S. bicolor var. sudanense) density and forage mass and on the frequency of occurrence of plant species in cool-season grass sod in Lincoln, NE. The experiment had a completely randomized design consisting of six replicates of four seeding rates [0, 14, 28, and 35 …

Berseem Clover In Binary Mixtures With Oats, Triticale Or Barley For Silage And Late Season Grazing, S. M. Ross, J. R. King

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An experiment was conducted at northerly latitudes with berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L) in binary mixtures with oats (Avena sativa L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack). The effects of cereal species, variety and density were assessed for a two cut harvest. Total dry matter yields were 11.7 to 14.5 t ha^-1, with 7.8 to 10.2 t ha^-1 as silage, and 2.0 to 6.0 t ha^-1 as berseem regrowth. Berseem regrowth added an average of 4.0 t ha^-1 in forage yield. Total yields did not differ with cereal …

Forage Productivity Of Panicum Maximum Pastures In Two Different Agropastoral Systems, Tsutomu Kanno, Manuel C. M. Macedo, J. A. Bono, J. D. G. Santos Jr., M. R. Correa, L. G. R. Beretta

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage productivity was evaluated for Panicum maximum pastures established after 4 years of soybean cultivation in the summer (PM-SO), and 4 years of rotation of soybeans in the summer and millet for winter grazing (PM-MI). In the PM-MI pasture, biomass and dry matter production were much lower than in the PM-SO, and the amount of copper and nitrogen in the top part of the plants in PM-MI were significantly lower than that in PM-SO. Thus, it was considered that the shortage of copper and nitrogen restricted photosynthesis and forage production in PM-MI.

Nitrogen Mineralization From Root Residues Of Subterranean Clover And Lucerne, T. P. Bolger, J. F. Angus, M. B. Peoples

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To understand why crops grown in the first or second year after lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) yielded less than crops grown after subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) despite greater nitrogen (N) fixation by the lucerne, we studied the N mineralization patterns of their root residues in soil incubation assays. Fine roots of both species produced more mineral N than the control soil with no root residues. In contrast, coarse roots mineralized less N than the control soil. These differences in N mineralization were not explained by the physical size and therefore surface area differences between fine and coarse …

Impact Of Urbanization Trends On Production Of Key Staple Crops, José F. Andrade, Kenneth G. Cassman, Juan I. Rattalino Edreira, Fahmuddin Agus, Abdullahi Bala, Nanyan Deng, Patricio Grassini

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Urbanization has appropriated millions of hectares of cropland, and this trend will persist as cities continue to expand. We estimate the impact of this conversion as the amount of land needed elsewhere to give the same yield potential as determined by differences in climate and soil properties. Robust spatial upscaling techniques, well-validated crop simulation models, and soil, climate, and cropping system databases are employed with a focus on populous countries with high rates of land conversion. We find that converted cropland is 30–40% more productive than new cropland, which means that projection of food production potential must account for expected …

Transgenic Maize Hybrid Crop Residues: Nutritive Value And Their Effects On Performance Of Grazing Beef Cows, S. K. Barnhart, J. R. Russell, M. J. Hersom, D. E. Farnham

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Several maize (Zea mays) hybrids, including three transgenic hybrids containing Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) enzymes (Bt-maize hybrids), were planted in a field study. Mature, midgestation, beef cows (Bos tarus) strip-grazed post-harvest residues as paddocks over 126 days. Body condition-scores and weights were monitored. Forage yield, weathering losses and forage composition were monitored on grazed and ungrazed areas. Forage selection and intake were estimated. Grain yields, dropped grain, initial crop residue concentrations of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) yields were similar among hybrids. Hybrids varied in infestation of maize borers, …

Supplementation Of Temperate Pastures, D. H. Rearte, G. A. Pieroni

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Generally in temperate regions, beef and milk were produced on extensive systems with forage from perennial pasture and natural grassland being the main component of animal diet. Supplementation on pasture was usually applied strategically to supply nutrients to grazing cattle only when forage availability was not enough to satisfy animal’s requirements. At present beef and dairy production systems have become more intensive and even when forage from pasture continue being the main component of the diet higher level of different type of supplement are fed to the animals. Intensive systems are characterized by a higher stocking rate capable of consuming …

Feeding Of Conserved Forage - Implications To Grassland Management And Production, C. W. Holmes, P. N. P. Matthews

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This review will focus on the use of conserved forages in pastoral dairy farm systems; especially on their conservation as an aid to good grazing management during periods of rapid pasture growth, and on their consumption as an aid to good feeding management and grazing management during periods of slow pasture growth. Conservation of pasture, in order to move it from one time to another later time, always involves “costs”, either financial expenditure or physical losses (of dry matter/quality) or both, which must be evaluated in the whole system.

Most of the data is drawn from New Zealand and Australia, …

Protein Sources For Growing Beef Steers Fed With A Diet Based On Corn Silage, M. De León, E. Ustarroz, C. Boetto, J. M. Simondi, M. Bulaschevich

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different protein sources in growing beef cattle (25 Aberdeen Angus steers) fed with a corn silage based diet on daily live weight gain (DLWG), dry matter intake (DMI) and feed conversion (FC). Five treatments with different supplies of crude, degradable and metabolizable protein (MP) were used. The treatments were formulated with different protein sources to provide different rate and extents of protein degradation, as follow: a negative control (T0) without protein supplements and below animal requirements, urea (T1), soybean meal (T2), whole cotton seed (T3) and a positive control (T4), which …

High Moisture Sorghum Grain Silage: Effects Of Tannin Content And Urea Treatment On The Performance Of Dairy Cows, L. A. Romero, E. A. Comerón, O. A. Bruno, A. R. Castillo, M. C. Gaggiotti

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grain sorghum silage tannin content effect was evaluated on milk production and chemical composition of Argentinean Holstein bred cows, and it are described dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) in situ digestion parameters and effective degradability. The base diet was constituted by alfalfa pasture, maize silage, and a protein – mineral supplement, differing in three treatments based on high moisture grain silage characteristic: LTS= Low tannin grain sorghum, HTS= High tannin grain sorghum, and HTSu= High tannin sorghum plus the addition of urea. Grain sorghum silage tannin content affects milk production, without significant alteration of chemical composition. Beside the …

Changes Of Forages Fed To Dairy Cows In The Whole Year In Taiwan, F. H. Hsu, C. H. Lu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Objectives of this study were to determine the kinds and the percents of forages fed to dairy cows in the whole year. Data were taken weekly by the dairy farmers for one year, including kinds and weights of forages fed to dairy cows, the heads of milking cows, dry cows and heifers. Dairy farmer A used napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum) green chop 68.2%, napiergrass silage 15.3%, pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens) hay 3.2% and imported bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) hay 13.3% to feed cows. Dairy farmer B fed cows with napiergrass green chop 65.1%, pangolagrass 13.0% and imported …

Comparative Growth Performance Of West African Dwarf Goat Supplemented With Calliandra Calothyrsus, Leucaena Leucocephala, Or Cotton Seed Cake In West Cameroon, E. Tedonkeng Pamo, G. D. Assontia, C. Njehoya

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A comparative growth performance study of African Dwarf Goats supplemented with Calliandra calothyrsus, Leucaena leucocephala or cotton seed cake was carried out on farm around Dschang and in the University Experimental Farm. Goats between 12 and 16 months of age were divided into 4 groups of 11 goats each with one group kept as a control. The supplemented animals received respectively 390 g of L. leucocephala, 380 g of C. calothyrsus (fresh matter) and 88.8 g of cotton seed cake each, corresponding to 6 g of nitrogen per animal per day. The animals were weighed every 21 days …

Voluntary Intake Of Tanzania Grass (Panicum Maximum) Under Rotational Grazing By Lactating Cows, M. L. P. Lima, T. T. Berchielli, J. R. Nogueira, A. K. D. Salman, Ana C. Ruggieri, Paulo Roberto Leme, L. J. M. Aroeira, J. P. G. Soares

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted at Nucleo de Pesquisas Zootecnicas Nordeste of the Instituto de Zootecnia, Ribeirão Preto, SP, in a rotational grazing area of Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum), to estimate the dry matter intake by lactanting cows. The estimation of dry matter intake was calculated from the feces production estimated using extrusa Chromium-mordent and the in vitro digestibility of diet. The three treatments were crossbreed cows fed 3 kg.day^-1 of concentrate, crossbred cows without concentrate suplementation and pure Gir cows also without concentrate supplementation. The milk production was 11.98, 6.53 and 5.46 kg per cow per day, …

The Effect Of Browse Species When Fed As A Supplement To Low Quality Native Grass Hay On Animal Performance, A. Elgersma, J. F. Oerlemans, D. B. Coates

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

A pen trial was conducted to measure the impact of some browse species when fed as a supplement on the nitrogen (N) and dry matter intake of cattle receiving low quality native grass hay. There were 8 treatments consisting of a nil-supplement control treatment, a urea supplement control, a green oaten hay control and 5 treatment groups based on browse supplements (Albizia lebbeck, Carissa spp. and Bursaria spp.). Treatment effect on increased native pasture intake was related to the amount of supplementary nitrogen (N), such that there was a significant linear relationship between dry matter intake of native …

Effects Of Different Levels Of Energy Supplementation On Growth Of Grazing Holstein Heifers, L. P. Novaes, C. E. Polan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Growth of Holstein heifers was studied for 1987 grazing season to evaluate pasture-drylot systems for raising dairy replacements. Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L), tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb), bluegrass (Poa pratensis L) and white (Trifolium repens L) and red clover (Trifolium pratense, L) were the principal components of the grass-legume mixture in six paddocks of 1.5 ha each. Carrying capacity was estimated at six animals/ha (3.1 animal units) and excess forage was harvested as hay to control forage growth and quality. Grazing days were 140 days. None or 2.0 kg/d …

Intake And Growth Of Steers Offered Different Allowances Of Autumn Grass And Concentrates, Edward G. O’Riordan, P. French, Padraig O’Kiely, A. P. Moloney

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The aim of this experiment was to quantify the relationship between autumn grass supply and concentrate supplementation level on grass intake and animal performance. One hundred and ten continental steers (567kg) were assigned to ten treatments in a three grass allowances: (6, 12 and 18kg dry matter (DM) per head daily) by three concentrate levels: (0, 2.5 and 5kg/head/daily) factorial design with a positive control group offered concentrates ad-libitum. Grass allowance was offered daily and concentrates were fed individually. The experiment began on August 22 and all animals were slaughtered after a mean experimental period of 95 days. Grass …

Fatty Acid Composition And Eating Quality Of Muscle From Steers Offered Grazed Grass, Grass Silage Or Concentrate-Based Diets, A. P. Moloney, P. French

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effects of grazed grass, grass silage or concentrates on the eating quality and fatty acid composition of intra-muscular fat of steers fed to achieve similar carcass growth rates were investigated. Fifty steers were assigned to one of five dietary treatments. The experimental rations offered daily for 85 days pre-slaughter were (a) grass silage plus 4 kg concentrate, (b) 8 kg concentrate plus 1 kg hay, (c) 6 kg grazed grass dry matter (DM) plus 5 kg concentrate, (d) 12 kg grazed grass DM plus 2.5 kg concentrate or (e) 22 kg grazed grass DM. Decreasing the proportion of concentrate …

Supplementation Of Lactating Cows Grazing Stargrass (Cynodon Nlenfuensis Var. Nlenfuensis) With Conjugated Linoleic Acid: Effects On Persistency And Estimated Net Energy Balance, S. R. Medeiros, D. E. Oliveira, L. J. M. Aroeira, M. Mcguire, D. P. D. Lanna

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Thirty crossbread cows grazed stargrass (Cynodon nlenfuensis var. nlenfuensis) receiving 4kg/d of a supplement formulated to provide 115% of metabolizable protein requirements from the 4^th to the 11^th week of lactation. The cows received either 150g/head/day of Megalac (Control) or 150g/head/day of a Ca-protected conjugated linoleic acid (CLA, Church & Dwight). Residual effects of treatment were evaluated in weeks 12^th and 13^th. Milk production increased in CLA treated cows (P< 0.05). CLA decreased milk fat content (P< 0.0001) and yield (P< 0.01). Protected CLA increased protein content (P< 0.01) and yield (P< 0.01). The CLA residual effect on milk fat ends within one week after withdrawal but the benefits on milk yield and total solids production continued, due to the increased persistency. The estimated energy balance and intake were not greatly affected by treatment, as treated cows had higher milk volume and had higher protein productions.