Agricultural Science Commons^™

Tithonia Diversifolia For Ruminant Nutrition, Rogerio M. Mauricio, Rafael S. Ribeiro, Sylvia R. Silveira, Person L. Silva, Leonardo Calsavara, Luiz G. R. Pereira, Domingos S. C. Paciullo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

India and Brazil lead the world ranking of livestock enteric methane emissions (FAO 2006). According to FAO (2006), Brazil (9.6 Tg of CH4/year) is the highest emitter of methane from cattle, followed by India (8.6 Tg of CH4/year) and the USA (5.1 Tg of CH4/year). In livestock, methane (CH4) formed from enteric fermentation of carbohydrates is primarily responsible for the emissions in the sector. Regarding livestock methane emission, Delgado et al. (2012) evaluated 20 tree and shrub species using in vitro technique and demonstrated a reducing effect on the amount of methane when Tithonia diversifolia was compared with, for …

Relative Preference, Palatability And Intake Of Stylosanthes Scabra Accessions Adapted In Pretoria, Thamsanqa D. E. Mpanza, Abubeker Hassen, Ned E. F. Donkin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Inadequate supply of forage particularly during dry season is the major constraint in livestock production in sub-Saharan Africa (Anele et al. 2011). Poor management of the available feeds, seasonal variability in weather and climate changes may contribute to the high fluctuation of forage quality and quantity between season and years (Sultan et al. 2008). To improve livestock production in sub-Sahara Africa there is a need to improve feed deficiencies both in quantity and quality. Stylosanthes scabra cv. Seca was evaluated for dry season feed supplementation, and was found to be adaptive and productive under subtropical climate of Gauteng …

Performance Of Anatolian Merino And Akkaraman Lambs Fed Triticale, Hungarian Vetch Or A Mixture Of The Two Forages, Serkan Ates, Gurhan Keles, Fatma Inal, Ahmet Gunes, Mounir Louhaichi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forages from Hungarian vetch and triticale monocultures or mixtures that can be produced with relatively low cost are important feed sources for ruminants in spring particularly in the arid and semiarid regions. The feed intake and the response of different sheep breeds (Fraser et al. 2009) to forage resources that vary in feeding value may differ. Therefore it is critical to match forage to animal and crop production needs for more efficient production in integrated crop livestock farming system.

Graphical Analysis Of Spatio-Temporal Patterns In Forage Quality, A. Bracher, M. Böhlen, F. Cafagna, A. Taliun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Due to the highly structured topography in Switzerland, crop growth conditions vary within short distances. Differences in altitude are one of the major causes for climatic variation resulting in significant spatio-temporal effects on forage quality in terms of nutrient content and feeding value, particularly in grassland dominated regions. It is one of the goals of the Swiss feed database to support queries that visualize and quantify the temporal and spatial influence on feed quality.

Pelletized Forage-Based Rations As Alternative Feeds For Improving Goat Productivity, E. A. Orden, E. M. Cruz, A. N. Espino, Z. M. Battad, R. G. Reyes, M. E. M. Orden, N. O. Frias, A. G. Gibe, N. A. Del Rosario, E. C. Villar

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Goat farming is very popular in the Philippines as it is considered by many to be a viable rural enterprise. Despite this, the goat industry is faced with many challenges, including problems relating to high pre-weaning mortality, poor nutrition and lack of strategic approaches to accelerate genetic improvement. The long term rate of increase of goat numbers is only 0.97% per annum, due to high offtake rates and low productivity. Thus, the Philippine goat population is only expected to reach 4.27million by 2020 (compared with the target of 6.2 million), given the 3.88million population in 2010 (Alo 2012). Interventions are …

Nutritive Quality Of Hay And Silage From Natural Grazing Land In South Western Nigeria, Victoria O. A. Ojo, Alaba O. Jolaosho, Oluwasanmi M. Arigbede, Peter A. Dele, Samson A. Adeoye, Ronke Y. Aderinboye, Oluwaseun J. Idowu, Oludotun O. Adelusi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the tropics, inadequate nutrition caused by scarcity of forages and its low quality constitutes a major constraint to good performance of ruminant animals (Lukuyu et al. 2011). Herbage availability during the wet season often exceeds animal requirements (Chakoma et al. 1999). As the dry season sets in, the protein level of the accumulated forages drops and the fibre level increases, with an increase in lignin content while voluntary intake decreases. Due to lack of quality forage especially in the dry season, animals feeding on them tend to lose weight and their productivity will be negatively affected.

In …

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.

Mixed Species Seeding: A Means To Increase Production In Temperate Pastures, Michael P. Schellenberg, Bili Biligetu, Valentin Picasso

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Seeding mixed species for forage production has been suggested as a means of increasing productivity and stabilizing yields under a changing climate. Forages have traditionally been sown as monocultures or binary mixtures only, with the emphasis being on species and not necessarily their function or compatibility. While natural plant communities typically may be dominated by a single species, they are comprised of several species and function-al groups.

This paper provides the results of sowing multiple species at semiarid sites within the North American Great Plains and identifies a similar result from a more humid region reported within the literature.

Generation Of Transgenic Tall Fescue Plants With Enhanced Abiotic Stress Tolerance, I. Alam, Y. G. Kim, K. H. Kim, N. Y. Ahn, B. H. Lee

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Environmental stresses, such as drought, salinity and temperature extremes significantly decrease the yield of forage crops. Therefore, traits associated with abiotic stress-tolerance are of prime importance for their improvement. Biotechnological approaches have the potential to accelerate and complement conventional breeding by extending the range of gene sources for valuable traits, thus offering new opportunities for forage improvement. Transgenic technology appears as an efficient biotechnological tool of molecular breeding for improving forage quality and yield as well as tolerance to various environmental stresses. Occurrence of high level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a common phenomenon in abiotic stress-challenged plants. Plants …

Drivers Of Change For Grassland And Forage Systems: A Case Study Of China, Yingjun Zhang, L. Z. Zhang, M. L. Wang, X. L. Li, Q. C. Yang, J. Hanson, M. A. Jorge

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grassland and forage systems have changed dramatically across the world. This paper describes some of the key drivers of change of grassland and forage systems using examples from China as a case study. The key drivers of change for grassland and forage systems include political, economic, social, technical and environmental factors and their impact on changes in grasslands ecosystems in China is discussed. There are interactions among the drivers and their impact is similar in many developing countries.

Analysis Of The Soil Health Of Pastures Over-Seeded With Winter Annuals, Kathleen M. Bridges

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Utilizing winter annuals in livestock pastures reduces feed costs of hay, and provides additional vegetative cover that is beneficial to the soil. However, how this practice affects the soil microbial communities has not been well studied. Two sites were included in this study. Both were commercial cattle grazing operations that over-seeded a mixture of grasses, legumes, and brassicas into pastures dominated by bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum). Soil health was assessed using a suite of physical, chemical, and biological properties. Soil physical assessments included bulk density and aggregate stability. Soil chemical assessments included macronutrients, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), total …

Influence Of Harvest Date On Seed Yield And Quality In Forage Kochia, Cody F. Creech, Blair L. Waldron, Corey V. Ransom, Dale R. Zobell, Joseph Earl Creech

Plants, Soils, and Climate Faculty Publications

Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is used for rangeland reclamation and livestock and wildlife forage, but limited research has been conducted on its seed production. Therefore, this research evaluated the effect of harvest date on seed weight, germination, and seed yield of forage kochia subspecies virescens and grisea. Seed was harvested from individual plants for 3 years during October, November, and December. October harvest had the lightest 100-seed weights, with the November harvest slightly heavier than December, for most accessions. Cultivar Snowstorm and breeding line Sahsel, both subsp. grisea, had the greatest 100-seed weights in November, 155 …

The Use Of Grape By-Products As A Nutrient Rich Cattle Feed, Zachary Christman

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

In this article you will learn about how to use the grape stems, skins and pulp that are generated by the wine industry. Ruminant animals such as cattle can digest this inexpensive yet nutrient rich material. The complete process from wine press to cattle feed is covered in this article. The historical background of using grape by-products and methods to preserve this food source is also presented.

Influence Of Harvest Date On Seed Yield And Quality In Forage Kochia, Cody F. Creech, Blair L. Waldron, Corey V. Ransom, Dale R. Zobell, Joseph Earl Creech

Department of Agronomy and Horticulture: Faculty Publications

Forage kochia (Bassia prostrata) is used for rangeland reclamation and livestock and wildlife forage, but limited research has been conducted on its seed production. Therefore, this research evaluated the effect of harvest date on seed weight, germination, and seed yield of forage kochia subspecies virescens and grisea. Seed was harvested from individual plants for 3 years during October, November, and December. October harvest had the lightest 100-seed weights, with the November harvest slightly heavier than December, for most accessions. Cultivar Snowstorm and breeding line Sahsel, both subsp. grisea, had the greatest 100-seed weights in November, 155 …

Stakeholders Integration For Sustainable Use Of Temperate Forage/Livestock Agriculture, Garry D. Lacefield, Don Ball

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage/livestock production is complex, and best management options are often site-specific, but some concepts have broad application. The intent of this article is to provide an overview of research-based management approaches that the authors believe are necessary to ensure the sustainability of forage/livestock farms. This overview discussion is needed because livestock agriculture is changing, thus creating both challenges and opportunities for producers. In the last 30 years, beef numbers in the USA have declined by 20%, but production per cow has more than doubled, resulting in increased total production on less land with fewer animals. Similar statistics exist for the …

Enhancing Grassland Productivity Through Disease Management Of Grass And Forage Species, Tingyu Duan, Chunjie Li, Yanzhong Li, Binhua Yu, Zhibiao Nan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The total area of grassland in China is about 400 million hectares, accounting for 41.7% of the country’s land area, which plays important role in ecological construction and food security assurance of the national. However, diseases of grass and forage limited the development of the pastoral agriculture. There are more than1500 new diseases were reported in the past 16 years with more and more new diseases were discovered. The damage to grassland is becoming more severe with the known diseases prevalent areas expanding.

Problems And Prospects Of Grassland Development: Policy Issues, S. Ray Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There are a range of government and non-government policies that affect grassland development around the world. The objective of this paper is to provide examples of successful policies which have been instrumental in the preservation and maintenance of grasslands and to highlight policies which have resulted in negative consequences. This paper will not attempt to provide a complete overview of policies, but instead will provide examples from representative countries. Policies which affect grasslands can be classified into two broad categories: government policies that cover comprehensive landscape issues like the Grassland Household Contract System (GHCS) in China or the Federal Land …

Forage Nutritional Quality Evaluation Of Bahiagrass Selections During Autumn In Florida, Robert Myer, Ann Blount, Samuel Coleman, Jeffery Carter

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) is the major pasture forage in the southern Gulf Coast, USA. A bahiagrass selection breeding program has been ongoing since 1960 at the Coastal Plain Experiment Station at Tifton, Georgia, USA, to increase forage yield in Pensacola (P. notatum var. sanese) bahiagrass. However, the impact of selecting for forage yield on forage nutritional quality is unknown. Forage quality was evaluated on four Pensacola derived selection cycles (C) of bahiagrass [C0 (Pensacola), C4, C9 (Tifton 9), and C23]. A total of 175 plants per cycle were grown. Forage from individual 1-year-old plants was harvested by …

Ec05-185 Grazing Winter Wheat In Nebraska, Tom Holman, Drew J. Lyon, David D. Baltensperger, Ivan G. Rush, Ray E. Weed

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Grazing cattle on winter wheat, often prior to grain harvest, is common throughout the southern Great Plains. Grazing generates about $50 million in income for Texas wheat producers and reduces the risk of growing wheat by providing a substantial income source other than grain. Benefits can be realized by grazing prior to the primary environmental risk period for drought, heat stress, and hail, all of which frequently reduce grain yield while having limited impact on forage production. Cattle also are grazed on winter wheat fields in western Nebraska and the surrounding region. Typically in Nebraska, fall forage would be used …

Growth Performance Of Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin And St. Croix Hair Sheep Lambs Fed Pasture- Or Hay-Based Diets, S. Wildeus, K. E. Turner, J. R. Collins

United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service / University of Nebraska-Lincoln: Faculty Publications

Two experiments evaluated growth of mixed-sex Barbados Blackbelly, Katahdin, and St. Croix hair sheep lambs raised on pasture or hay-based diets with moderate levels of energy supplementation. In Experiment 1, 36 ewe and wether lambs were allocated to a pasture or pen feeding group in May. Pasture animals rotationally grazed tall fescue pasture, while pen animals were offered chopped alfalfa hay, and both groups were supplemented with corn/soybean meal at 0.75% of body weight. In Experiment 2, 72 lambs were allocated to pen and pasture in April, and provided either a low or high crude protein concentration corn/soybean meal supplement …

G91-1025 Two Crops In One Year: Doublecropping, Russell Moomaw, Gary Lesoing, Charles A. Francis

University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension: Historical Materials

Choice of crops, weed control, and other cultural practices for successful doublecropping are discussed here. Multiple cropping refers to growing two crops on the same field during the same year. One method of multiple cropping is doublecropping, which is when one crop is grown after the first crop is harvested. Prime USA regions for doublecropping are the eastern cornbelt, and southeastern and south central states where relatively long growing seasons and abundant rainfall occur. By contrast, shorter growing seasons and less frequent rainfall limit the potential for doublecropping in Nebraska. Irrigation is essential for successful doublecropping in Nebraska. Without irrigation, …

Nutritive Evaluation Of Warm-Season Grasses In Connecticut, R.W. Taylor, D.W. Allinson

Storrs Agricultural Experiment Station

No abstract provided.

Bulletin No. 385 - Comparitive Nutritive Value And Palatability Of Some Introduced And Native Forage Plants For Spring And Summer Grazing, C. Wayne Cook, L. A. Stoddart, Lorin E. Harris

UAES Bulletins

From 1952 to 1954 studies were conducted on foothill ranges of central Utah to determine the forage production, palatability, and nutritive value of some of the more important native and introduced species used for spring and summer grazing.

Plants studied were four introduced wheatgrasses (crested, tall, pubescent, and intermediate) , four native grasses (western wheatgrass, beardless wheatgrass, squirreltail grass, and Indian ricegrass), and two introduced annual forbs (Russian-thistle, and smother weed).

Field digestibility trials were conducted to determine the nutrient content by the lignin-ratio technique. In addition, both sheep and cattle preferences were studied on areas where both introduced and …

Bulletin No. 344 - The Nutritive Value Of Range Forage As Affected By Vegetation Type, Site, And State Of Maturity, C. Wayne Cook, Lorin E. Harris

UAES Bulletins

Native ranges of Utah are extremely heterogeneous. Pronounced variations exist in soil, seasonal rainfall, temperatures, and altitude on most grazing areas. Rough topography and micro-climates on even individual grazing allotments present variable vegetation types and site conditions. Such variations account for the comparatively large number of species and variable nutritive content found in range forage.

Bulletin No. 277 - A Study Of Utah's Winter Range: Composition Of Forage Plants And Use Of Supplements, A. C. Esplin, J. E. Greaves, L. A. Stoddart

UAES Bulletins

Range forage provides the foundation for the maintenance ration available for most sheep wintered in Utah. The nature and amount of supplemental concentrate or roughage needed with this forage to provide an adequate and efficient ration for sheep naturally depends on the nature and amount of range forage available. Present uncertainty as to the relative merits of the various available supplements originates largely through a lack of definite knowledge as to the composition and feeding value of the various range plants that go to make up the range-forage supply on the particular range in question.

E. J. Maynard