Soil Science Commons^™

Intensive Beef Production In The Humid Tropics: An Evaluation Of Technical And Economic Feasibility, R O. Burton Jr, W B. Bryan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Some parts of the humid tropks show great potential for intensive livestock production from forages. However, in many cases, economic analyses have not been performed. In this study technical a.nd economic feasibility of three strategies for developing intensive pasture for beef production are evaluated. These st:rategies are fast development (no capital limitations) using commerdal nitrogen (N), slow development using commercial N, and slow development using legumes as a N source, The strategies are based on experimental data and experience from the Orinoco Delta, Venezuela. Pastures of pangolagrass (Digitaria decumbens) and Swazi (D. swazilandensis) were rotationally grazed with unselected Criollo/Zebu cattle. …

New Methods For Establishing Grass In The Southern Great Plains, V L. Hauser

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Native and introduced grasses are difficult to establish in the southern Great Plains. Seedling establishment is often prevented by rapid drying of the surface 2 or 3 cm of soil, in which most grass seeds are planted. Three new or nontraditional methods of avoiding the problem in establishing grass were studied. The first method was punch planting, in which the seeds were placed in the bottom of a deep open hole where the soil re­mained wet longer than surface soil. In the second method, the seeds were germinated before planting; thus, they emerged quickly to avoid the rapid drying of …

Initial Rate Of Digestion And Legume Pasture Bloat, R E. Howarth, K J. Cheng, J P. Fay, W Majak, G L. Lees, B P. Goplen, J W. Costerton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Studies were conducted to provide the basic knowledge for breeding a bloat-safe alfalfa cultivar. Two working hypotheses of pasture bloat were tested. The cell-rupture theory proposed that leaf mesophyll cell rupture is an important event in the occur­rence of pasture bloat. The initial-rate-of-digestion (IRD) theory proposed that susceptibility to rapid initial digestion by ruminal bacteria is a characteristic of bloat-causing forages. The studies involved comparisons of bloat-causing and bloat-safe legumes: alfalfa (Medicago sativa L. ), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), arrowleaf clover (Trifolium vesiculosum Savi), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus comiculatus L.), deer milkvetch (Astragalus cicer …

Combination Range-Pasture Management In South Florida For A Low-Energy Grassland Program, L L. Yarlett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The semitropical environment of south Florida is favorable for coordinated management of a wide variety of native grass species and improved pasture forages. The decade of the 1980s will emphasize change from forage programs of high energy utilization to those with a low requirement of fossil fuels. For 4 decades, grassland management in south Florida has been primarily pasture establishment created from the rangeland resource. The establishment and management required substantial inputs of fossil fuel. Use and management of rangeland was largely neglected. Ecological concepts as a basis for managing semitropical ranges were not accepted. In recent years practical programs …

Use Of Fodder-Production Models For Mineral Soils On Grassland And Arable Land, J Bochniarz, B Kaczynska, M Kasprzykowska, B Lainewska

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In four regions of Poland experiments begun in 1973 and planned to last 12 years compared cutting and grazing yields of per­manent grasslands over 20-30 years old to yields of seven field fodder-production models. The models had 3-, 4- and 6-year rota­tions. The experiments were located on mineral soils with 28%-50% silt and clay and 2.1 %-3.5% humus. The water table depth varied from 44 to 170 cm in spring and from 115 to more than 175 cm in summer. Average precipitation was 375-515 mm during the growing season (April-October) and 523-658 mm annually. Average annual fertilization/ha was as follows: …

Potassium For High Rainfall Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Potassium (K) deficiency can lead to a decline in clover content and severely limit pasture productivity in high rainfall pastures. Large amounts of potassium can be lost each year through leaching and removal of potassium in hay or silage.

This information is specific to high rainfall pastures receiving more than 600mm average annual rainfall in the south-west of Western Australia.

Soil Sampling High Rainfall Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Soil sampling and testing is an essential part of making good fertiliser decisions. Fertilisers are a large cost to farming pastures in high rainfall areas. This page is specific to sampling high rainfall pastures (more than 600mm average annual rainfall) in the south-west of Western Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends soil sampling and testing as part of a plant nutrient management program.

Sulfur For High Rainfall Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Sulfur deficiency can substantially reduce pasture yield on sandy soils, particularly in wet years where the sulfate form of sulfur leaches below the root zone of pasture plants, making it unavailable.

This information applies specifically to high rainfall pastures (over 600mm average annual rainfall) in the south-west of Western Australia.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends basing fertiliser decisions on good evidence (soil and tissue test results)

Tissue Sampling And Analysis For High Rainfall Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Tissue testing helps identify nutrient deficiencies that impact plant health. In high rainfall areas ( > 600 mm), pastures are highly productive and have greater demand for both macro- and micronutrients. Micronutrient status is best assessed through plant tissue, as soil levels are difficult to measure accurately.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends tissue testing to assess the effectiveness of fertiliser and soil testing programs, and diagnose emerging macronutrient and micronutrient deficiencies that could cause production losses.

The Effect Of Fertilization With N-P-K In Yield Of Natural Pasture Grazed By Sheep On Southern Italy, L Postiglione, F Basso, T Di Ella, F Carone

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In order to raise the very low pasture yield in the dry regions of Southern Italy, a research was undertaken on the efficiency of mineral fertilization, owing to the variability of climatic conditions. Two levels of N (0-50 Kg ha-1), P (0-100 Kg ha-1) and K (0-100 Kg ha-1) arranged in factorial combinations were compared with a pasture grazed by sheep in a hilly area of Basilicata region (550 m s.l.} since 1982. During the spring of the first two years rainfalls amounted respectively to 79 mm and 146 mm while maximum temperature reached 30°C and 22°C in May, therefore …

Near Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy Screening Of Astragalus Species For Nitro-Toxins, M D. Rumbaugh, D H. Clark, R C. Lamb

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy for the prediction of nitro-toxin concentrations in 55 Astragalus species was evaluated. A calibration equation based on 90 plant samples selected to represent the range of concentrations of the 55 test species was verified on all remaining samples. The correlation coefficient, r= 0.77, indicated that the technique would be of value for the first cycle of a selection program to reduce nitro-toxin concentrations. The more exact measurements provided by conventional chemical analyses would probably be necessary in advanced cycles of selection if differences among plants or populations were smaller than those detectable by …

Composition And Nutritive Value Of Diets Selected By Sheep And Goats On Four Pasture Types, E C. Prigge, D B. Mpiri, W B. Bryan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Esophageally fistulated sheep (Ovis aries) and goats (Capra hircus) were compared in relation to the composition and nutritive value of ingesta collected by grazing four pasture types. The pasture types are described as Improved Pasture, Unimproved Pasture, Unimproved Pasture with Low Scrub and High Scrub. The scrub consisted mainly of hawthorne (Crataegus sp.) and blackberry (Rubus sp.). Samples of herbage and esophageal extrusa were visually separated into four forage classes (legumes, grass, forbs/browse and dead material). A significant (P < .01) animal species x type of pasture interaction was evident in regard to the preference for the various forage classes. The goats consumed much larger proportions of browse than the sheep on the pastures containing scrub. Few differences were evident between goats and sheep in nutritive value of the ingesta within pasture type.

Effects Of Straw Cover And Seed Burial On Changes In Hard Seededness Of Annual Medics, P E. Quigley, E D. Carter

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Self-regenerating annual legumes, including subterranean clover and medics (Medicago spp.) are important pasture species in the cereal-livestock production zone of southern Australia and other Mediterranean climatic zones of the world. The pattern of germination in the genus Medicago, in which only a small percentage of seed germinates at one time because of hard-seededness has many ecological advantages particu­larly for the successful dissemination and colonization of medics. When medic pastures are incorporated into rotation systems with field crops the hard-seededness trait enables the medic seed population in the soil to survive periods of one, two or possibly three or more …

The Role Of Goats In New Zealand Hill Country Farming, D A. Clark, M G. Lambert

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The predominant domesticated ruminants in New Zealand are sheep and cattle. However in the last decade other animal species have been incorporated into farming systems, particu­larly goats which have increased from 10 thousand to 1 million over that time. The motives for this change have primarily been economic ones, in an attempt by farmers to increase income and reduce costs. Goats provide direct financial returns to hill farmers through sale of fibre (mohair, cashgora, cashmere) and meat. In many instances however, the motivation has been one of reduction of weed control costs. Aspects of weed control, pasture response and grazing …

Effect Of Repeated Applications Of Fluidized Bed Combustion Residue To Reclaimed Surface Mined Pastures, M A. Cochran, J P. Fontenot, H D. Perry, V G. Allen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Reclaimed surface mined land is potentially valuable for use as pasture, but its low fertility limits its use without soil amend­ment (Armiger et al., 1976). The usual acidic nature of these soils may result in mineral deficiencies and toxicities in forage (Vogel, 1981). Fluidized bed combustion residue (FBCR) is the residue from combustion of coal with limestone mixed in a jet air stream in coal-burning power plants (Fennelly, 1984). The procedure is used to trap pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and volatile elements that would normally be emitted into the atmosphere. The FBCR retains about 50 % of …

Implications Of Grazing Experiments Which Employ Only One Grazing Level Per Treatment, David I. Bransby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Stocking rate is one of the most powerful driving variables in grazing ecosystems, but its influence on animal production is mediated through effects on pasture sward state, and associated effects on quantity and quality of forage consumed by animals. Consequently, confounding important sward state char­acteristics with treatments in grazing experiments will often mask treatment effects and lead to erroneous conclusions. While this problem has generally been recognized (e.g. Mott and Lucas, 1952; Wheeler et al. 1973 ; Hodgson, 1985), attempts to overcome it appear to be less than satisfactory. The aim of this paper is to discuss methods of stocking …

Spring Nitrogen Uptake In Grass Swards In Relation To N Fertilizer Rates And Variation Between Years, J Salette, Marie-Laure Decau, G Lemaire

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Trees And Shrubs As Secondary Components Of Pasture, A N. Atta-Krah

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Traditionally, the concept of pasture has precluded tree crops in any meaningful and productive way. Grasses and herbaceous legumes have been the major components of pasture. The place of trees in pasture is often limited to live fencing, and a few other trees interspersed within the pasture, to provide shade for livestock. In tropical and subtropical areas, where trees are a significant part of the natural vegetation, the non-inclusion· of trees in pasture and agricultural production systems and their increasing rate of disappearance from the zone are giving rise to serious environmental and agricultural concerns. There is an increasing realisation …

Saltland Pastures In Western Australia, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Natural resources factsheets

Saltland pastures are associations of salt and waterlogging-tolerant plants that produce fodder for grazing animals from saline and waterlogged soils. Saltland pastures can improve production from saltland sites, reduce salt movement from the site, and improve soil structure.

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development recommends that saltland management is part of a whole-farm, and preferably whole-catchment, plan.

Cadmium In Soil, Pasture And Grazing Ruminants, J Lee, N D. Grace, A D. Mackay, M J. Hedley, J R. Rouce

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Cadmium, present in New Zealand hill country pastures rrom Cd­amended phosphatic fertiliser use, is assimilated by grazing ruminants. Concentrations of Cd in plasma from sheep grazing pastures containing low (0.1-0.2µglg dry weight) or high (0.8-1.4 µgig dry weight) levels of Cd were 0.15±0.04 nglg and 0,35:1:0.15 ng/g, respectively (P<0.08). Cadmium in pasture was highly correlated (P<0,001) with soil O.IM HCl-extractable Cd (log10 Soiled= -0.98+0.26 Plantcd).

Foraging Strategies Of Ruminant Livestock On Intensively Managed Grasslands: Potential And Constraints, I J. Gordon, C Lascano

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

All grazed swards exhibit heterogeneity in the spatial (horizontal and vertical) dispersion of species/biomass. A herbivore foraging at random within such a heterogeneous environment would ingest less nutrients than wou Id one which exploited the heterogeneity on offer through selective grazing. The suite of decision-making processes involved in the selective grazing we observe is termed the animal's foraging strategy. On first observation, intensively managed sown swards appear to offer little opportunity for a herbivore to exhibit a foraging strategy; however, opporlunities do exist and there is empirical evidence that herbivores foraging on sown swards tend to have a diet higher …

Selective Behaviour Of Cattle Grazing Ryegrass Swards With Horizontal Heterogeneity In Patch Height And Bulk Density, Montague W. Demment, R A. Distel, T C. Griggs, E A. Laca, G P. Deo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Patches of different height and/or bulk density were created in ryegrass pasture to study selective responses of steers to horizontal variability in patch structure. The experiment involved 3 heterogeneity treatments with 2 patch types each. Steers encountered and entered both patch types available in each treatment with the same frequency. In contrast, they grazed for a longer time (T,) at; and removed more bites (B) from the patch type that yielded greater intake rates. While T, and B varied for a patch type depending on the alternative patch, bite rate and likely bite size were constant for a given patch …

Effect Of Varying Trace Elements Intakes On Their Concentrations In The Skeleton Of Grazing Sheep, N D. Grace, J Lee

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The trace mineral composition of the skeleton was studied in 42 Romney wether lambs, which were divided into 7 treatment groups· and grazed on a ryegrass-white clove. pasture. The trace element intakes were increased by drenching daily with various salt solutions. Treatments were (a) control distilled water (b) 8 mg Cu (c) 580 mg Fe (d) 350 mg Mn (e) 2 mg Mo (f) 0.08 mg Se and (g) 30 mg Zn. Treatments had no significant effect on the mean DM intakes (1.2 kg/day) or live-weight gains (178 g/day). Increasing the Mo, Se and Mn, intakes increased their concentrations in …

Analysis Of A Natural Pasture Of The Karst Region (North-East Italy) Under Chemical Fertilization, G Parente, R Ardiani, F Bozzo, M Onofrii, M Scimone, S Venerus

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To characterise the vegetation changes in a natural pasture, a mineral fertilisation and a 4-year grazing test (1987-1990) were carried out on a typical karstic natural grassland, at that time not grazed by livestock and frequently devastated by fire. Mineral fertiliser and year-long animal grazing have modified the vegetation and seem not to have damaged the agro-ecosystem. An increase of the Arrhenatheretum species and, consequently, higher dry matter production, have been recorded, as well as an extension of the growth period and a greater quantity of grass during the summer. Animal performance has been quite satisfactory as the milk production …

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Analysis Of The Nutrient Content Of Dairy Pastures, R C. Kellaway, C Stimson, R J. Tassell

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Pasture samples from temperate and tropical species were collected before and after grazing, at regular intervals, on 3 dairy farms in New South Wales over a period of 3 years. All samples (n=693) were analysed on a near-infrared (NIR) spectrophotometer with a scanning monochromator. Subsets of samples selected for calibration and validation, were analysed by wet chemistry methods for estimated metabolisable energy (MID), crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), acid-detergent fibre (ADF), Ca, P, Mg, K, Na, S, Cu, Mn and Zn. These data were used lo develop NIR equations using partial least squares analyses. Standard errors of laboratory analysis …

Canada's Forage Resources, D Mccartney, P R. Horton

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Canada is the second largest country in the world and stretches 5,500 km east to west and 4,600 km north to south. About 90% of Canada is uninhabited with 90% percent of the population living within 500 km of the Canadian-American border. About 60% of Canadians live in southern Ontario and Quebec. The grazing industry is located primarily in western Canada with British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba having 84% of the national beef herd. Ontario and Quebec have 73% of the national dairy herd. The majority of harvested forage, dehydrated alfalfa and forage seed crops are grown in western …

Sward Height On The Performance Of Cow-Calf Units And Yearling Steers Grazing Cool Season Pasture, E C. Prigge, W B. Bryan, E L. Nestor

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Performance and grazing time of cow-calf units and yearling steers were determined over four years on naturalized cool season pastures maintained at a sward height of 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, or 10-12 cm. Daily gains of cows and steers responded quadratically (P<0.05) to increasing sward heights, with gains maximized at 8-10 cm. Milk production of the cows and gain of the calves were not affected (P>0.10) by sward height. Grazing days (cow-calf unit/hectare) decreased linearly (P<0.01) with increasing sward height. The proportion of the day spent grazing for cows and steers decreased in a linear manner (P<0.05) as pasture height increased. Cows spent less time grazing than steers (P<0.05) at all but the low pasture height.

Buffer Grazing For A Twelve Month Cow-Calf Production System, W B. Bryan, E C. Prigge, D J. Flaherty, G E. D'Souza

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Set stocking is a widely used grazing management for beef cow-calf production on Appalachian hill land pastures of the USA. A replicated study was conducted to compare a conventional (set stocking) and buffer grazing management. For the buffer system, grazing area was restricted in the spring and hay was harvested from the ungrazed area. In summer, a portion of this area (buffer) was grazed and a second cutting of hay removed from the remaining area. For the conventional treatment a fixed area was set stocked and hay was harvested on an area designated for hay only. Land areas and fertilizer …

Intake Of High Producing Holstein Cows Grazing Pasture Or Fed A Total Mixed Ration, E S. Kolver, L D. Muller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The ability of a pasture diet to support a high dry matter intake without supplementary feed was determined using 16 high producing Holstein cows. Cows (n=8) were adapted to an all-pasture diet by incrementally reducing the amount of total mixed ration (TMR) fed over four weeks. A control group of cows (n=8) remained in confinement and were fed a TMR. Performance of grazing cows differed significantly (P < 0.001) from TMR fed cows by intake (19.0 vs. 23.4 kg DM/d), milk production (29.6 vs. 44.1 kg/d), milk protein content (2.61 vs. 2.80%), liveweight (562.1 vs. 597.3 kg), and condition score (2.02 vs. 2.50). Results indicate that intake of good quality pasture is higher than previously estimated for high producing Holstein cows in the USA, but that milk production is 15 kg/d less than when cows are fed a TMR.

Production Efficiency Benchmarks For Irrigated Dairying In South Eastern Australia, K E. Pritchard, O A. Gyles, D P. Armstrong, S L. Spiteri

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Milk production from grazed irrigated pasture is an important industry in south eastern Australia. Irrigation water is essential for perennial pastures, but the efficiency with which the irrigation water is used to produce milk varies widely between farms. As irrigation water is a limiting resource, future productivity increases will depend on increasing the amount of milk produced per unit of water applied. This research project estimates metabolisable energy utilised from grazed pasture, using energy values for animal requirements, products and feedstuffs. Efficiency criteria, in terms of production per hectare of irrigated pasture, per megalitre of irrigation water, and per cow …