The relative feeding value of a new pasture legume, eastern star clover (Trifolium dasyurum), compared with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)

2005 ◽  
Vol 56 (6) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley C. Norman ◽  
David G. Masters ◽  
Allan J. Rintoul ◽  
Matt G. Wilmot ◽  
Vijay Jayasena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Health ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Pasture Legume

An accession of eastern star clover (Trifolium dasyurum C. Presl.), a new species to agriculture, has been identified by the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program for commercial release in Australia. This paper reports the findings of an experiment designed to assess the feeding value of eastern star clover compared with a commercial cultivar of subterranean clover (T. subterraneum L. cv. Dalkeith). The hypothesis tested in this experiment is that sheep grazing eastern star clover will have similar growth rates, condition scores, and wool production to sheep grazing subterranean clover. Additionally, it is hypothesised that the sheep grazing the different clover species will have similar health and meat quality. The relative feeding value of the 2 clover species was tested using 14-month-old Merino wethers, grazing 8 by 0.5 ha plots (4 of each species). Stocking rates were such that herbage mass availability would not have limited feed intake. Liveweight, wool growth, and animal health were monitored. After 10 weeks of grazing, 2 animals from each plot were slaughtered for sensory analysis of meat. Although there were generally no differences in liveweight change, condition, or wool growth between sheep grazing eastern star or subterranean clovers, sheep in the subterranean clover plots grew faster during the first month of grazing. There were no differences in meat eating quality (tenderness, juiciness, or flavour), animal health, or vegetable matter contamination of wool. The data suggest that the clovers had the same relative feeding value despite herbage mass from the eastern star clover plots having lower in vitro digestibility, crude protein, and higher fibre than herbage mass from the subterranean clover plots. Given that there was a minimum of 1000 kg/ha of herbage mass in the plots, it is likely that sheep gazing the two clovers were able to maintain the same weight by selecting the high quality components of the pasture. Differences in plant quality are associated with differences in reproductive strategies of the clovers.

Sheep grazing bladder clover (Trifolium spumosum L.) had similar productivity and meat quality to sheep grazing subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.)

2013 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hayley C. Norman ◽  
Angelo Loi ◽  
Matt G. Wilmot ◽  
Allan J. Rintoul ◽  
Bradley J. Nutt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Meat Quality ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Daily Growth ◽  
Care Assessment

An accession of bladder clover, a new species to agriculture, was selected for commercial release in Australia with the cultivar name of AGWEST Bartolo. As part of a duty-of-care assessment, we tested the hypothesis that sheep grazing the bladder clover cultivar will have similar liveweight, condition scores and wool production to sheep grazing a widely adopted subterranean clover cultivar (cv. Dalkeith). Further, we hypothesised that sheep grazing bladder clover and subterranean clover will have similar meat quality (after 48 days of grazing) and health as indicated by muscle, liver and kidney panel analysis. The data supported the hypotheses. While there were significant initial differences in liveweight between the two groups of sheep, there were no significant differences in liveweight at later time points during the grazing period and no significant differences in mean daily growth rate between weighing times. There were no differences in wool growth between sheep grazing the bladder or subterranean clover cultivars. Sheep in the subterranean clover plots had significantly higher condition scores after the first 24 days of grazing; however, these differences were not apparent after another 24 days of grazing. There were some differences in indications of animal health; however, there were no significant detrimental effects associated with bladder clover and sheep grazing both species had mean plasma indicators that were deemed ‘healthy’. There were no differences in meat eating quality as estimated by a consumer panel for tenderness, juiciness or flavour. Dry seasonal conditions limited biomass growth and the sheep were removed from the subterranean clover plots on Day 48 of grazing. The sheep grazing the bladder clover plots remained on the plots for a further 26 days. The data indicate that, for the conditions of this experiment, the clovers had the same relative feeding value. Laboratory analysis of herbage from across the clover plots (bulked before analysis) suggest that the bladder clover had higher in vitro digestibility, crude protein and lower fibre than the herbage sample from the subterranean clover plots. The biomass data indicate that the bladder clover cultivar can support more grazing days per ha in a relatively dry season than the subterranean clover cultivar.

Effects of Prima gland clover (Trifolium glanduliferum Boiss cv. Prima) consumption on sheep production and meat quality

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 291 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. G. Masters ◽  
G. Mata ◽  
C. K. Revell ◽  
R. H. Davidson ◽  
H. C. Norman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Feed Intake ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Animal Production ◽  
Eating Quality ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Meat Eating ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Sheep Production

Gland clover (Trifolium glanduliferum Boiss) is a recently introduced and released clover species for use in Mediterranean agricultural systems in southern Australia. There is little information on the expected animal production from this pasture plant although it is known to contain coumarins. Coumarins may have a direct effect on the production of grazing ruminants through a reduction in feed intake and may also have the ability to influence the flavour and odour of meat. In this study, Merino hogget ewes were grazed on eight 0.5 ha replicate plots sown to monocultures of either Prima gland clover or Dalkeith subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum L.). The Prima gland clover was estimated to contain between 80 and 300 mg coumarin/kg dry matter. Three sheep were allocated to the plots on 7 September and 1 sheep from each plot was slaughtered on 29 September. Two additional sheep were allocated to the plots on 28 September and another 2 on 19 October. At the end of the experiment on 8 November, each plot contained 2 sheep that had grazed for 3, 6 or 9 weeks. All sheep were slaughtered at this time. The 2 sheep that remained on the plots from 7 September to 8 November were used for the comparison of animal production between the 2 clover species. Following slaughter, measurements were made of carcass characteristics and meat eating quality. The liveweight gain and wool growth of the 2 treatments were similar over the 9 weeks, however, the sheep on the Prima gland clover plots grew faster over the first 3 weeks. The faster growth rate is consistent with a higher in vitro digestibility of the Prima gland clover at this time. The similarity in feeding value of the 2 clover species indicates that there was no depression in feed intake associated with the Prima gland clover. There were some small significant differences in meat eating quality between the groups. Meat from sheep grazing the Prima gland clover was drier and had a more pleasant taste. These differences are unlikely to be large enough to have any commercial significance. The results indicate that the Prima gland clover has a feeding value at least equivalent to the Dalkeith subterranean clover and that, under the conditions of this experiment, the coumarin concentrations in the Prima gland clover are not high enough to affect either feed intake or the flavour and odour of meat.

A study of merino sheep grazing a bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria) –cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla) community on the riverine plain

1969 ◽  
Vol 20 (6) ◽  
pp. 1123 ◽  
Author(s):  
AD Wilson ◽  
H Leigh ◽  
WE Mulham
Keyword(s):  
Perennial Grass ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Early Winter ◽  
Stocking Rate ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Merino Sheep ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Stocking Rates

A study was made of Merino sheep grazing a bladder saltbush (Atriplex vesicaria Hew. ex Benth.)–cotton-bush (Kochia aphylla R.Br.) community set stocked at three stocking rates (2.5, 1 .2, and 0.6 sheep/hectare) over a 3-year period. In spring the sheep preferred the perennial grass Danthonia caespitosa Gaudich. and the annuals Medicago polymorpha L. and Vulpia myuros (L.) K. C. Gmel. to the more abundant A. vesicaria. From summer to early winter the diet consisted mainly of A. vesicaria with the proportion of dead matter and Medicago burr increasing as the availability of A. vesicaria decreased. Seasonal fluctuations in wool growth were evident at all three stocking rates. Maximum wool growth rates occurred in spring when the nitrogen content (2.3%) and in vitro digestibility (65%) of the forage eaten was high. During autumn and early winter values for nitrogen (1.4%) and digestibility (50%) were lower and wool growth was at a minimum. At 0.6 sheep/ha animal productivity was maintained and there was little decline in the A. vesicaria population during the 3 years. Grazing eliminated all the A. vesicaria from the pasture stocked at 2.5 sheep/ha, and 98% at 1.2 sheep/ha. At these higher stocking rates the pasture proved incapable of maintaining the sheep for the 3-year period. The inability of A. vesicaria to recover after heavy or complete defoliation by grazing demonstrates the necessity of adopting a low stocking rate if the bush is to be retained.

Variability of in vitro ruminal fermentation and methanogenic potential in the pasture legume biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.)

2013 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 409 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bidhyut Kumar Banik ◽  
Zoey Durmic ◽  
William Erskine ◽  
Phillip Nichols ◽  
Kioumars Ghamkhar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Core Collection ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Germplasm Collection ◽  
Red Clover ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Ruminal Fermentation ◽  
Rumen Microbes ◽  
Pasture Legumes ◽  
Pasture Legume

Biserrula (Biserrula pelecinus L.) is an important annual pasture legume for the wheatbelt of southern Australia and has been found to have lower levels of methane output than other pasture legumes when fermented by rumen microbes. Thirty accessions of the biserrula core germplasm collection were grown in the glasshouse to examine intra-specific variability in in vitro rumen fermentation, including methane output. One biserrula cultivar (Casbah) was also grown at two field locations to confirm that low methanogenic potential was present in field-grown samples. All of the biserrula accessions had significantly reduced methane [range 0.5–8.4 mL/g dry matter (DM)] output compared with subterranean clover (28.4 mL/g DM) and red clover (36.1 mL/g DM). There was also significant variation in fermentability profiles (except for volatile fatty acids) among accessions of the core collection. Methanogenic potential exhibited 86% broad-sense heritability within the biserrula core collection. The anti-methanogenic and gas-suppressing effect of biserrula was also confirmed in samples grown in the field. In conclusion, biserrula showed variability in in vitro fermentation traits including reduced methane production compared with controls. This bioactivity of biserrula also persists in the field, indicating scope for further selection of biserrula as an elite methane-mitigating pasture.

Plant factors influencing the nutritive value of some temperate annual pasture species

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (63) ◽  
pp. 404 ◽  
Author(s):  
JG McIvor ◽  
DF Smith
Keyword(s):  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Growth Cycle ◽  
Matter Content ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Dry Matter Content ◽  
Hordeum Leporinum ◽  
Brome Grass

Changes in herbage production, dry matter content, nitrogen content and in vitro digestibility of two sown species-subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum) and annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum) - and five common volunteer species-capeweed (Arctotheca calendula), musky crowfoot (Erodium moschatum), barley grass (Hordeum leporinum), ripgut brome grass (Bromus rigidus) and soft brome grass (Bromus mollis)-were measured throughout their growth cycle. The volunteer species compared favourably with the sown species for these measurements and should be capable of providing nutritious grazing for animals.

Provision of high nitrogen roughage to sheep as a supplement to low nitrogen roughage

1975 ◽  
Vol 15 (74) ◽  
pp. 342 ◽  
Author(s):  
GE Robards ◽  
GR Pearce
Keyword(s):  
Poor Response ◽  
Control Group ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
High Nitrogen ◽  
Wool Production ◽  
Wool Growth ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Low Nitrogen ◽  
Basal Ration

Three feeding experiments and a digestibility study are reported in which the effects of supplementing low nitrogen roughages with roughages of high nitrogen content were studied. In each feeding experiment the effect of varying the frequency of supplementation was examined. During the first experiment intake of lucerne hay was greater (P < 0.05) than the intake of oaten hay and higher wool growth rates and liveweight changes were recorded. When the oaten and lucerne hays were alternated at intervals of one, two, three or four days, the average intake and rate of liveweight change was intermediate between the two previous levels, but the rate of wool production was similar to when lucerne hay was offered alone. There were no differences in total intake, clean wool production or liveweight change due to the frequency with which the two rations were alternated. The second experiment involved the feeding of a fixed quantity of lucerne hay with a. five times as much oaten hay or b. ad libitum oaten hay. The lucerne hay was given daily and every second, fourth and eighth days, and there was an unsupplemented control group. During the restricted feeding period frequent supplementation resulted in higher liveweight gain but there was no effect on wool growth. When oaten hay was provided ad libitum the poor response to supplementation and the large variation in intake within groups resulted in no significant differences in wool production or liveweight change between groups. The results of the third experiment indicate that the digestibility or degree of lignification of the basal ration affects the likelihood of a response to supplementation. It was shown that frequent supplementation of pasture hay resulted in higher intake, liveweight and wool production. On the other hand, substitute feeding with little change in animal production occurred when lucerne hay was offered to similar sheep consuming a basal ration of oaten hay which had a higher level of fibre and a lower in vitro digestibility than the pasture hay.

Studies on the nutritive value of the diet selected by grazing sheep IV. Variation in the diet selected by sheep differing in age, breed, sex, strain and previous history

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Langlands
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Content ◽  
Nutritive Value ◽  
Previous History ◽  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
Faecal Nitrogen ◽  
Grazing Sheep ◽  
Grazing History

SUMMARYThe ability of two groups of six Merino wethers aged 6 and 66 months to digest a lucerne ration was examined in order to detect possible biases in the use of faecal nitrogen as a faecal index substance. Earlier work with this technique had indicated a difference in selectivity between young and older sheep. No difference in ability to digest the ration was observed and it was concluded that the earlier observation was not an artefact in the faecal nitrogen technique. Oesophageal fistulae were prepared in 120 sheep differing in breed, sex, age, strain and previous history. Determinations were made of the nitrogen content, and in one experiment of the in vitro digestibility of the diet selected by sheep grazing various pastures. Significant differences in the nitrogen content of the diet selected by sheep varying in breed, age and previous grazing history were recorded on some pastures on some occasions but not on others. No significant differences were observed between sheep varying in strain or sex. No reason could be suggested for the occasional differences between groups in the nitrogen content or digestibility of the diet selected, but it appeared unlikely that it would be a major source of variation in the productivity of the different groups at pasture.

Izmir subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. var. subterraneum)

2007 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 226 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. G. H. Nichols ◽  
G. A. Sandral ◽  
B. S. Dear ◽  
C. T. de Koning ◽  
D. L. Lloyd ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Seed Set ◽  
New South ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Subterranean Clover ◽  
Trifolium Subterraneum ◽  
Good Seed ◽  
Improvement Program ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Pasture Legume

Izmir is a hardseeded, early flowering, subterranean clover of var. subterraneum (Katz. et Morley) Zohary and Heller collected from Turkey and developed by the collaborating organisations of the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program. It is a more hardseeded replacement for Nungarin and best suited to well-drained, moderately acidic soils in areas with a growing season of less than 4.5 months. Izmir seed production and regeneration densities in 3-year pasture phases were similar to Nungarin in 21 trials across southern Australia, but markedly greater in years following a crop or no seed set. Over all measurements, Izmir produced 10% more winter herbage and 7% more spring herbage than Nungarin. Its greater hardseededness and good seed production, makes it better suited to cropping rotations than Nungarin. Softening of Izmir hard seeds occurs later in the summer–autumn period than Nungarin, giving it slightly greater protection from seed losses following false breaks to the season. Izmir is recommended for sowing in Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Queensland. Izmir has been granted Plant Breeders Rights in Australia.

scholarly journals Selection for increased in vitro digestibility improves feeding value of sorghum grain

1991 ◽  
pp. 81-83
Author(s):  
B J Healy ◽  
P J Bramel-Cox ◽  
B T Richert ◽  
C F Klopfenstein ◽  
Merle D Witt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Vitro Digestibility ◽  
Feeding Value ◽  
Selection For ◽  
Sorghum Grain
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document