Nutritive characteristics of annual species in irrigated pasture in northern Victoria

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. Heard ◽  
S. A. Francis ◽  
P. T. Doyle

We examined changes in estimated metabolisable energy (ME), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations of irrigated annual pastures through winter and spring in 2002. The types of pastures sampled were ‘high’ subterranean clover (HS, at least 800 g/kg DM clover), ‘low’ subterranean clover (LS, about 400 g/kg DM clover) and ‘low’ Persian clover (LP, about 500 g/kg DM clover). Estimates were also made of selection differentials, namely the nutrient concentration in the pasture fraction likely to be consumed expressed as a proportion of the nutrient concentration in the whole sward to ground level. The ME concentrations in all pasture types increased from May to August, after which concentrations in LS and LP declined, while the ME concentrations in HS declined after September. Low Persian pasture was significantly (P<0.001) higher in ME than the subterranean clover pastures except in September. There was a significant quadratic relationship between ME and time in months and this relationship differed significantly between the 3 pasture treatments. There was a significant (P<0.001) linear decline in CP concentration through the sampling period. The rate of decline in CP concentration was greatest for HS and lowest for LP pastures. Neutral detergent fibre concentrations declined gradually until August and then increased in all pastures. High subterranean clover pastures were lower (P<0.05) than LS pastures in all months. Low Persian clover pastures were higher in NDF than HS pastures, but lower than LS pastures in most months.There were small but significant differences in selection differentials for estimated ME between months when pastures were cut to 4 cm. Selection differentials for ME were between 1.01 and 1.13 across pasture types. Crude protein selection differentials were higher than for ME and varied between 1.11 and 1.46. There were small significant differences in selection differentials between months for NDF (0.74–0.96). Calculated selection differentials at different cut heights indicated that a nutrient gradient existed throughout the annual pasture sward. Pastures cut at high (>8 cm) cut heights had higher ME and CP and lower NDF, than pastures cut to 4 cm. Differences in selection differentials at different cut heights were apparent between pasture types.

1984 ◽  
Vol 24 (126) ◽  
pp. 322 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Kenny ◽  
KFM Reed

The productivity of weaner sheep grazing lucerne, white clover, red clover or Persian clover and pastures sown with subterranean clover and perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot or tall fescue, was measured in summer-autumn trials incorporating four soil types in each of three years. During summer and autumn, the mean growth rate of sheep grazing lucerne, white clover or Persian clover pastures was 50 g/d compared with 1 g/d for sheep grazing perennial grass-subterranean clover pastures. Sheep grazing strawberry clover on reclaimed swampland, and sheep in a feedlot (fed hay and lupin grain) averaged 100 and 75 g/d, respectively. Sheep grazing red clover averaged 45 g/d over years 1 and 2. In year 2, a subterranean clover-dominant pasture was included in the study. Its feeding value was similar to that of the perennial grass-subterranean clover pastures. Sheep grazing legume pastures, and sheep in the feedlot, consistently produced more wool (up to 700 g/head) than sheep grazing the perennial grass-subterranean clover pastures. The concentration of neutral detergent fibre in herbage from legume pastures was frequently lower (P< 0.05) and the concentration of crude protein was frequently higher (P< 0.05) than in herbage from grass pastures. The dry matter digestibility of legume herbage was higher (P<0. 05) than that of grass herbage on only one occasion. Measurements of crude protein and neutral detergent fibre of pasture in December accounted for 67% of the variation in liveweight gain (P<0.01). Ewe weaners grazing red clover pasture exhibited an increase (P< 0.05) in teat length of 3.9 mm in 21d of grazing. Oestrous activity of ewe weaners was related to liveweight gain (r = 0.77). The implications of the results for agricultural systems are discussed.


1999 ◽  
Vol 39 (8) ◽  
pp. 923 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. J. Moate ◽  
D. E. Dalley ◽  
J. R. Roche ◽  
C. Grainger

Summary. The effect of herbage allowance (20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 70 kg DM/cow. day) on the consumption of nutrients from herbage and milk production by cows in early lactation, was examined. The experiment was conducted on rainfed perennial ryegrass pastures in September and October 1997 in south-eastern Victoria, Australia. The herbage on offer comprised 64% perennial ryegrass, 21% other grasses, 1% white clover, 5% weeds and 9% dead material on a dry matter (DM) basis. The average pregrazing herbage height was 13 cm, at an estimated pregrazing herbage mass of 3.6 t DM/ha. The herbage on offer was of high quality containing 11.6 MJ metabolisable energy/kg DM, 202 g crude protein/kg DM and 525 g neutral detergent fibre/kg DM. Concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, sulfur and chloride were 4.4, 2.2, 4.4, 31.2, 3.5, 2.7 and 11.4 g/kg DM, respectively. As daily herbage allowance per cow increased, dry matter intake increased curvilinearly (P<0.01) from 11.2 to 18.7 kg DM/cow. day. This was associated with a decrease in utilisation of herbage from 54 to 26% and an increase in milk production from 25.9 to 29.1 kg/cow. day. The cows on all treatments grazed for less than 8.7 h/day. The increase in intake was achieved by an increase in the rate of herbage intake from 1.5 to 2.2 kg DM/h for herbage allowances of 20 and 70 kg/cow.day, respectively. Irrespective of herbage allowance, cows selected a diet that was approximately 10% higher in in vitro dry matter digestibility and 30% higher in crude protein than that in the herbage on offer. The neutral detergent fibre content of the herbage selected was lower (P<0.05) than that on offer. The herbage consumed contained more (P<0.05) magnesium, potassium and sulfur, the same amount of calcium and phosphorus and less (P<0.05) sodium and chloride than the herbage on offer. For rainfed perennial pastures in spring, herbage allowance is an important factor in determining voluntary feed intake and production of dairy cows. To achieve 30 L from herbage, without supplementation, high herbage allowances are required. The increase in herbage intake, with increasing herbage allowance, resulted from an increase in rate of dry matter intake and not an increase in grazing time. No relationship was evident between herbage allowance and the selection differentials for in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre. Selection differentials for rainfed perennial pastures in spring are similar to those reported for irrigated perennial pastures in northern Victoria in spring and autumn. When determining nutrient requirements it is important to consider the interaction between herbage intake and nutrient concentration in the herbage.


2001 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 415 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. C. Cohen

An in sacco (nylon bag) technique was used to estimate the degradability of dry matter (DM) and crude protein, and to estimate the effective rumen degradability of protein (ERDP), for 3 irrigated clover herbages. Pasture characteristics (nutritive values and leaf: stem ratios) were also described, and relationships to ERDP established. The nutritive value characteristics and degradabilities of white clover (Trifolium repens L.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), and subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were also compared for various regrowth periods (of 3, 4, 6, and 12 weeks). Nutritive value characteristics of clover herbages varied from 9.9 to 11.9 MJ/kg DM for metabolisable energy, 153 to 304 g/kg DM for crude protein, and 209 to 377 g/kg DM for neutral detergent fibre. The leaf: stem ratio correlated well with the crude protein content of the clovers, with herbages consisting of more leaf generally having superior crude protein content (R2 = 0.64, P < 0.001). The effective rumen degradability of protein for clover herbages ranged from 60 g/kg DM for mature (12 week regrowth) subterranean clover to 195 g/kg DM for vegetative (3 weeks regrowth) Persian clover. For clover herbages with a 3-week regrowth period, after initial cutting to 5 cm, and at ruminal outflow rates of 0.08/h, the effective rumen degradability of protein varied from 136 to 195 g/kg DM. A positive relationship between crude protein and ERDP (R2 = 0.82) suggested that ERDP could be estimated for clover herbages that have been previously assessed for crude protein content, obviating the need for in sacco studies. Calculated degradabilities were lower for all clovers when higher ruminal outflow rates were assumed. Using the metabolisable protein system, metabolisable protein supply and metabolisable protein in excess of animal requirements were calculated. Ruminal losses of nitrogen were also estimated for cows consuming white clover of varying regrowth periods in both early and late lactation. It was concluded that metabolisable protein supply is unlikely to limit production in these examples. At regrowth periods of 3 weeks, metabolisable protein contributions from microbial and dietary sources were similar, and twice that required by the animal. Ruminal losses of nitrogen were substantial and amounted to 66—23% of nitrogen intake. In the experiments reported here, if all of the energy required to excrete excess protein (as urea) could instead be used for the production of milk, cows may have produced 0.5mp;mdash;2.0 kg more milk per day. Such losses could potentially be reduced if the protein content and/or degradabilities of clover herbages were reduced, and/or energy rich supplements were offered.


1987 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 807 ◽  
Author(s):  
GL Walsh ◽  
HA Birrell

The dry matter digestibility (DMD), grinding energy, and the concentration of neutral detergent fibre, crude protein, soluble carbohydrate, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and phosphorus in 5 pasture species were monitored over 2 years from pasture which was grazed at 14.8 sheep/ha in south-western Victoria. The species were: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L. cv. Victorian), phalaris (Phalaris aquatica L. cv. Australian), Yorkshire fog grass (Holcus lanatus), subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum cv. Mount Barker), and capeweed (Arctotheca calendula). Perennial ryegrass and subterranean clover were the dominant species and contributed 50 and 20% DM, respectively, to the sward in winter and the opposite in spring. The DMD of the 5 pasture species did not vary greatly throughout the vegetative phase of growth (autumn-mid spring). In winter, fog grass was slightly less digestible (70-74% DMD), while the other grasses were similar (76-79% DMD). Subterranean clover was not digested (72-75% DMD) as thoroughly as the other species until after late spring; then it retained its digestibility while the digestibility of the others fell. None of the species provided digestible herbage above 65% DMD in the summer. The energy required for grinding herbage was lowest in the autumn-winter, and increased with a corresponding increase in neutral detergent fibre content as pastures matured in late spring. The crude protein content of all species declined from 27-30% in autumn to 18-20% in spring, while the soluble carbohydrate contents increased from about 54% in autumn to 10-13% by spring. The implications on animal production of these seasonal changes in nutritive value are discussed. Higher soluble carbohydrate contents in spring herbage than in autumn herbage possibly explain the better performance of animals when grazing spring pasture. The levels of magnesium, sodium and potassium were adequate for the dietary requirements of ruminants; however, on grass dominant pasture, shortages of calcium (0.14-0.25% DM) and phosphorus (0.11-0.24% DM) were likely in the summer when energy and protein were also deficient. The problem of a calcium deficiency is greatly reduced by the presence of legumes. Capeweed is an accumulator of minerals, but it is only occasionally eaten and is rarely present in summer; hence its presence is of marginal benefit to stock.


1988 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 881 ◽  
Author(s):  
PT Doyle ◽  
CE McLaren

Nine mature Merino wethers were fed three clover diets at 95% of previously measured intake under steady state conditions. The diets were mature subterranean clover (MSC), green subterranean clover (GSC) and persian clover (PC). The utilization of dietary N and S was studied for each feed.The ratios of digestible organic matter (DOM) to crude protein (CP) in the diets ranged from 3.9 to 5.5 : 1. The flow of microbial crude protein (MCP) from the abomasum was only 34 g day-1 in sheep given MSC compared to 77 g day-1 for GSC and 85 g day-1 for PC. However, the calculated efficiencies of MCP synthesis were 230-250 g MCP per kg OM apparently digested in the rumen for the three clovers. Despite the similar efficiencies of MCP synthesis, the ammonia-N (30 mg l-1) and sulfide-S (220 8g l-1) concentrations in the rumen of sheep fed MSC were low. The concentrations for the the other clovers were ammonia-N 90-110 mg l-1 and sulfide-S 730-1770 8g l-1. The amount of CP apparently digested in the intestines (DCPi) was only 31 g day-1 in sheep given MSC compared to 100 g day-1 and 81 g-1 in those fed GSC and PC, respectively. While this indicates that protein insufficiency in the tissues may have limited the intake of MSC, the DCPi values per unit of DOM intake were 150,210 and 150 g kg DOM-1 for MSC, GSC and PC, respectively. Sheep excreted more N and S (% of intake) in faeces when given MSC compared to GSC or PC.The sheep were in positive apparent balance for N and S when fed GSC or PC, but were mobilizing these nutrients from tissues at the low intakes of DOM, N and S with MSC. The wool growth rates and amounts of N and S incorporated into wool when MSC was fed were about half the other two feeds.These results are discussed in relation to other work on the utilization of N and S by sheep and likely effects of this on the intake of the feeds.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (9) ◽  
pp. 1504 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Keim ◽  
H. Charles ◽  
D. Alomar

An important constraint of in situ degradability studies is the need to analyse a high number of samples and often with insufficient amount of residue, especially after the longer incubations of high-quality forages, that impede the study of more than one nutritional component. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been established as a reliable method for predicting composition of many entities, including forages and other animal feedstuffs. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of NIRS for predicting the crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) concentration in rumen incubation residues of permanent and sown temperate pastures in a vegetative stage. In situ residues (n = 236) from four swards were scanned for their visible-NIR spectra and analysed for CP and NDF. Selected equations developed by partial least-squares multivariate regression presented high coefficients of determination (CP = 0.99, NDF = 0.95) and low standard errors (CP = 4.17 g/kg, NDF = 7.91 g/kg) in cross-validation. These errors compare favourably to the average concentrations of CP and NDF (146.5 and 711.2 g/kg, respectively) and represent a low fraction of their standard deviation (CP = 38.2 g/kg, NDF = 34.4 g/kg). An external validation was not as successful, with R2 of 0.83 and 0.82 and a standard error of prediction of 14.8 and 15.2 g/kg, for CP and NDF, respectively. It is concluded that NIRS has the potential to predict CP and NDF of in situ incubation residues of leafy pastures typical of humid temperate zones, but more robust calibrations should be developed.


1998 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 227-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl A. K. Stromayer ◽  
Robert J. Warren ◽  
Timothy B. Harrington

Abstract After cutting forest understory Chinese privet (Ligustrum sinense) stands to ground level in northwestern Georgia, we assessed privet regrowth production and use by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), 1 yr post-treatment. We then assessed privet browse availability and crude protein (CP) content 2 and 3 growing seasons post-treatment on cut and uncut plots. Privet regrew vigorously and was used heavily by deer the first winter after cutting, but privet browse availability and crude protein content did not differ between cut vs. uncut plots 2 and 3 growing seasons post-treatment. Although our sample sizes were too small to demonstrate an increase in privet browse availability after cutting, this practice may be a sustainable and inexpensive way of maintaining deer forage availability, as privet often grows out of reach of deer. South. J. Appl. For. 22(4):227-230.


2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. T. Kanengoni ◽  
K. Dzama ◽  
M. Chimonyo ◽  
J. Kusina ◽  
S. M. Maswaure

AbstractA study was conducted to compare the performance of Mukota, Large White (LW) and LW ✕ Mukota F1pigs given increasing levels of maize cob meal. Sixteen female weaners of each genotype were given, ad libitum, diets containing 0, 100, 200 and 300 g maize cob meal per kg of diet for 14 weeks. The diets were designed to contain similar levels of protein (ca. 160 g crude protein per kg) and energy (ca. 9 MJ metabolizable energy per kg). Average daily food intake per unit metabolic body weight (ADFI per kg M0·75), average daily gain (ADG) and food conversion ratio (FCR) were determined. The pigs were slaughtered and cold dressed mass (CDM) and backfat thickness were determined for each pig. The ADFI per kg M0·75was similar among the four diets for the three genotypes. The rate of decline in ADG was higher (P < 0·05) in the LW than in the other two genotypes. The FCR in the Mukota was poorer (P < 0·05) than that in the LW and the F1crosses. The Mukota had the highest (P < 0·05) backfat thickness (K5 and K7·5) values of the three genotypes across the four diets, followed by the F1crosses. The CDM values for the LW and the F1crosses were similar and were higher (P < 0·05) than those for the Mukota. The findings indicate that F1crosses and the Mukota were better able to utilize diets containing high levels of maize cob meal than LW pigs.


Agronomy ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 188
Author(s):  
Alfonso Llanderal ◽  
Pedro García-Caparrós ◽  
José Pérez-Alonso ◽  
Juana Isabel Contreras ◽  
María Luz Segura ◽  
...  

The aim of this work is to evaluate the relationship between the nutrient concentration in petiole sap and different agronomic and climatic variables for a tomato crop grown in a greenhouse in Mediterranean conditions. In addition, the persistence of the nutrient concentration in petiole sap was investigated with the aim of determining the sampling period that implies the best trade-off nutritional information. The experiment consisted of the selection of 20 sampling points inside the greenhouse. The samples of petiole, fully expanded leaf, and soil solution samples were collected weekly from 86 to 163 days after transplanting. Chloride, NO3−-N, H2PO4−-P, Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ concentrations were determined in petiole sap and soil solution obtained by suction cups. Nitrogen, P, K, Cl, and Na concentrations were also determined in leaf. Finally, the petiole sap nutritional diagnosis method is the highest sensitive nutritional diagnosis method which compares soil solution and nutrient leaf content related to yield, and the statistical analysis performed in this research demonstrates that crop evapotranspiration (ETc), vapor pressure deficit (DPV), and leaf area index (LAI) are considered the most significant variables that allow the development of these empirical prediction models regarding nutrient concentration in petiole sap.


2001 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.-L. Yin ◽  
J.D. McEvoy ◽  
H. Schulze ◽  
K.J. McCracken

AbstractThe effects of xylanase and antibiotic addition to the diet, and the use of HCl-insoluble ash as a marker, on ileal and faecal apparent digestibilities of nutrients were studied with 12 growing pigs fitted with post-valvular T-caecum cannulae (PVTC). The results showed that the apparent ileal digestibility of non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) was high, (over 0·30). Xylanase, or antibiotics (Avoparcin) or xylanase plus antibiotics supplementation of the wheat middling-based diets did not significantly (P > 0·05) increase the ileal and faecal apparent digestibilities of NSP, neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), dry matter, crude protein, energy or amino acids. There were no significant (P > 0·05) differences between the HCl-insoluble ash and Cr2O3 recoveries at the ileal or at the faecal levels: proportionately, 0·864 and 0·911 for the ileal and faecal recoveries of HCl-insoluble ash, and 0·857 and 0. 915 for the ileal and faecal recoveries of Cr2O3, respectively.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document