Digestibility and voluntary intake measurements on regrowths of six Tasmanian pasture species

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Late Spring ◽  
Pure Species ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Autumn And Winter

Pure species swards of Trifolium repens (white clover cv. Grasslands Huia), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmanian No. I ) , Lolium perenne x L. multiflorum (short rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Manawa), Lolium perenne (long rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Ariki), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Currie) and Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui) were mechanically cut in May, August, September-October, and November 1969, and January, March, May, and August 1970. The material from these cuts was artificially dried, and digestibilities and voluntary intakes measured using penned sheep. Overall, the digestibility and voluntary intake of white clover was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of any of the grasses, the digestibility of Apanui cocksfoot was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than that of the ryegrasses and there were no significant differences (P < 0.05) between the intakes of the various grasses. Under the management system used, the digestibility of the grasses remained relatively stable over the summer, autumn and winter, rose to a peak in early spring and fell in late spring after ear emergence. The digestibility of white clover remained high over the winter and early spring and declined slowly over the summer. The voluntary intakes of all the species were at their lowest levels in the winter, rose to a peak in the spring, fell in the late spring to a stable level over the summer, and fell again in the autumn. At any digestibility level, the intake of spring-summer cut pasture was approximately 20 per cent higher than that of winter cut pasture. The intake of autumn cut pasture was intermediate. The overall relation between intake (I) and digestibility (D) was I = 1.06D + 2.7 � 8.4 (P < 0.01). Within the spring-summer cuts, the relation was I = 1.01 D + 14.6 � 4.0 (P < 0.01) and within the winter cuts it was I = 1.08D - 5.9 � 4.1 (P < 0.01).

Relations between fibre and water soluble carbohydrate contents of pasture species and their digestibility and voluntary intake by sheep

1973 ◽  
Vol 13 (61) ◽  
pp. 165 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Composition ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Dry Matter ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Dry Matter Digestibility ◽  
Voluntary Intake ◽  
Water Soluble Carbohydrate

Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels were determined on 80 samples of known apparent dry matter digestibility (DMD) and voluntary intake of dry matter (DMI). The pastures consisted of regrowths of six species: Trifolium repens (white clover cv. Grasslands Huia), Lolium perenne x L. multiflorum (short rotation ryegrass c.v Grasslands Manawa), Lolium perenne (long rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Ariki), Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmania No. I), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Currie) and Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui), cut eight times between May 1969 and August 1970. Overall, white clover had a lower NDF and a lower WSC content than the ryegrasses but both groups had similar ADF contents. Cocksfoots had higher NDF and ADF, and lower WSC contents than the ryegrasses. NDF and ADF could be used to predict the DMD of all species in all seasons with residual standard deviations (RSD) of 3.0 and 3.2 DMD units (per cent) respectively. No significant relations (P < 0.05) were present between DMD and WSC content. Seasonal differences were present in the relations between DMI and chemical composition. The RSD of the overall regressions of intake with NDF, ADF, and WSC contents were 9.3, 9.4, and 8.9 DMI units (g/day/kg0.75) respectively. Within seasons, DMI was best predicted by regressions with detergent fibre content and here the RSD had a range of 3.4 to 5.2 DMI units. Within species over all seasons, DMI was predicted best by regressions with WSC content and the RSD had a range of 5.7 to 7.9 DMI units. The usefulness of the chemical composition measurements in explaining the reason for the low intakes, previously found with winter pasture, is discussed.

Differences between Tasmanian forage genera in the relation between in vitro and in vivo digestibility

1978 ◽  
Vol 18 (94) ◽  
pp. 714 ◽  
Author(s):  
P Michell
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Lolium Multiflorum ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Short Rotation ◽  
Group A ◽  
Group B

In vivo and in vitro organic matter digestibilities (OMD's) were determined on cuts of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass cv. Tasmanian No. I ) , Lolium perenne (long rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands ariki), Lolium perenne x L. multiflorum (short rotation ryegrass cv. Grasslands Manawa), Lolium multiflorum (tama ryegrass cv. Grasslands Tama) Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Grasslands Apanui), Dactylis glomerata (cocksfoot cv. Currie), Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue cv. Demeter), Avena sativa (oats cv., Blythe), Phalaris tuberosa (phalaris cv. Australian), Trifoleum repens (white clover cv. Grasslands Huia) Medicago sativa (lucerne cv. Hunter River), Brassica napus (rape cv. Rangi) and Brassica oleracea (kale cv. Chou moellier). Linear regressions relating in vitro and in vivo OMD were calculated for the individual generic groups. There were no significant differences between the regressions of ryegrass, cocksfoot, phalaris, oats and lucerne (P > 0.05) (group A) or between clover and brassicas (P > 0.05) (group 6). However, the combined regression for group A (y = 0.78 x + 13.0) was significantly different from that of group B (y = 0.76 x + 19.1 ) (P < 0.01 ) and both were significantly different from the fescue regression (y = 1.23 x - 24.4) (P < 0.01 ). The in vitro technique underestimated the in vivo OMD of white clover and the brassicas by about 4.5 units and over-estimated that of fescue by about 3 units, relative to the other species. These differences were not caused by a modification of the in vitro method in which final residues were collected by filtering through sintered glass crucibles rather than by centrifuging. However, the filtering method gave in vitro results averaging 7.2 per cent higher than the centrifuging method.

scholarly journals Productivity of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) alone and associated with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.)

2017 ◽  
Vol 46 (12) ◽  
pp. 890-895
Author(s):  
María de los Ángeles Maldonado Peralta ◽  
Adelaido Rafael Rojas García ◽  
Nicolás Torres Salado ◽  
Jerónimo Herrera Pérez ◽  
Santiago Joaquín Cancino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Trifolium Repens ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Orchard Grass ◽  
Trifolium Repens L ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata L

scholarly journals Can pasture persistence be improved through the use of nonryegrass species?

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
G.D. Milne
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Tall Fescue ◽  
Festuca Arundinacea ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Nutrient Deficiencies ◽  
Recent Discussion

Recent discussion about pasture persistence concentrates on pastures based on perennial ryegrass, the most commonly used grass species. This paper raises the question as to whether some of the causes of poor pasture persistence are due to perennial ryegrass being used in environments to which it is not suited. The adaptation to environmental stresses, particularly water, temperature and nutrient deficiencies, in different regions of New Zealand of tall fescue, cocksfoot, phalaris, and lucerne are discussed, and how this impacts on persistence advantages over perennial ryegrass. Keywords: persistence, pasture, Dactylis glomerata, Festuca arundinacea, Lolium perenne, Medicago sativa, Phalaris aquatica

Rumen volatile fatty acids on six pasture species and relations with digestibility, voluntary intake and chemical composition

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (67) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
PJ Michell
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
White Clover ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Dactylis Glomerata ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Water Soluble ◽  
Soluble Carbohydrate ◽  
Seasonal Differences

The total concentration and the relative proportions of the volatile fatty acids (VFA) were measured in rumens of sheep fed 78 single species pasture samples. The pastures consisted of regrowths of white clover (Trifolium repens cv. Grasslands Huia), Manawa regrass (Lolium perenne x multiflorum cv. Grasslands Manawa), Ariki ryegrass (Lolium (multiflorum x perenne) x L. perenne cv. Grasslands Ariki), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. Tasmania No. 1) , Currie cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Currie) and Apanui cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata cv. Grasslands Apanui), cut eight times between May, 1969 and August, 1970. Sheep fed cocksfoot had lower VFA concentrations, higher proportions of acetate (HAc) and lower proportions of butyrate (HBu) than sheep fed white clover and ryegrass (P < 0.05). They also had lower proportions of propionate (HPr) than sheep fed ryegrass (P < 0.05). Sheep fed white clover had higher proportions of valerate (HVa) than those fed the grasses (P < 0.05). There were no significant (P < 0.05) seasonal differences in total VFA concentration but HAc was lowest with spring pasture (P < 0.05) and HBu was lowest with autumn pasture (P < 0.05). Total VFA concentration was positively related to digestibility (DMD) (r = +0.52, P < 0.01) but species differences occurred and at similar DMD, white clover produced higher concentrations than ryegrass (P < 0.05) which produced higher concentrations than cocksfoot (P < 0.01). The overall relation between total VFA and intake (DMI) was weak but seasonal differences occurred and at similar levels of DMI, winter pasture produced higher VFA concentrations than spring-summer pasture (P < 0.01). The proportion of HPr was positively related to VFA concentration (r = +0.53, P < 0.01) and to water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content (r = +0.51, P < 0.01) and relations with DMD and DM1 were weak and non-significant (P > 0.05).

A 6-year comparison of nitrate leaching from grass/clover and N-fertilized grass pastures grazed by sheep

1998 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. P. CUTTLE ◽  
R. V. SCURLOCK ◽  
B. M. S. DAVIES
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Nitrate Leaching ◽  
White Clover ◽  
N Fertilizer ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Fertilizer N ◽  
Leaching Losses ◽  
High Spatial Variability

Nitrate leaching was measured over a 3-year period from rotationally grazed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) pasture receiving 200 kg fertilizer-N/ha and from similarly grazed ryegrass/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture that received no N fertilizer. The results are discussed together with those from the same plots in the preceding 3 years when they were stocked continuously. Under both managements, the numbers of grazing sheep were adjusted on the basis of the quantity of herbage available on the plots. During the whole 6 years, mean nitrate concentrations in soil water collected by porous cup samplers remained below the European Union limit of 11·3 mg N/l except for the fertilized grass plots in year 5 of the study. Quantities of nitrate leached ranged from 6 to 34 kg/ha per year from the grass/clover plots and 2·46 kg/ha from the fertilized plots. Leaching losses from both types of pasture were positively correlated with the numbers of lamb grazing days in the later part of the grazing season. This relationship and the high spatial variability associated with the measurements indicated that N derived from excreta was the main source of leached nitrate. It was concluded that, where pastures of equal productivity are compared, similar quantities of N are likely to be leached from grass/clover swards as from grass swards receiving N fertilizer.

Quantifying the ruminal degradation of nutrients in three cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) sampled during early spring and summer

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 370
Author(s):  
M. L. Douglas ◽  
M. J. Auldist ◽  
J. L. Jacobs ◽  
M. C. Hannah ◽  
S. C. Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Milk Production ◽  
Lolium Perenne ◽  
Perennial Ryegrass ◽  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Crude Protein ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Lolium Perenne L ◽  
Neutral Detergent Fibre ◽  
Ruminal Degradation ◽  
Degradable Protein

Context The Australian dairy industry is characterised by pasture-based feeding systems, where grazed pasture is commonly supplemented with cereal grain to increase milk production of dairy cows. Perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) is the most commonly used pasture species, with a wide range of cultivars available. However, the nutritive characteristics and the degradation of nutrients in individual PRG cultivars grown in different environments in Australia are unknown, and significant variation between cultivars may impact on supplementary nutrient requirements. Aims The objective of this experiment was to quantify the extent of ruminal degradation of nutrients in three contrasting PRG cultivars (Bealey NEA2, Trojan NEA2 and Victorian SE) harvested during early spring and summer from Gippsland, northern Victoria and south-west Victoria in Victoria, Australia. Methods Degradation parameters were determined by in situ incubation in the rumens of non-lactating, rumen-fistulated Holstein–Friesian cows for 72 h using a nylon bag technique. Key results During both seasons, Bealey NEA2 had the greatest effective degradability of crude protein and neutral detergent fibre compared with Trojan NEA2 and Victorian SE. Cultivars harvested during early spring had greater effective degradability of crude protein and neutral detergent fibre, and a greater amount of rumen degradable protein compared with cultivars harvested during summer. Cultivars harvested from Gippsland had greater crude protein and neutral detergent fibre effective degradability, as well as a greater amount of rumen degradable protein, whereas cultivars harvested from northern Victoria had a greater amount of undegraded dietary protein. Conclusions These results demonstrate that the ruminal degradation of PRG cultivars declines with increasing maturity, and that there are differences between cultivars and regions; however, differences between seasons are of a greater magnitude and are more important to consider when formulating optimal supplementary grain rations. Implications This research has positive implications for farmers who will be able to understand the degradation of nutrients in PRG, and the amounts of rumen degradable protein and undegraded dietary protein available from pasture during each season. Farmers will be able to use this information to formulate supplementary grain rations that complement the nutrients from pasture and optimise milk production.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document