scholarly journals Variations in plant forage quality in the range of the Porcupine caribou herd

Rangifer ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jill Johnstone ◽  
Donald E. Russell ◽  
Brad Griffith

Understanding potential impacts of vegetation change on caribou energetics requires information on variations in forage quality among different plant types and over time. We synthesized data on forage quality (nitrogen, neutral detergent fiber and dry matter digestibility) for 10 plant growth forms from existing scientific literature and from field research in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska. These data describe forage quality of plant species in habitats found within the summer and winter range of the Porcupine caribou herd in northwestern Canada and northern Alaska, U.S.A. We compared mean levels of summer forage quality among growth forms and, where possible, estimated seasonal changes in forage quality. Preferred forage groups (deciduous shrubs, forbs, and cottongrass flowers) had higher nitrogen and digestibility, and lower fiber content, than other growth forms. Nitrogen concentration in green biomass peaked at the onset of the growing season in forbs and deciduous shrubs, whereas graminoids reached peak nitrogen concentrations approximately 15-30 days after growth initiation. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and concentration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of green biomass differed among growth forms, but did not show strong seasonal changes. IVDMD and NDF concentrations were correlated with nitrogen concentrations in studies that had paired sampling.

Author(s):  
Abdullah Oktem ◽  
Celal Yucel ◽  
Ayse Gulgun Oktem

In this study, it was aimed to determine some forage quality characteristics of sweet sorghum genotypes in semi-arid climatic conditions. The experiment was set up in randomized complete block design with 4 replicates. Research was carried out in 2016 and 2017 under Harran Plain second crop conditions, Sanliurfa, Turkey. In the study 21 genotypes of sweet sorghum were used. Crude protein content, crude ash, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), dry matter digestibility, dry matter consumption, were determined in the study. Significant differences were found between the genotypes for tested characteristics (P≤0.01). According to average of two years, crude protein content ranged from 4.20% (Tracy) to 5.90% (USDA S.Africa), crude ash from 4.44% (Theis) to 6.90% (Topper 76), acid detergent fiber (ADF) from 27.84% (Nebraska sugar) to 36.30% (USDA-Zaire). The highest NDF value was obtained from USDA-Zaire genotype (56.49%) whereas the lowest values were seen at N98 genotype (43.11%). Dry matter digestibility values were between 60.62% (USDA-Zaire) and 67.21% (Nebraska sugar), dry matter consumption between 2.14% and 2.85%. The highest relative feed value was obtained from N98 genotype (148.95) whereas the lowest values were seen at USDA-Zaire genotype (101.00). Net energy values ranged from 1.38 Mcal kg-1 (USDA-Zaire) to 1.50 Mcal kg-1 (Nebraska sugar). Considering the properties examined in terms of feed quality, it was seen that the crude protein content and net energy value was low. But ADF, NDF, digestible dry matter, dry matter consumption and relative feed values were within acceptable levels. Nebraska sugar, Topper 76, N98, Roma, M81E, Tracy and Corina genotypes were found as the best for forage quality in sweet sorghum. It was determined that sweet sorghum can be used as a forage source.


Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 879
Author(s):  
Seong-Shin Lee ◽  
Jeong-Seok Choi ◽  
Dimas Hand Vidya Paradhipta ◽  
Young-Ho Joo ◽  
Hyuk-Jun Lee ◽  
...  

This research was conducted to determine the effects of selected inoculant on the silage with different wilting times. The ryes were unwilted or wilted for 12 h. Each rye forage was ensiled for 100 d in quadruplicate with commercial inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum sp.; LPT) or selected inoculant (Lactobacillus brevis 100D8 and Leuconostoc holzapfelii 5H4 at 1:1 ratio; MIX). In vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility were highest in the unwilted MIX silages (p < 0.05), and the concentration of ruminal acetate was increased in MIX silages (p < 0.001; 61.4% vs. 60.3%) by the increase of neutral detergent fiber digestibility. The concentration of ruminal ammonia-N was increased in wilted silages (p < 0.001; 34.8% vs. 21.1%). The yeast count was lower in the MIX silages than in the LPT silages (p < 0.05) due to a higher concentration of acetate in MIX silages (p < 0.05). Aerobic stability was highest in the wilted MIX silages (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the MIX inoculation increased aerobic stability and improved fiber digestibility. As a result of the wilting process, ammonia-N in silage decreased but ruminal ammonia-N increased. Notably, the wilted silage with applied mixed inoculant had the highest aerobic stability.


1988 ◽  
Vol 68 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-799 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. GIRARD ◽  
G. DUPUIS

In view of the large variation found in plant cell wall digestibilities with ruminants, an attempt was made to group 124 feeds into different lignification classes (clusters) on the basis of chemical characteristics. Each feed cluster was described using a structural coefficient [Formula: see text] that related the potentially digestible fiber (PDF, %) to the ratio between lignin and cell wall volume. The optimum number of clusters was determined iteratively by performing a regression of the apparent digestibility of dry matter at maintenance level (DDM1, %) against the PDF and cell soluble (SOL, %) contents of feeds. The [Formula: see text] coefficients varied from 0.05 (grains, N = 13) to 1.85 (corn silage, N = 3) and increased with the maturity of the grasses from 0.88 (legumes, vegetative cool season grasses, N = 26) to 1.33 (mature, cool season grasses, N = 19). Predicted PDF were closely correlated (r > 0.9, P < 0.01) to in vitro cell wall disappearances (IVCWD). Apparently digestible cell wall in four grasses and four legumes increased linearly with 96-h IVCWD and standard error (SE) was similar to the SE of predicted apparent digestible SOL from SOL concentrations. Assuming that similarity between SE could be also observed in larger samples, PDF and SOL were used in summative equations to predict apparent dry matter digestibility. DDM1 discounted for intake (DDM1 – 4, %) was regressed against SOL and PDF concentrations of 87 feeds:[Formula: see text]with ds and df, the true digestibilities of SOL and PDF. Estimates of ds and df were 0.98 and 0.95 for a zero-production (maintenance) level of intake, and 0.91 and 0.79 for an intake level four times maintenance. Since the true digestibility of the PDF component was only 4% – 13% lower than that of the cell soluble component, the concentration of PDF in cell wall was the major determinant in the variation in apparent digestibility of forages. Key words: lignin, neutral detergent fiber, true digestibility, cluster analysis, feeds


Bragantia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 71 (3) ◽  
pp. 394-399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Djeimi Isabel Janisch ◽  
Jerônimo Luiz Andriolo ◽  
Vinícius Toso ◽  
Kamila Gabriele Ferreira dos Santos ◽  
Jéssica Maronez de Souza

The objective of this research was to determine growth and dry matter partitioning among organs of strawberry stock plants under five Nitrogen concentrations in the nutrient solution and its effects on emission and growth of runner tips. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions, from September 2010 to March 2011, in a soilless system with Oso Grande and Camino Real cultivars. Nitrogen concentrations of 5.12, 7.6, 10.12 (control), 12.62 and 15.12 mmol L-1 in the nutrient solution were studied in a 5x2 factorial randomised experimental design. All runner tips bearing at least one expanded leaf (patent requested) were collected weekly and counted during the growth period. The number of leaves, dry matter (DM) of leaves, crown and root, specific leaf area and leaf area index (LAI) was determined at the final harvest. Increasing N concentration in the nutrient solution from 5.12 to 15.12 mmol L-1 reduces growth of crown, roots and LAI of strawberry stock plants but did not affect emission and growth of runner tips. It was concluded that for the commercial production of plug plants the optimal nitrogen concentration in the nutrient solution should be 5.12 mmol L-1.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (5) ◽  
pp. 2071
Author(s):  
João De Assis Farias Filho ◽  
Fabiana Luiza Matielo de Paula ◽  
Adalberto Luiz de Paula ◽  
Wagner Paris ◽  
Fabrício Ghinzelli ◽  
...  

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization on the bromatological quality, forage production, and botanical and structural composition of Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) pastures overseeded with black oat (Avena strigosa). Four treatments were evaluated in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme (irrigated and non-irrigated × fertilized and non-fertilized), with three replicates, in a completely randomized design. In irrigated paddocks, the irrigation system was activated when the soil matric potential reached a value equal to, or higher than, 10 kPa and 135 kg N ha-1 was applied to fertilized paddocks, divided into four applications. The forage mass pre- and post-grazing, total forage production, and the botanical, structural, and bromatological composition of the pastures were evaluated. No interaction was observed between the irrigation and nitrogen fertilization factors for any of the variables and no significant differences were observed in forage mass between pre- and post-grazing or in Tifton leaf and stem percentages. Nitrogen fertilization had a significant effect on forage production, which was 2626.41 kg dry matter (DM) ha-1 higher in fertilized pastures than in unfertilized pastures. In addition, fertilization resulted in a lower percentage of dead material (6.66%), higher percentage of oat leaves (30.84%), higher leaf:stem ratio (1:45), higher crude protein content (24.13%), lower levels of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) (64.57%) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) (32.86%), and higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (73.01%) than in unfertilized pastures. The use of irrigation did not influence total forage production, however, it resulted in pastures with lower NDF (65.97%) and ADF (33.54%), and higher in vitro dry matter digestibility (73.48%) than unirrigated pastures. Nitrogen fertilization produced improvements in pasture structure, associated with higher dry matter yield and bromatological quality, while irrigation only produced pastures with lower fiber content and greater digestibility.


1969 ◽  
Vol 98 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-177
Author(s):  
Rafael Ramos-Santana ◽  
Yamil Quijano-Cabrera ◽  
Raúl Macchiavelli

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the dry matter yield and quality performance of Maralfalfa forage obtained at six harvest intervals (HI; 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90 d) on three dairies in northern Puerto Rico during the long day season. The 40-day harvest interval was significantly (P < 0.05) inferior in dry matter yield to those of 60, 80, and 90 days; no significant (P < 0.05) differences in yield were observed among intervals of 40, 50 and 70 days. The 40-day interval showed the highest forage quality as indicated by crude protein content, digestibility in vitro of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber, and estimated net energy, index of relative forage quality and theoretical milk production. Although significant (P < 0.05) differences were observed in some of these criteria between 40- and 50-day harvest intervals, the latter maintained a good nutritional value in contrast to drastic losses in quality observed with the longer harvest intervals under study. The simple regression equations between digestibility in vitro of dry matter and of neutral detergent fiber versus harvest interval showed a decrease in digestibility of 2.7 and 3.0 percentage points for each additional 10 days of harvest interval, respectively.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel Arcanjo MOREIRA FILHO ◽  
Arnaud Azevêdo ALVES ◽  
Bruno Spíndola GARCEZ ◽  
Antonia Leidiana MOREIRA ◽  
Danielle Maria Machado Ribeiro AZEVÊDO ◽  
...  

SUMMARY This experiment evaluated the correlation between the estimates of fecal digestibility and dry matter digestibility (DMD) and nutrients obtained using internal (indigestibles dry materiDM, neutral detergent fiber-iNDF, acid detergent fiber-iADF and acid detergent ligniniADL) and external (chromium oxide-Cr2O3, titanium dioxide-TiO2, and purified and enriched lignin from eucalyptus-LIPE®) markers and the values obtained by the total feces collection method. Twenty uncastrated male sheep, with 29.64±5.53 kg average live weight; approximately 12 months old, were kept in metabolic cages and fed diets containing untreated sugarcane-top hay or sugarcane-top hay hydrolyzed with 3 and 6% urea or 1.5 and 3% calcium oxide (CaO). There was a positive correlation (P<.05) between the fecal production estimated by the markers and via total feces collection, with coefficients higher than 90% for iDM, Cr2O3, and TiO2. The DMD and nutrients estimated with the use of markers was positively correlated (P<.05) with that obtained by total feces collection. Coefficients of correlation for digestibility obtained by total collection were higher than those obtained with Cr2O3, but close to those obtained using TiO2. The coefficient of correlation between the digestibility of protein and fiber fraction estimated with iDM and iNDF and that obtained by total collection was higher than 70%. Internal marker iDM and external markers Cr2O3 and TiO2 are effective in estimating fecal production and DMD and nutrients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 2045 ◽  
Author(s):  
Flávio Pinto Monção ◽  
Marco Aurélio Moraes Soares Costa ◽  
João Paulo Sampaio Rigueria ◽  
Marielly Maria Almeida Moura ◽  
Vicente Ribeiro Rocha Júnior ◽  
...  

The objective was to evaluate the productivity, chemical composition, ruminal degradability of dry matter and digestibility of BRS capiaçu grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) managed at five regrowth ages. A completely randomized design with ten replications was used in the BRS capiaçu elephant grass subjected to five cutting intervals (30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days) in the summer, making a total of 50 plots with a useful area of 4 x 2 m. There were daily increases in the dry matter production in the order of 382 kg ha-1, with 49,859 kg ha-1 being produced at 150 regrowth days. The dry matter content and organic matter linearly increased (P < 0.01) at different regrowth ages. The crude protein content, in vitro dry matter digestibility and in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber linearly reduced (P < 0.01) 0.037%, 0.196% and 0.256% per day, respectively. Potential degradability of dry matter decreased from 68.9% at 30 days to 44.7% at 150 regrowth days (0.194 percentage units per day). The rate of degradation of fraction B 'c' was not modified (P = 0.94), averaging 1.46% hour-1. In the cultivation of BRS capiaçu elephant grass in the summer season, in the northern region of Minas Gerais, the age for harvesting between 90 and 120 days of regrowth is recommended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1045-1052
Author(s):  
Mateus Merlo Coelho ◽  
Lúcio Carlos Gonçalves ◽  
José Avelino Santos Rodrigues ◽  
Kelly Moura Keller ◽  
Gustavo Vinícius de Souza dos Anjos ◽  
...  

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of re-ensiling and bacterial inoculation on the quality of corn silage. The experiment was carried out in a 2x2 factorial design with or without inoculant (association of Lactobacillus plantarum and Propionibacterium acidipropionici), and with re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure or only ensiling of the whole plant of 'BRS 1055' corn. The fermentative quality, nutritional parameters, dry matter losses, aerobic stability, and microbiological counts of silages were evaluated. Re-ensiling caused an increase of pH and in acetic acid and propionic acid concentrations, as well as in the dry matter (DM), crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and neutral detergent fiber crude protein contents. Conversely, there was a reduction in the nonfiber carbohydrates concentration and in in vitro dry matter digestibility for the re-ensiled material. All changes were explained by the higher-effluent production and DM loss of re-ensiled material that was subjected to two compactions. Microbiology was not altered by the treatments. The use of inoculant altered ash content, but it did not influence other parameters. In contrast, re-ensiling after 36 hours of aerobic exposure caused a reduction in the nutritive value of corn silage and accentuated the DM losses.


1976 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 417-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. S. Bunting

SUMMARYPost-anthesis trends in yield and forage quality of dry matter in components of the maize shoot were studied in experiments with barren and fertile plants grown at 10 plants/m2. In fertile plants, which had a maximum shoot DW 6 or 7% higher than barren ones, the stems (including leaf sheaths) yielded 5 t/ha (42% shoot DW) 30 days after flowering, declining to 3·5 t/ha (26% DW) at final harvest 60 days later. During this period the ear increased by more than 4 t/ha, from 23 to 50% of shoot DW, whereas in barren plants there was little change in DM distribution, with the stem representing about 48% shoot DW, leaf and husk together 40–45% and the ear (rachis only) less than 10%. DM percentage of shoots was similar in barren and fertile plants until maximum DW was attained about 60 days after flowering, after which fertile plants dried more rapidly. In vitro dry matter digestibility was as high in barren as in fertile plants, and the analytical data on forage quality do not suggest that it was positively associated with grain content.


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