bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
THE USE OF CATTLE WITH OESOPHAGEAL FISTULAE IN GRASSLAND EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Alder F. E. 
Published: April 2006

Oesophageal‐fistulated calves and cattle were used in various experiments during 1963 to 1966; results for 1966 are reported.The method of inserting the fistula, the routine care of the animals and the methods of sampling through the fistula, are described.Individual stall‐feeding experiments in 1966 gave recovery values of 99.7% for herbage extruded through the fistulae, in relation to herbage eaten. The in vitro organic‐matter digestibility of the grass offered and of the extrusa samples were identical. The digestibility of the grass fed in these experiments was high, but was comparable with that of herbage used in the grazing experiments reported. Grazing studies on grass/white clover pastures are reported. The digestibility was determined on all samples and they were separated into various plant fractions. Results obtained were compared with herbage samples cut at the same time. In most cases the digestibility and % N of the extrusa sample was higher than that of the corresponding herbage sample. The quantity of dead material present increased, and more was eaten, as the season advanced; it was of low digestibility. Results of intake studies with grazing animals are presented and the use of oesophagea‐istulated cattle as an aid in such studies is discussed.
LOSSES IN THE NUTRITIVE VALUE OF HEAVILY‐WILTED HERBAGE ENSILED IN EVACUATED AND NON‐EVACUATED POLYTHENE CONTAINERS
Authors: Jackson Norman 
Published: April 2006

A conservation experiment is described in which the losses entailed in ensiling heavily‐wilted herbage of 37–43% dry‐matter content either by complete sealing in polythene alone, or by complete sealing followed by evacuation of air, were investigated.The metabolizable energy values of the grass and silages were determined, and the silage volatile‐acids fraction investigated by gas chromatography. The results indicate that there are no significant fermentation differences between the two types of silage. The mean dry‐matter loss for the sealed, unevacuated silos was 6.5% and for the evacuated silos 7.8%. These losses, and the individual crude‐ and digestible‐nutrient losses, are discussed in relation to other published work.
INFLUENCE OF NITROGENOUS AND PHOSPHATIC FERTILIZERS ON SETARIA SPHACELATA IN SOUTH AFRICA
Authors: Malherbe C. E. 
Published: April 2006

In an experiment in which three levels of P and five levels of N fertilizer were applied, it was found that at the highest levels of fertilization the hay yields were increased fourfold, the percentage of crude protein was doubled, the crude‐protein yield increased sevenfold, and the P uptake increased five times over those of the control. This increased production was mainly a result of the use of N fertilizer, although significant PxN interactions were obtained at the higher levels of N fertilizer. By itself, P fertilizer had little effect on any of the above increased yields. It would appear that very much higher production, especially of CP and P, might be attained, if even higher levels of fertilizer were applied.Basing income on hay yields and expenditure on fertilizer costs, the greatest profit was obtained from the higher levels of fertilization. This applied especially to N fertilizer.
PATTERNS OF SPRING GROWTH IN SWARDS OF DIFFERENT GRASS VARIETIES
Authors: Davies Alison , Calder D. M. 
Published: April 2006

Production of dry matter by swards of ryegrass and cocksfoot varieties in winter and spring is dependent on a number of growth processes, each with different environmental requirements. Growth in the strict sense with the production of new leaves has been found to continue throughout the winter in Aberystwyth, although the rate of production fell very low during periods when the mean air temperature approached freezing, especially in cocksfoot varieties.Because of the ceiling set by the natural balance between leaf death and leaf formation, net increases in weight of above–ground parts in undefoliated plants may not occur for extended periods during winter. When, however, tiller numbers start to increase, or the ceiling is raised by an increase in size of tillers, dry–weight increases can come about. The extension of leaves and intern odes in spring, measured in terms of sward height, seems to be largely governed by flower initiation. A certain degree of extension was found to be present before this in an Algerian type.Practical distinctions between early and late types, which are based on flowering dates or sward height, or on parameters influenced by these characters, are not associated with similar differences in production of above–ground parts. These distinctions do not, therefore, permit a completely full and accurate picture to be obtained of winter– and spring–growth potentials in different varieties.
SOURCES OF VARIATION IN THE IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF TROPICAL GRASSES
Authors: McLeod M. N. , Minson D. J. 
Published: April 2006

The in vitro DM digestibility of four tropical pasture species, Cenchrus ciliaris, Chloris gayana, Digitaria spp., Setaria spp. and one temperate grass, Lolium perenne, were studied, using the method described by Tilley and Terry (13). In vitro digestibility was affected by fineness of grinding, sample size, pH of original rumen fluid and size of rumen fluid inoculum. Different relations were found between the in vivo and in vitro results for the five species, with a maximum predicted difference of 3–5 digestibility units.It was considered that the in vivo digestibility of tropical grasses could be accurately predicted by this method, provided that the procedure was standardized and samples of known in vivo digestibility similar to those being tested are included in each run.
THE USE OF LIVEWEIGHT–GAIN TRIALS FOR PASTURE EVALUATION IN THE TROPICS
Authors: Stobbs T. H. 
Published: April 2006

A grazing experiment is described in which the liveweight gains of small East African Zebu heifers were measured from Hyparrhenia rufa/Stylosanthes gracilis and H. rufa/Centrosema pubescens swards. The design of this trial enabled animal production to be assessed from variations in liveweight gain since stocking rate was maintained at the same level on both pastures, but the overall stocking rate was varied according to seasonal changes in herbage availability.Production was measured both by using individual animals within a group as independent units, and by true animal replication. Gains from individual animal blocks were shown to be of value for comparing pasture species, provided that the composition of the grazing group was varied. Problems of conducting and interpreting small–scale grazing trials as means for evaluating pastures are discussed.
A COMPARISON OF THE EFFECT OF ITALIAN RYEGRASS AND TALL FESCUE MIXTURES ON THE FOLLOWING CROPS OF KALE AND BARLEY
Authors: Charles A. H. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe effects of preeropping with Italian ryegrass and tall fescue mixtures on marrow‐stem kale (1st test crop) and barley (2nd test crop) were measured.Application of N to the grass/clover swards reduced the yield of DM, P, K, Na, Mg, crude protein and also the percentage crude protein in the kale test‐crop.Following the tall fescue swards, the yield of DM, P, Na, Ca, Mg and E, crude protein and percentage crude protein in the kale were lower than after the Italian ryegrass swards. These effects were particularly evident in the kale stem.Interactions occurred which involved the method used to establish the herbage mixtures, the application of N to the swards and of fertilizers to the kale. These effects were complex, but the method of sward establishment could clearly affect the following kale crop grown several years later.The influence of grass swards on the second test‐crop (spring barley) was much smaller than on kale. Precropping with Italian ryegrass or using a cover crop during grassland establishment reduced 1000‐grain weight of barley. The crude protein percentage in barley grain was reduced by the compound fertilizer applied to the previous kale crop, particularly when no cover crop had been used during establishment of the herbage mixtures. The converse of these effects was recorded in the crude‐protein percentage of the straw of the barley test‐crop.
THE FEEDING VALUE OF SILAGES MADE FROM WHOLE‐CROP BARLEY
Authors: WILKINS R. J. , OSBOURN D. F. , TAYLER J. C. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTWhole crops of barley were conserved and fed to sheep and cattle. In the first experiment the barley was cut at the mealy‐ripe stage of growth and conserved by ensilage or by drying artificially. Cattle and sheep lost weight when the resulting silages were fed ad lib.; wilting the crop before ensiling did not improve the performance. Sheep fed artificially‐dried whole‐crop barley increased in liveweight; and the intake of this was significantly higher than that of the silages.In the second experiment, barley was cut and ensiled at the watery‐ripe, mealy‐ripe and late mealy‐ripe stages of growth. Intakes and levels of performance by sheep fed these silages did not differ with the growth stage at which the crop was harvested, but supplementation of the silages with lucerne pellets resulted in large improvements in performance.
COMPARATIVE STUDIES OF PERENNIAL RYEGRASS, TIMOTHY AND MEADOW FESCUE
Authors: Alder F. E. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe growth of calves grazing pure swards of perennial ryegrass, timothy and meadow fescue at low grazing pressure was measured. Organic‐matter intake was estimated on three occasions during the grazing season. In 1963 rest periods of 7 days in April and May and of 21 days in June‐Octoher were used hetween 7‐day grazing periods. In 1964 the effect of long (35–55 days) and short (15–25 days) rest periods hetween 3.5‐day grazing periods were compared. There were no measurable differences in intake hetween the calves on the three grass species in 1963. In 1964 faecal production was higher with timothy than with the other species and with small differences in digestihility, the intake on this species was higher. The faecal production and intake were higher, hut not significantly so, with the long‐rest management in the second year. The liveweight gains of the calves grazing the three species were similar in 1963; in 1964 gains with meadow fescue were lower than with the other species from 13 April to 22 June but this was the only significant difference. The results obtained on slaughtering the calves at the end of each summer are presented.
THE USE OF LIVEWEIGHT‐GAIN TRIALS FOR PASTURE EVALUATION IN THE TROPICS
Authors: Stobbs T. H. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe problems of designing, conducting and interpreting the results of grazing trials to evaluate tropical pasture mixtures are discussed in relation to an experiment wbich measured the effect of three fixed stocking rates upon two grass/legume pastures. A uniformity trial prior to grazing indicated considerable soil variability, which necessitated ground replication. Sequential grazing of three pasture replicates at a fixed stocking rate and a fixed interval of grazing resulted in sites of low fertility being heavily penalized. Such a form of replication was of value for measuring the effect of treatments upon sward composition, and, to a lesser extent, variation in animal production, within the experiment area. Differences in animal production between pasture species were small when compared with the effect of various stocking rates, emphasizing the need for an objective assessment of stocking rate when evaluating pasture species. Fixed‐stocking‐rate designs have more general application in the tropics because they are easier to conduct, and the results are repeatable and can be extrapolated to farm practice.
SOME EFFECTS OF MECHANICAL TREATMENTS AND SURFACE SOWING ON ROUGH HILL GRAZINGS
Authors: Warboys I. B. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTAn experiment involving two adjacent, but contrasting, sites was conducted to examine the effect of using the rotary cultivator and the forage harvester as instruments in the improvement of indigenous hill swards at 1600 ft alt. by surfaee sowing. On a dry sward dominated by Nardus/ Festuca, both an autumn and a spring rotary cultivation were necessary to give the highest number of established seedlings. This also resulted in the greatest improvement in hotanieal composition. On a wetter Molinia‐dominant sward, two separate rotary cultivations did not increase seedling establishment, compared with a single rotary cultivation. On the dry site, an autumn and a spring topping with a forage harvester established fewer seedlings, but on the wetter site the difference as compared with rotary‐cultivation treatments was not significant. On this wetter site, topping by forage harvester gave an improved botanical composition by effecting a reduction in Festuca species to give a sward dominated by Agrostis and timothy.
GRAZING BEHAVIOUR AND WEIGHT CHANGES IN CALVES TURNED OUT TO PASTURE
Authors: Wilkinson J. M. , Cumberland P. H. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTTwo studies are described in which the behaviour of 24 seven‐month‐old Friesian steer calves was observed. The first study (G1) was undertaken at the time of turnout to pasture, and the second (G2) 5 days later. The calves appeared to adapt rapidly to the change in environment, though in study G1 grazing was frequently interrupted. In study G2 the calves showed normal behaviour patterns and spent a total of 4.25 hours grazing.There was a positive correlation between age and weight at turnout and time spent grazing in study G1. However, this relationship was not apparent in G2, and there was no relationship between time spent grazing in G1 and G2.Mean weight loss upon turnout was 7.44% of live weight, in spite of the feeding of hay and barley at grass. There was no relationship between weight at turnout and subsequent weight loss.The results confirmed other experimental findings which suggest that weight loss at turnout is largely a reflection of changes in the weight of alimentary tract contents, rather than an inability to adapt to the change in environment.The calves were grazed at two intensities (‘low’ and ‘standard’) during the grazing season. Growth rate in winter and weight at turnout were negatively correlated with growth rate in the first month of the grazing season. This relationship was more apparent in the ‘low’ intensity group which received a liberal daily herbage allowance at this stage of the season. Partial correlation analysis, in which pre‐grazing growth rate was held constant, indicated that weight and age had little independent influence on growth rate at grass, though there was a positive relationship between weight for age at turnout and gain during the grazing season.The importance of a target weight at turnout is discussed in relation to the 18‐month beef production system. It is concluded that younger, lighter, cattle at turnout may not be at a disadvantage when adequate amounts of herbage are on offer early in the grazing season.
REGROWTH OF S24 RYEGRASS AND ITS RELATION TO YIELD MEASUREMENT OF GRAZED SWARDS
Authors: Wilson D. B. , Robson M. J. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe re growth of S24 ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) plants was studied during 4 days, following defoliation to stuhble heights of 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 cm. The weight of regrowth produced by plants cut to 6‐cm stubhie heights and higher was equal to the weight increment of uncut plants above the same heights. During the 4 days the weight of the stubble segment between 0 and 2 cm decreased in plants cut to 2 or 4 cm, but was maintained or increased in plants cut to 6 cm or higher. Weights of the 2‐ to 4‐ to 6‐cm stubble segments were just maintained at the lower cutting heights, but were increased by the same amount as in uncut plants at the highest cutting height. The percentage of water‐soluble carbohydrates in all stubble segments decreased following defoliation, but the percentage of N did not change. Root weights were either maintained or increased, depending on the severity of cutting. In relation to grazing experiments, it is pointed out that where DM disappearance is taken as the difference hetween yield on a protected site and residue on a grazed site, too close cutting of the sample areas will give an overestimate of yield.
WHOLE–CROP WINTER BEANS (VICIA FABA L.) FOR CONSERVATION
Authors: Toynbee–Clarke Gillian 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTTwo trials with eight cultivars of winter beans were harvested as whole‐crop in 1967/8 and 1968/9. The aim was to investigate the potential of heans nnder whole‐crop management, and to assess their value as a proteio‐rich supplementary feed. Average DM yields of 106 hkg/ha were obtained for the control, and from 91 to 122 hkg/ha for other coltivars. Significant differences were found between the cultivars. At the cutting dates the crude‐protein content was in the range 13 to 18%, and digestihility (D) 55 to 67%. DM varied hetween the two seasons and was within the range of 15 to 29 and 16 to 38%, respectively. The optimum time for harvesting beans for whole‐crop conservation is when all the pods contain fully developed seeds.
THE ELECTRONIC MEASUREMENT OF THE YIELD OF RAPE (Brassica napus)
Authors: Lovett J. V. , Bofinger V. J. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe application of an electronic pasture probe to the measurement of rape is described. Measurements taken over two years demonstrated that good relationships could be established between probe readings and parameters of crop yield. Crop height, spatial distribution of crop profile, crop density and percentage DM were found to he significant factors in obtaining meaningful results.
THE EFFECT OF SOWING DENSITY AND CUTTING ON COMPETITION BETWEEN TWO PASTURE SPECIES GROWING IN MODEL POPULATIONS
Authors: Scarisbrick D. H. , Ivins J. D. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThree pot experiments are described in which perennial ryegrass (S23) and Plantago lanceolata (ribgrass) were grown alone and in mixed stands at varying densities and cent at different frequencies. With frequent cutting the yield of ryegrass was reduced to a greater extent than that of rihgrass, but the mean plant weights of both species were independent of sowing density. The pattern of competition was not altered by a single cutting treatment, the balance being quickly restored by the rapid regrowth of the ryegrass.
SILAGE AND MILK PRODUCTION, A COMPARISON BETWEEN WILTED AND UNWILTED GRASS SILAGES MADE WITH AND WITHOUT FORMIC ACID
Authors: Castle M. E. , Watson J. N. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThree grass silages, all made in mid‐Jnne from the same herbage, were compared in a 12‐week winter‐feeding experiment with 12 Ayrshire cows. The silages were fed ad lib. with a supplement of moist barley and gronndnut cake. Silage A was made from unwilted berbage with no additive, silage B from identical berbage treated with 1/2 gal of formic acidJton (2.24 L/tonne) of berbage, and silage C from the herbage after wilting for 28 b. the DM contents of silages A, B and C were 20.5, 21.1 and 31.8%, respectively, and the contents of digestible organic matter in the DM were 58.9, 68.8 and 67.8%. Silage and total DM intake were bigbest on the treatment containing silage B. the mean dafly milk yields on the treatments with sflages A, B and C were 35.1, 38.0 and 34.3 Ib (15.9, 17.2 and 15.6 kg), respectively and the solids‐not‐fat (S.N.F.) contents of the milk averaged 8.53, 8.54 and 8.50%. It is concluded tbat silage B, the unwilted silage with formic‐acid additive, was superior to botb the untreated and the wilted silage as a feed for dairy cows.
ERRORS IN MEASURING NITROGEN AND DRY–MATTER CONTENT OF PLANT AND FAECES MATERIAL
Authors: Sharkey M. J. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe N content of pasture species (Trifolium repens L. and Lolium perenne L.) was much less affected hy drying temperatures over the range 70° to 100°C, and hy the density of packing of the pasture sample, than was the amount of hrown colour resulting from these treatments. The DM content of faeces was measured with equal accuracy at temperatures of 80° and 100°C and in samples which varied in weight over a four‐fold range. The N lost while drying faeces at 80°C was considerable, with large variations in the amount lost by different animal species fed on particular diets. The results confirm that analyses of the N content of faeces should be carried out before drying.
FERTILIZER N AND THE YIELD OF CUT GRASS SWARDS IN EASTERN ENGLAND
Authors: Brockman J. S. , Shaw P. G. , Wolton K. M. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTSingle spring dressings of N were compared with split applications over the first two growth periods of the year at ten sites in eastern England in the period 1964–67. None of the four spring periods was unusually dry and the single application of N in spring did not outyield a similar total N rate applied some before and some after the first cut. At nine out of ten sites split applications of N yielded considerably more in the second growth period than the single spring dressing. It is concluded that the split applications of N in the spring, already shown superior to single dressings under moist west country conditions, are correct for many seasons in the drier east of England.
THE PLANT COMPONENT AS A FACTOR IN AMMONIA VOLATILIZATION FROM PASTURE SWARDS
Authors: McGarity J. W. , Hoult E. H. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTThe volatilization of ammonia which followed the application of urea to a pasture sod was determined over a period of 14 days. Significant ammonia losses were measured after foliar application of urea to sods in which the soil component had been previously isolated from the plant components by sealing the sods with an impermeable membrane. Losses of ammonia by volatilization over the experimental period were less from plant surfaces than from unsealed sods in which the soil contributed to losses. It is concluded that in addition to soil ureolytic activity, the plant and litter components of pastures may provide major pathways of loss in the N economy of grasslands.
EFFECTS OF WHITE CLOVER ON THE BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF SWARDS OF RYEGRASS, TIMOTHY AND MEADOW FESCUE AND MIXTURES OF THESE THREE
Authors: Chestnutt D. B. M. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTResults are presented to show the effect of white clover (Trifolium repens) and of applied N on the hotanical composition of swards sown with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perernne), timothy (Phleum pratense), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and mixtures of two and three of these species. White clover had a more favourahle effect on the growth of perennial ryegrass than on either timothy or meadow fescue both in terms of yield and in terms of tiller numbers. Tiller numbers of rough‐stalked meadow grass (Poa trivialis) were increased and tiller numbers of Agrostis species were reduced by application of N and by inclusion of clover. Possible reasons for these effects are considered.
PRODUCTIVITY OF ITALIAN AND PERENNIAL RYEGRASS MIXTURES
Authors: Hunt I. V. 
Published: April 2006

ABSTRACTItalian ryegrass cv. Leda and perennial ryegrass cv. Presto were sown alone and in five mixtures containing different proportions of viable seed and compared with hybrid ryegrass cv. Manawa and Italian ryegrass cv. S22. Yields and herbage composition were measured five times in 1962 and 1963, with particular reference to the contribution from perennial ryegrass in the first year and the effects of Italian ryegrass on second‐year production.Italian ryegrass dominated first‐year production wbile perennial ryegrass dominated second‐year production. Manawa was the top yielder in the first year, but both Manawa and S22 bebaved as Italian ryegrasses and were badly frosted and weedy in the second year. The mixtures were generally intermediate in yield between the components and tended towards the yield of the more vigorous component. Since the more vigorous component changed from cut to cut or from season to season, the sums of harvests sbowed some advantage for certain mixtures. Certain pairs of herbage varieties can be sown togetber witb yield advantage. Furtber physiological investigations are warranted and the breeder has a part to play in a search for complementary varieties.