bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of addition of cell wall degrading enzymes on the chemical composition and the in sacco degradation of grass silage
Authors: VAN VUUREN A. M. , BERGSMA K. , FROL‐KRAMER F. , VAN BEERS J. A. C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractHerbage (83%Lolium perenne and 17%Trifolium repens) was harvested 15,28 and 42 d after second cut, and ensiled in 1.5 liter preserving jars either directly, at 20% dry matter (DM), or wilted (30 and 45% DM). Each variant was ensiled with and without a commercial preparation of cell wall degrading enzymes and stored for 90 d at 30°C. Samples were then incubated in nylon bags in the rumens of three cannulated cows for 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 288 h to study the in sacco degradation of organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), and (hemi) cellulose.Addition of cell wall degrading enzymes significantly decreased cell wall content. The magnitude Of the decrease was influenced by stage of maturity and DM percentage. Maturity increased the DM content as well as decreasing the effect of enzymes on cell wall components. Lactic acid content increased and the pH value and ammonia (P < 0.05) decreased, indicating a greater extent of fermentation in the enzyme‐treated silages. Enzyme treatment had no effect on the content of digestible OM estimated by in vitro incubations.The undegradable fractions of OM, CP and cell wall components were not significantly changed by the addition of enzymes. The results suggest that the cell wall degrading enzymes affected the insoluble, rumen‐degradable fractions, thereby increasing the instantly degradable fractions. Consequently, the calculated effective degradation of OM and CP in the enzyme‐treated silages was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than in the untreated silages.
Water‐soluble carbohydrates in perennial ryegrass breeding
Authors: HUMPHREYS M. O. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractWater‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents of the early heading perennial ryegrass cultivar Aurora and five late heading cultivars were assessed in samples from 1 m × 2 m plots cut eight times in 1983 and five times in 1984. Despite fluctuations due to effects of the environment and plant development, the ranking of the cultivars in terms of WSC generally remained constant. Aurora had the highest overall WSC content. Majestic and Aberystwyth S23 had the lowest while Perma, Melle and Ba 9795 were intermediate. In the same trial, the ranking of the F2 hybrids between the late heading cultivars and Aurora was also consistent with that obtained previously in F1 and F2 spaced plants. Melle F2 families had the highest WSC followed by Perma F2, Ba 9795 F2, S23 F2 and finally Majestic F2 families. This ranking also remained constant over a generation of intense selection for uniformity of heading date. It was concluded that WSC is a consistent and heritable trait in breeding perennial ryegrass. Aurora was a good resource for improving WSC but the turf‐type perennial ryegrass. Majestic, had a strong negative effect on WSC content in hybrid material.
Evaluation studies in the development of a commercial bacterial inoculant as an additive for grass silage
Authors: ANDERSON R. , GRACEY H. I. , KENNEDY S. J. , UNSWORTH E. F. , STEEN R. W. J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo 2×2 factorial experiments are described in which a bacterial inoculant being developed as a silage additive and containing a strain of Lacto‐bacillus plantarum (Ecosyl, ICI plc) was evaluated at two harvests (18 July and 30 September 1985) of two swards (perennial ryegrass and permanent pasture) in difficult ensiling conditions. On each occasion erbage was ensiled with and without inoculant using two 0·5–t capacity steel tower silos per treatment. The contents of the two replicate silos per treatment were combined for feeding to cross‐bred wethers in digestibility and metabolizable energy (ME) partition studies.Overall, inoculated herbage declined in pH post‐harvest at a faster rate than control herbage (p<0·001) and three out of the four inoculated silages had lower pH, ammonia‐N, acetate and alcohol and higher residual soluble carbohydrate content (p<0·001) than control. Significantly higher digestibility of nutrients (P<0·05) was found in three of the inoculant‐treated silages and these also had significantly higher ME values than control (P<0·001), (10·58 and 8·77 MJ kg tol DM−1 for the treated and untreated silages respectively). The use of inoculant on herbage of only moderate ensiling potential therefore, produced significant improvements in fermentation quality and feeding value over control.
Evaluation studies in the development of a commercial bacterial inoculant as an additive for grass silage
Authors: KENNEDY S. J. , GRACEY H. I. , UNSWORTH E. F. , STEEN R. W. J. , ANDERSON R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo 2×3 factorial design experiments were conducted during 1985 to compare the effect of treating grass at ensiling with a silage inoculant (Imperial Chemical Industries plc) or formic acid with an untreated control, on fermentation, in‐silo losses, intake and performance of finishing cattle.In experiment 1, three covered concrete‐walled silos were each filled with approximately 70 t of primary growth, unwilted herbage at each of two cutting dates, 20–21 May (early harvest) and 3 June 1985 (late harvest). In experiment 2, the above procedure was repeated for second regrowth grass with two cutting dates, 30 September‐1 October (early harvest) and 16–21 October 1985 (late harvest). The water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) contents of the herbage were low in both, being 130–160 and 121–137 g kg−1 DM for the first and second experiments respectively. In both experiments the formic acid‐treated silages attained lower temperatures than the inoculant‐treated and untreated silages. At both harvests in experiment 1 the pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents of the inoculant‐treated and formic acid‐treated silages were significantly lower than those in the untreated silage. However, at the early harvest in experiment 2 the pH and NH3N contents of the inoculant‐treated silage were significantly higher than those in the two other silages. At the late harvest in experiment 2 the inoculant‐treated and the formic acid‐treated silages had significantly lower pH and VFA contents than the untreated silage.After 126 d and 98 d storage periods in experiments 1 and 2 respectively, each of the six silages was offered to twelve 475 kg steers throughout a 70‐d period (experiment I) and a 63‐d period (experiment 2). In experiment 1 there were no significant effects of additive on silage DM intake, liveweight gain or carcass gain with the mean carcass gains being 0·49, 0·51 and 0·52±0·024 kg d−1 for the untreated, formic acid‐treated and inoculant‐treated silages respectively. In experiment 2 the mean silage DM intakes were 6·34, 7·33 and 6·60±0·151 kg d−1 and carcass gains were 0·27, 0·35 and 0·26±0·026 kg d−1 for the untreated, formic acid‐treated and inoculant‐treated silages respectively, formic acid treatment thus gave the most consistent results.
Factors influencing the effects of fungicide treatment on seedling emergence of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)
Authors: LEWIS G. C. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSeeds of perennial ryegrass were sown by hand in micro‐plots. Six treatment factors were applied, in all combinations, totalling thirty‐two treatments. The factors were (a) firm vs light compaction of the seedbed, (b) 1 cm vs 2·5 cm sowing depth, (c) fertilizer applied to seedbed vs no fertilizer, (d) fungicides applied to the seed and seedbed vs no fungicide, (e) pesticide applied to seedbed vs no pesticide, and (f) soil kept moist after sowing vs soil kept dry after sowing. Overall, seedling emergence was increased by moist soil (18%), fungicides (16%) and by sowing at 1 cm depth (8%). In dry soil, fungicides increased emergence by 32% but had no effect in moist soil.In other experiments, micro‐plots were sown at monthly intervals, from April to October. Seeds were either treated with benomyl + captan (3 g + 3 g a.i. (kg seed)−1) or not treated, and the plots were either covered to keep the soil dry, or uncovered. Seedling emergence on uncovered plots was increased significantly, by 16–28%, at the May, June, July and August sowings, when soil temperatures were at their highest and soil moisture contents at their lowest. On covered plots fungicides significantly increased emergence at the June sowing only, by 16%. The reasons for this anomaly are discussed.
Water‐soluble carbohydrates in perennial ryegrass breeding
Authors: HUMPHREYS M. O. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPerennial ryegrasses showing genetic differences in water‐soluble carbohydrate content (WSC) were assessed for dry matter digestibility (DMD), crude protein (CP) and dry matter production (DM) in both spaced plant and small plot trials. Among 100 accessions grown as spaced plants there appeared to be more genetic variation for WSC than for DMD or CP. In both spaced plants and plots, WSC was consistently positively correlated with DMD, negatively correlated with CP and showed little correlation with DM. Correlations between CP and DMD were rather inconsistent and some negative correlations were obtained between CP and DM, suggesting that environmental effects, particularly with regard to nitrogen availability, affected CP more than WSC content. It was concluded that there is considerable potential for using ryegrasses with high WSC contents to develop varieties with improved feeding value without sacrificing production.
Assessment of contrasting perennial ryegrasses, with and without white clover, under continuous sheep stocking in the uplands
Authors: DAVIES D. A. , FOTHERGILL M. , JONES D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractComparative sheep production from Aurora (very early‐flowering), Meltra (late‐flowering tetraploid) and Aberystwyth S23 (late‐flowering) perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) varieties was assessed as both grass‐only (200 kg N ha−1) and grass‐white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (75 kg N ha−1) swards under continuous stocking management. Beulah Speckled Face ewes and their Suffolk cross lambs were used from late April to mid‐July. From late July to early November only lambs grazed the pastures.Mean (1985–87) total annual lamb production per hectare from Aurora and Meltra was 16% and 13% more than that from S23. The magnitude of the differences between these varieties and S23 declined from the first to the third year. Aurora gave 29% more lamb output per hectare than S23 in 1985 but only 10% more in 1987, while the advantage of Meltra over S23 fell from 19% in 1985 to 6% in 1987. Seasonal lamb production per hectare varied between the grasses, especially during spring when lamb output from Aurora was 43% and 22% more than that from S23 and Meltra respectively, with that from the tetraploid being 17% higher than that from S23.It is concluded that the superior spring output from Aurora offers the farmer the opportunity to reduce his dependence on bought‐in feedstuffs, hence improving the efficiency and profitability of lamb production from grassland.
Yields and chemical composition of whole‐crop field beans and their components during pod‐filling
Authors: CABALLERO R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractExperimental trials in both rainfed and irrigated conditions were carried out in Central Spain with the aim of assessing the best time to harvest whole‐crop winter field beans for forage. Three times of harvesting during the pod‐filling phase were considered: seed with less than 20% DM (L,), 30‐35% (L:) and over 85% (Lj). At the early pod‐setting stage (Lj), the stems and leaves represented 75% of the total aerial biomass. At pod maturity (L3), this percentage was reduced to 27%. Over the same period, Lj to L3, the seed's contribution rose from 8% to 59%. Chemical composition of the different plant components varied markedly during the pod‐filling phase. Lignin in leaves and pod‐shells rose abruptly from 082 and 090% DM at L, to 7‐82 and 7‐01 % DM in L3. Crude protein of the seed varied only slightly between harvests. Mean DM yields over both years of 3 44 ± 0‐46. 607 + 071 and 428 ± 037 tDM ha‘ were obtained for the whole plants in rainfed conditions at the L1, L2 and L3 stages respectively. Corresponding values for irrigated conditions were 552 +0‐7I, 8‐66± M 6 and 684±082 tDM ha“'. Taking into account the chemical composition of the whole plant at the three times of harvesting (mean values in both conditions of 675, 657 and 641 g I00gDM‐’for DDM and 215, 18 7 and 186% DM for CP), it is concluded that the highest estimated energy and protein yields would be obtained by harvesting the plant at the Li stage (seeds with 30‐35% DM).
An evaluation of three bacterial inoculants and formic acid as additives for first harvest grass
Authors: KENNEDY S. J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAn experiment was carried out during 1984 to study the effect of treating grass at ensiling with three commercially available inoculant‐type additives (H/M Inoculant, Grass Sile and Siron), formic acid (850 g kg−1; Add‐F) or no additive on grass preservation, in‐silo loss, intake and animal performance. Primary growth grass ensiled from 28–29 May into concrete‐walled covered silos was of high dry matter (DM, 234 g kg−1), water‐soluble carbohydrate content (WSC. 212 g kg DM−1) and digestibility (MADF, 250 g kg DM−1).The untreated silage displayed good preservation and with the exception of the Sirontreated silage which showed significantly lower buffering capacity (Be) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents than the untreated silage, the application of inoculant‐type additives did not improve silage preservation or decrease in‐silo DM losses. The formic acid‐treated silage displayed significantly lower Be, water‐soluble carbohydrate, ash, ammonia nitrogen (g kg total N−1) and lactate contents than the untreated silage.After a 133 d storage period, silages were offered to finishing beef cattle for an 84‐d period. Cattle offered the silages displayed similar and non‐significant daily DM intakes, daily liveweight gains, dressing proportions and daily carcass gains. From this experiment it appears unlikely that any of the additives evaluated will improve animal performance relative to a well‐preserved untreated silage.
Sward composition, animal performance and the potential production of grass/white clover swards continuously stocked with sheep
Authors: ORR R. J. , PARSONS A. J. , PENNING P. D. , TREACHER T. T. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe potential productivity of perennial ryegrass/ white clover swards (GC) under continuous stocking management was assessed by comparing their performance, when grazed by sheep at sward surface heights of 3, 6 and 9 cm, with that of an all–grass sward (G) maintained at 6 cm and fertilized with 420 kg N ha–1 The grass/clover swards received no nitrogen fertilizer. The different grazing treatments had a marked effect on animal performance. In the first year for example, for treatments GC3, GC6, GC9 and G6–420 respectively, mean stocking rates to weaning were 19–7, 14–3, 8–9 and 18–4 ewes ha–1 (plus twin lambs); lamb growth rates were 223, 268, 295 and 260 g d–1and so total lamb live weight gain was 1054, 920, 630 and 1148 kg h a–1. The relative performance of the treatments was similar in all three years. All three grazing treatments had a similar effect on the composition of the grass/clover swards. Clover content increased in 1985, and was sustained in 1986 and 1987 during the main grazing season, although a marked decline in clover content during the winter led to a progressive long–term decline in both the proportion and the amount of clover.It is suggested that a management based on maintaining a sward surface height close to 6 cm (as in all–grass swards) leads to optimum performance in grass/white clover swards grazed using continuous stocking with sheep. Despite the presence of a small and declining clover content, the output of the mixed grass/clover sward managed in this way was 80%, 80% and 82% of that of a grass sward supplied with 420 kg N ha–1 in 1985, 1986, and 1987 respectively and, similarly, 83% of the output in 1987 of a grass sward receiving 210 kg N ha–1.
Effects of treating lucerne with an inoculum of lactic acid bacteria or formic acid upon chemical changes during fermentation, and upon the nutritive value of the silage for lambs
Authors: PHILLIP L. E. , UNDERHILL L. , GARINO H. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractA second cut of lucerne was wilted to 500 g DM kg−1 and either left untreated (control) or treated with formic acid (4.5 1 fresh forage t−1) or with a commercial inoculum of lactic acid bacteria (105 colony forming units (cfu) g forage−1). The forages were ensiled in 2‐t capacity silos for 8 months, and later fed to six lambs (mean initial weight 27.7 ±1.60 kg) in a 3x3 duplicated Latin square with 27‐d periods. Portions of the untreated and additive‐treated forages were also ensiled in laboratory silos at 25 ° C for intervals up to 42 d. Results from the laboratory silos showed that the major increase in ammonia‐N in silage occurred between 40 h and 7 d of fermentation; during this period, both formic acid and the inoculant produced a smaller increase in ammonia‐N, than did the control. The pH of inoculated silage declined from 5.74 to 4.57 in 7 d, but it took 14 d for the pH of the control silage to fall below 5.0. Formic acid treatment immediately reduced the silage pH from 5.74 to 5.10 (P < 0·01); the pH then remained unchanged until 21 d, after which it decreased slightly. When compared with control, lambs fed formic acid‐treated silage consumed more (P < 0·05) digestible organic matter; the response was associated with a trend towards decreased concentration of ammonia in plasma. Inoculation of lucerne silage did not (P < 0·05) affect voluntary intake but increased (P<0.05) apparent digestibility of fibre and tended to increase N retention.
Herbage productivity of brome grass (Bromus carinatus)
Authors: HARKESS R. D. , MORRISON M. W. , FRAME J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractHerbage production and quality of swards of brome grass (Bromus carinatus. Hook and Am) were compared with other commonly sown grasses at two sites in Scotland. At Ayr, the comparison was with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and timothy (Phleum pratense L.) under 6‐cut (experiment 1) and 4‐cut (experiment 2) regimes over 3 years with 360 kg ha−1 fertilizer N applied annually in each experiment. At Edinburgh, brome grass was compared over 3 years with perennial ryegrass and cocksfoot under a 7‐cut system given 3(X)‐35O kg N ha−1 year−1 (experiment 3) and with perennial ryegrass, cocksfoot and Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) under a 4‐cut system given 250–325 kg N ha−1 annually (experiment 4).Over the 3 years, brome grass gave 1.18, 6.19 and 1.3% less dry matter (DM) production than the other grasses in experiments 1, 2 and 3 respectively; in experiment 4, it was 1 % less productive than Italian ryegrass but 1.2% more productive than the other grasses. The organic matter digestibility (OMD) of brome grass was lower than that of perennial ryegrass but higher than timothy at Ayr, similar to perennial and Italian ryegrasses at Edinburgh but markedly superior to cocksfoot at both sites. N concentrations in brome grass were higher than in the ryegrasses but lower than in cocksfoot. Mineral composition data showed brome grass to be high in P and K, low in Ca and Mg and very low in Na compared with corresponding concentrations in the other grasses.The variable performance of this brome grass species (B. carinatus) against commonly used grasses in the reported experiments, together with similar evidence from the literature, leads to the conclusion that it is unlikely to be suitable for widespread use in the UK; nevertheless, it has shown some promise in drought‐prone situations.
Effect of species and proportion of legume on herbage yield and nitrogen concentration of legume‐grass mixtures
Authors: MALLARINO A. P. , WEDIN W. F. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis study evaluated the relationships between legume proportion and dry matter (DM) yield, N yield, and herbage N concentration for three binary legume‐grass mixtures In Uruguay. Two identical trials were established, one in 1983 (Trial 1) and another in 1984 (Trial 2) and were evaluated for 2 years. Treatments were white clover (Trifolium repens L.) (WC), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) (RC), and birds‐foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (BT), each grown with tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (TF) at four legume proportions, plus pure stands of TF. In Trial 1, annual DM yields of RC‐TF were greater than yields of WC‐TF or BT‐TF and in Trial 2 RC‐TF and BT‐TF yielded more than WC‐TF. The N concentration of either the legume or TF components usually was greater for WC‐TF than other mixtures in both trials. Annual DM yields in Trial 1 were optimized by legume proportions of 47 to 59% for WC, 62 to 67% for RC‐TF, and 57 to 100% for BT‐TF; and N yields were optimized by 70% of WC or RC, and by 100% BT. In Trial 2, which had greater soil‐N availability than Trial 1, optimum DM or N yields were achieved at lower WC proportions than in Trial 1. Changes in legume proportion did not affect legume N concentrations, but N concentration of TF in mixture was always positively and linearly related with legume proportion. It is concluded that DM yields for the first 2 years after seeding were greater for RC‐TF and BT‐TF than for WC‐based mixtures. Herbage DM and N yields of WC‐TF were optimized by lower legume proportions than for RC‐TF and BT‐TF. The N concentration of TF increased linearly with increasing proportions of any of the three legumes.
Effects of concentrate supplementation and herbage allowance on the performance of grazing suckling lambs
Authors: PRACHE SOPHIE , BECHET G. , THERIEZ M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAn experiment was conducted to examine the effect of concentrate supplementation on the performance of suckling lambs while grazing at variable levels of herbage allowance. Twenty‐four ewes suckling twin lambs were allocated 55 d after lambing between four grazing treatments (two levels of herbage allowance × two levels of supplementation) in a 2×2 factorial design. The sward consisted of Tall Fescue and was grazed rotationally.Daily herbage organic matter (OM) allowances were 57.0 (H) and 38.5 (L) g OM kg LW−1 above 1·5 cm cutting height. Lambs were either supplemented (S) ad libitum with high‐moisture whole maize grain or unsupplemented (U).Supplement intake during the 60‐d grazing period was 16 kg DM and 17.5 kg DM respectively for LS and HS lambs. The effect of supplementation on lamb growth rate differed significantly between allowances: at the low allowance level, supplementation increased growth rate (287 g d−1 vs 226 g d−1), whereas it had no effect at the high level (277 g d−1 vs 276 g d−1). Growth rate of unsupplemented lambs was significantly reduced at the low level of allowance compared to the high level (226 g d−1 vs 276 g d−1). The effect of sward height on time spent grazing by unsupplemented lambs is described during the defoliation of a plot.