bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The intake and feeding value for young beef cattle of two cultivars of tetraploid Italian ryegrass when grazed or conserved by artificial dehydration or ensilage
Authors: WILKINSON J. M. , LE DU Y. L. P. , COOK J. E. , BAKER R. D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo experiments were carried out to determine whether the differences in intake and feeding value previously shown between two grass cultivars when offered to ruminants as chopped artificially dehydrated (dried) material could also be demonstrated when the grasses were offered in other forms. Two cultivars of tetraploid Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), Sabalan and Tetila, were established in the same field in 1975. In 1976 they were grazed and conserved (two cuts of primary growth) as dried material or as silage.The composition of the herbage selected at pasture and conserved showed higher concentrations of normal detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre in the dry matter for Tetila than for Sabalan, but differences between cultivars in digestibility were small. In both grazing and winter feeding trials differences in voluntary intake between the two cultivars were not significant, but at pasture young beef cattle spent less time grazing and tended to spend more time ruminating on Tetila than Sabalan. There was no measure of animal performance at pasture but liveweight gain was 15% higher for Sabalan than Tetila when both were offered to young beef cattle as the sole feed of dried grass or of silage. The voluntary intakes of the three forms of feed were very similar, which in part reflected a similarity in digestibility. However, gains were lower for calves given silage than those given dried grass. This may have been due to a lower efficiency in the utilization of the nitrogeneous components of silage for tissue growth than those of dried grass.
Effect of stage of maturity and chop length on the chemical composition and utilization of formic acid‐treated ryegrass and formic acid silage by sheep
Authors: ANDERSON R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo areas of an early‐heading perennial ryegrass cv. Cropper were harvested by either a precision‐chop or a flail harvester at around 50% ear emergence (15 May 1978) and 14d later (29 May). Formic acid (85%) was applied at the rate of 2·2 litres t‐1. Mature crossbred wethers were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design to determine the effect of stage of maturity and method of harvesting (chop length) on the in vivo digestibilities of formic acid‐treated grass in experiment 1 and formic acid silage in experiment 2. Apparent digestibility coefficients were determined at a fixed level of feeding for both grass and silage and at ad libitum access to feed for silage only.There were no significant differences in the concentrations of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF) or acid‐detergent lignin (ADL) in grass or silages of differing chop lengths but the later cut forages had significantly higher ADF and ADL concentrations and lower CP concentrations than the early‐cut forages. The ADF and ADL concentrations were also higher in the silages than in the corresponding grasses.In general, the fermentation characteristics of precision‐chopped silage were better than for the corresponding flail‐cut silage but date of harvest was a more important determinant of quality and the late, flail‐cut silage had the highest butyrate and ammonia N concentrations and the highest pH (411) of any treatment. There was a significantly higher intake of precision‐chopped as compared with flail‐cut silage with both the early‐and the late‐cut silage but there were no significant differences attributable to stage of maturity (i.e. date of harvest) or significant interaction between chop length and maturity. The slightly increased intake of early harvested, precision‐chopped silage as compared with late precision‐chopped silage was not significant.Dry matter digestibility (DMD) of the grass decreased at a rate of 0004 units d‐1 post 50% ear emergence. The results of experiment 2 indicated a decrease of 0·207 units d‐1 in silage fed at a similar level. The late‐cut silage (DMD 0·292, mean of both harvesting treatments) thus had a significantly lower digestibility than the corresponding grass (mean DMD 0·247). Chop length had a variable influence on the DMD of both grass and silage fed at a fixed level but treatment differences were non‐significant. However, a trend towards higher digestibility of flail‐cut as compared with precision‐chopped silage was apparent and this became statistically significant when the animals were allowed ad libitum access to feed. This may be a response to the generally lower intake of flail‐cut silage.
Low‐cost pepsin‐cellulase assays for prediction of digestibility of herbage
Authors: CLARKE T. , FLINN P. C. , McGOWAN A. A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractEight samples of perennial ryegrass‐white clover herbage with in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) ranging from 0·279 to 0·264 were used to evaluate various cost‐saving modifications to the two‐stage pepsin–cellulase digestibility technique. The effect of sample size, cellulase quality, cellulase/sample ratio, digestion time and washing of residue following digestion were investigated. The loss of dry matter (DM) in the assay was correlated with in vivo DMD and each variation of the method was evaluated by comparing the s.d. between replicates and r.s.d. of the regression, as well as the convenience of the method for large‐scale monitoring of digestibility of mixed ryegrass‐clover herbage.It was found that the amount of cellulase used could be reduced by a factor of 25, compared with recently published methods, without increasing s.d. or r.s.d. appreciably. In addition stirring during digestion and washing of the residue could be omitted without any deleterious effects. Increasing digestion time did not reduce s.d. or r.s.d. and the low‐grade cellulase proved to be slightly more economical.Increasing the sample size from 0·25 to 0·20 g improved the s.d. and r.s.d. but the residues from the larger samples were generally slower to filter, which made the assay unsuitable for routine use. Substantial reduction of digestion volume and use of a thermostatically controlled water bath instead of an incubator led to a considerable increase in efficiency and throughput of samples. Stirring the samples during digestion was found to be unnecessary, thus allowing more flexibility in the laboratory routine, for example using the weekend for digestion. Using the recommended method modification the repeatability between replicates and r.s.d. of the calibration regression was 0·204 and 0·215 respectively for samples ranging in DMD from 0·279 to 0·264.
The influence of the epidermis on the drying rate of red clover leaflets, leaf petioles and stems at low water contents
Authors: HARRIS C. E. , SHANMUGALINGAM V. S. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractAn apparatus is described which enables excised pieces of plant material lo be weighed al frequent intervals as they dry in controlled conditions of temperature, humidity and air‐speed. The effect of removing the epidermis on the drying rate of red clover (Trifolium pratense) leaflets, leaf petioles and stems is examined. Initially this treatment caused a very large increase in the drying rate of leaflets. Although the effect declined as water content fell, leaflets from which the epidermis had been removed still dried more rapidly than the controls at a water content equivalent to 50% of the dry weight. Removing the epidermis had a greater effect on the drying rate of leaf petioles and stems at low water contents than it did on the drying rate of leaflets.Slow drying at low water contents is a major factor responsible for the undesirably long periods for which hay may lie in the field. Slow drying occurs even though swath microclimate becomes more favourable for drying as water content falls. The results presented here suggest that treatments which reduce cuticular resistance have the potential to reduce field drying time.
The rate of addition of formic acid to grass at ensilage and the subsequent digestion of the silage in the rumen and intestines of sheep
Authors: CHAMBERLAIN D. G. , THOMAS P. C. , WAIT M. K. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe main object of the experiment was to assess the effect of the relative proportion of non‐protein nitrogen (NPN) to total nitrogen in silage on digestion in the sheep. Four unwilted perennial ryegrass silages were made with the addition of formic acid at 0, 2·2, 4·2 and 5·2 litres t‐1 to provide foods with NPN proportions reducing from 0·26 to 0·20 of the total N. The digestion of the silages was studied in a 4 × 4 Latin Square experiment with sheep cannulated in the rumen, proximal duodenum and terminal ileum.Results for organic matter (OM), cellulose and N showed no major difference between silages in their digestion in the rumen, small intestine and caecum and colon, though small differences (P <0·25) in rumen fermentation pattern and in the proportion of digestible OM disappearing in the small intestine were observed. Concentrations of ammonia N in the rumen and rates of rumen bacterial protein synthesis did not differ significantly between silages and there were no treatment effects on the passage of individual amino acids to the small intestine. The results indicate that the proportions of NPN to total N in the silages examined had little influence on the efficiency of silage N utilization in the rumen or on the passage of undegraded dietary protein to the small intestine.
Silage and milk production: comparisons between unwilted and wilted grass silages made with different additives
Authors: CASTLE M. E. , WATSON J. N. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFour grass silages, all made in mid‐July from second‐harvest perennial ryegrass swards, were compared in a 16‐week feeding experiment with twelve Ayrshire cows. Two silages were unwilted and two wilted. All the silages received formic acid (‘Add‐F’) at the rate of 3 litres t‐1 either with formalin at the rate of 1 litre t‐1 or without formalin. The unwilted and wilted silages had mean dry matter (DM) concentrations of 200 and 243 g kg‐1, and in vitro D‐values of 0·293 and 0·272 respectively. The silages were offered ad libitum plus 6 kg concentrates per cow per day. The daily intakes of unwilted and wilted silage DM were 10·2 and 9·2 kg per cow respectively on the formic acid treatment, and 10·2 and 9·2 kg on the formic acid + formalin treatment. The mean daily milk yield on the unwilted silage treatments was 19·2 kg per cow which was significantly higher than the yield of 17·2 kg per cow on the wilted silage treatments. The formalin had no significant effect on milk yield. The four silage treatments had small and non‐significant effects on milk composition. It is concluded that the unwilted silages, which had excellent fermentation characteristics, were superior to the wilted silages as a feed for dairy cows.
The productivity of grassland farms in seven climatic zones of England and Wales
Authors: PEEL S. , MATKIN ELIZABETH A. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractRecords of grassland productivity were kept for 2 years on 152 dairy and 179 beef farms. Results were collated for six lowland zones, delineated primarily on the basis of average rainfall, and an upland zone. Contemporary and long‐term average meteorological records were also collected.In most of the lowland zones stocking rates and use of fertilizer N were similar, but utilized metabolizable energy (UME) output from grass varied; it was 25% higher in the wet, cool zone of north‐west England and east Wales than in the dry zone of eastern England. The ranking of zones for utilized output corresponded closely with the ranking for summer rainfall.On upland farms stocking rate was 25% lower and UME output 15% lower than on lowland farms, but this was achieved from little more than half the N input.The differences between zones were similar to those shown in other published farm data. They also showed a similar trend to that demonstrated in grass cutting experiments. This suggests that farmers were, on average, able to exploit the extra grass grown in wetter climates. The incidence of difficult topography and impeded drainage was similar in dry and wet zones, but did have a more serious effect in the wet zones. The much higher level of concentrate feeding in the driest zone may have reduced the utilization of grass.
Soil acidification induced by leguminous crops
Authors: HAYNES R. J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSolution culture and greenhouse studies have both clearly demonstrated the ability of legumes to acidify their rooting medium. Furthermore, research workers comparing the pH beneath undisturbed sites versus all‐legume pastures or all‐grass versus all‐legume (or grass‐legume) pastures have observed a lower soil pH under the leguminous pastures. The processes leading to legume‐induced soil acidification are reviewed and discussed.The growth of legumes which are fixing atmospheric N2 involves the excess uptake of nutrient cations over anions from soil solution. This results in the net efflux of H3O+ ions from plant roots into the rhizosphere.When virgin lands are sown with legumes the accumulation of soil organic matter, with a consequent increase in cation exchange capacity and exchange acidity, is an important contributing factor to the long‐term decline in surface soil (0–10 cm) pH. Nonetheless, such a phenomenon does not explain the decrease in pH below 10 cm soil depth nor the lower pH below leguminous than all‐grass pastures. The efflux of H3O+ ions from the legume roots may have an important effect on the soil pH under such conditions. The loss of symbiotically fixed N; from the system through leaching of NO3− ‐ N may also contribute to soil acidification under leguminous pastures.
The response of white clover to different strains of Rhizobium trifolii in hill land reseeding
Authors: YOUNG N. R. , MYTTON L. R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractS184 and Grasslands Huia white clover were surface seeded into native Molinia pasture on a wet stagnogley hill soil containing no indigenous Rhizobium trifolii. Seedlings were ‘spray inoculated’ after emergence with each of five strains of R. trifolii. The two best rhizobial treatments produced a sevenfold increase in seedling establishment followed by nearly fivefold improvement in dry matter production in the following year. There was a strong interaction between Rhizobium strains and plant varieties. Results re‐affirm the potential for improving clover performance through inoculation and also demonstrate the need for a better understanding of the factors leading to establishment of successful plant‐Rhizobium associations before predictable performance can be achieved in these harsh hill environments.
Pre‐harvest desiccation of crops for conservation
Authors: TETLOW R. M. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo experiments were conducted to determine the effect of pre‐harvest treatment by formic acid spray on the moisture concentration (MC) of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) in vegetative growth. In Experiment 1 aqueous solutions containing 0.080, 0.148 and 0.259 kg formic acid per litre were applied to a perennial ryegrass sward (fresh matter yield 21.0 t ha−1) at a constant volume of 41.2 litres t−1to give active ingredient application rates of 3.5, 6.0 and 11.5 kg t−1 respectively. In Experiment 2 similar solutions were applied to a perennial ryegrass sward (fresh matter yield of 6.9 t ha−1) at 35.2, 19.0 and 10.9 litres t−1 respectively to give a constant formic acid application of 2.8 kg t−1. The changes in MC and chemical composition after treatment with acid were compared with those in untreated plotsIn both experiments treatment with acid significantly reduced the MC (P < 0.001) within 5 h of treatment from 4.4 to 3.0 kg per kg of dry matter (DM) in Experiment 1 and from 3.0 to 2.6 kg per kg DM in Experiment 2. There was no effect of level of acid applied in Experiment 1 or of the volume of water applied with the low level of acid in Experiment 2 on the changes in MC of acid‐treated plots. There was however a significant (P < 0.00l) difference between the MC of plots treated with acid and those untreated which was maintained in Experiment I for up to 9 d even during rainfall.There were no differences between the chemical compositions of samples from acid‐treated plots in either Experiment I or 2 or between untreated and acid‐treated plots in Experiment 2. However there were significant differences between untreated and acid‐treated plots in Experiment 1 for the content of nitrogen (N), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and digestible organic matter (DOM). There were changes in the content of N, WSC and DOM with time in both experiments. In Experiment I there was an interaction between sampling time and treatment for both N and WSC but not for DOM. Compared with untreated plots, treatment with acid at all levels accelerated the loss of WSC and delayed the fall in N content. There were no such interactions in Experiment 2.
Influence of stage of maturity on the nutritive value of Italian ryegrasses
Authors: HIDES D. H. , LOVATT J. A. , HAYWARD MARGARET V. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe influence of harvesting date on the nutritive value of the Italian ryegrass cv. RvP from Belgium and of Bb 1277, an introduced ecotype from the Po valley, was investigated.Ten clonally replicated genotypes of each population were grown as closely spaced plants and two ramets of each genotype harvested every 4 d for a period of 28 d after inflorescence emergence. Dry matter digestibility (DMD) was estimated and fibrosity index (FI) determined on both the leaf and stem fractions, and cellulose and lignin concentrations were determined on the stem fractions.The nutritive value of the leaf in terms of both DMD and FI which was the same for both cv. RvP and Bb 1277 throughout the period of harvesting, was always higher and declined at a slower rate with increasing maturity than that of the stem. The stem of Bb 1277 declined in DMD and increased in FI and cellulose concentration at a significantly slower rate than cv. RvP. Significantly higher levels of DMD were detected in the stem of Bb 1277 for harvests 5 to 8 and significantly lower levels of FI and cellulose concentration from harvests 4 to 8. It was not, however, possible to detect any significant differences in stem lignin concentration. Dry matter yields increased throughout the period of harvesting and there were no significant differences between cv. RvP and Bb 1277.The results are discussed in relation to the breeding potential of the high nutritive value of the Po valley ecotype Bb 1277 and the use of the DMD and FI determinations for selecting for improved herbage quality in Italian ryegrass.
Influence of temperature on the digestibility of the tropical legume Macroptilium atropurpureum
Authors: WILSON J. R. , MINSON D. J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe effect of temperature on the nutritive value of Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro and line 10–105 was determined in a controlled environment at day/night temperatures of 24/18, 30/24 and 36/30°C, and a 13‐h daylength. Estimated dry matter digestibility, cell wall and lignin concentrations of leaf, stem and stubble were measured in two 5‐week regrowth cuts.Siratro and line 10–105 were similar in digestibility and responded similarly to temperature with whole tops, stem and stubble decreasing by an average of 0.0023, 0.0026 and 0.0056 units of digestibility for each 1°C rise in growth temperature. These changes reflect the increase in cell wall and lignin concentrations with higher temperature.The digestibility of young, just‐expanded leaves was increased by increased growth temperature. This effect may be explained by the faster rate of leaf expansion at high temperature which reduced cell wall and lignin concentrations at this stage of leaf development. However, for the bulk leaf fraction digestibility was unaffected by temperature. Leafiness declined at high temperatures.
Effect of stocking rate on the grazing behaviour and faecal output of lactating dairy cows
Authors: STOCKDALE C. R. , KING K. R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractInformation about the grazing behaviour and the return of dung to pasture by lactating dairy cows was collected from stocking rate experiments in northern Victoria. Grazing behaviour was observed for 24‐h periods in mid‐summer in two years. Grazing time increased as herbage allowance decreased to about 32 kg DM cow−1 d−1 but as herbage allowance decreased further grazing time also decreased. A herbage allowance of 32 kg DM cow−1 d−1 corresponded to a stocking rate of about 5.5 cows ha−1. This effect of herbage allowance on grazing time may have been confounded by herbage mass, however. Rumination time of the cows increased by 003 h for each kg increase in herbage allowance while resting time was not affected by treatment.The effects of stocking rate on some of the characteristics of faecal output were measured for a 3‐d period in mid‐summer. The number of pats deposited per cow daily declined by 0.66 for each unit increase in stocking rate. The fresh weight of dung also declined as stocking rate increased by 0.16 kg per unit of stocking rate. While the values for the amounts of dung deposited on the pasture by the cows at the lower stocking rates are similar to many of those reported in the literature, this study has quantified the way in which stocking rate may influence this in one instance. Furthermore, provided that some measure of herbage intake is made when measurements of dung excretion are performed, it is suggested that estimates of in vivo digestibility can be obtained.
Seasonal distribution of stem‐boring larvae including frit fly (Diptera: Oscinella frit L.) and pest damage in perennial ryegrass
Authors: CLEMENTS R. O. , CHAPMAN P. F. , HENDERSON I. F. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractChanges in the population of stem‐boring Dipterous larvae (including Oscinella frit) were examined weekly for a year on plots of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne cv. S24). The herbage net regrowth rate of these plots and of plots receiving the pesticide, phorate, was also monitored. Herbage net regrowth rates were greatest in April and October. At the same times the differences in net regrowth between treated and untreated plots were greatest, thus indicating the periods of the greatest loss of production due to pest damage to the sward.Populations of stem‐boring larvae fell below 100 m−2 for only 4 weeks in the year and were maximal in autumn and early winter. Larval mortality exceeded 50% during the winter period. A correlation was found between larval activity and sward damage.
The release of mineral elements from grass silages incubated in sacco in the rumens of Jersey cattle
Authors: ROOKE J. A. , AKINSOYINU A. O. , ARMSTRONG D. G. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe objective of the study was to determine the rate and extent to which calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and zinc (Zn) were released from polyester bags containing grass silages incubated in the rumens of cattle. The rate of mineral disappearance from the bags was faster than the rate of dry matter disappearance. The disappearance of each mineral element from the bags was characterized by a rapid release of the mineral within 2 h of placing the bags in the rumen followed by a slower release extending up to 48 h of rumen incubation. The extent to which each mineral was rapidly released from the silages differed significantly and the minerals were ranked in the order P < Zn < Ca < Cu < K < Mg < Na. There were no differences between minerals in the rate at which they were released during the slower phase.Combination of these results with different rates of outflow of material from the rumen showed that for each of the minerals examined more than 0.65, on a proportional basis, was released from the silages; for Na the values were greater than 0.90. Indeed, all the residual Na and P remaining in the bags after 48 h rumen incubation could have resulted from bacterial