bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sodium fertilizer application to pasture. 2. Effects on dairy cow production and behaviour
Authors: CHIY P. C. , PHILLIPS C. J. C. , BELLO M. R. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFifty‐four lactaling dairy cows were grazed for 24 weeks on pasture receiving 0 (Nil), 32 (Low) or 64 (High) kg Na ha‐1 yr‐1 and with (+) or without (‐) 100g NaHCO3 buffer included in a maize gluten concentrate supplement. Cattle grazed the Na‐fertilized pasture to a lower height, particularly in the High treatment. Cows grazing pasture with Na fertilizer produced more milk, and milk fat concentration increased in direct proportion to amount of Na fertilizer applied and with NaHCO3. This increase was greatest in early season. Milk protein concentration was not affected by Na fertilizer application or NaHCO3 buffer addition. Milk lactose concentration was increased by Na fertilizer application but not by NaHCO3 supplementation. Cows in the Na‐applied treatments gained more live weight but there was no effect of treatment on condition score change. Grazing time and drinking frequency increased linearly with increasing pasture Na. Ruminating time and biting rate were similar at the Low and High treatments and greater than the Nil treatment. NaHCO3, supplementation increased drinking frequency and decreased the rate of concentrate intake. Cow reproductive performance was not significantly affected by Na fertilizer application. During the residual period, cows that had previously grazed the Na‐fertilized pasture had reduced milk fat and protein contents.
A comparison of grass/white clover and grass silages offered to dairy cows as the sole feed
Authors: WILMAN D. , WILLIAMS S. P. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo diets were compared: perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) silage and perennial ryegrass/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) silage, in each case fed ad libitum, without supplementation, to lactating dairy cows. The comparison was made with silages cut on each of four dates. The crops were wilted to a dry matter content of at least 256g kg‐1 and no additives were used.The grass/clover silages were well preserved at all four cuts. The grass was well preserved at three cuts, but, at a May cut, the grass silage was less well preserved and less digestible than the grass/clover silage. When the May silages were fed, milk yield was higher with grass/clover than with grass. Taking the experiment as a whole, however, milk yield and composition were similar on the two diets. The grass/clover silages had a lower proportion of cell wall and their intake by dairy cows was consistently higher than that of the grass silages.It is concluded that perennial ryegrass/white clover crops can be ensiled successfully and fed successfully, with high intake, to lactating dairy cows, but it should not be assumed that cows will give more milk than when fed equivalent all‐grass silage.
Long‐term changes of endophyte infection in tall fescue stands
Authors: SHELBY R. A. , DALRYMPLE L. W. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractPastures of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) presumed to be free of the endophytic fungus (Acremonium coenophialum) had increasing levels of endophyte, averaging 4% per annum over periods of 9–12 years. Similarly, replicated plots sown at four levels of initial endophyte infection increased in infection over a 4‐year period: for example, plots with a 27% initial level increased to 84%, and those with a level of 58% increased to 92% by the fourth year. Mowing plots to prevent seed formation did not affect the rate of change in infection percentage, except that plots with 0% initial endophyte began to show detectable levels in un‐mown blocks, presumably as a result of contamination by seed from adjacent infected plots. By the fourth year of the study, fescue plant densities, measured by plant counts, as well as ground cover, were significantly higher in plots with high initial endophyte level. It is proposed that the change in infection percentage was due to enhanced survival of infected plants in mixed stands where there was intense competition for available moisture in conditions of drought.
Sodium fertilizer application to pasture. 5. Effects on herbage digestibility and mineral availability in sheep
Authors: CHIY P. C. , PHILLIPS C. J. C. , AJELE C. L. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThe effects of feeding herbages fertilized with 0 (nil), 32 (low), 66 (medium) or 96 (high) kg of sodium per hectare per year to sheep on herbage digestibility and mineral availability were examined. Modified acid detergent fibre (MADF), ash, magnesium (Mg) and phosphorus (P) contents were increased by the application of sodium (Na) treatments, while potassium (K), sulphur (S) and true protein (TP) contents were reduced. Dry matter (DM) and MADF intakes were increased in the low and medium treatments and DM and MADF digestibility increased in all Na‐treated herbages. The medium‐ and high‐sodium treatments increased salivary Na content and Na/K ratio and decreased K content. Blood K content was not affected by treatment. Intake, faecal output, apparent availability, urinary output and balance of Na were increased by the application of Na treatments. Potassium intake, balance, apparent retention and urinary output were increased by the low, unaffected by the medium and reduced by the high sodium treatment. The low and medium Na treatments increased the intake and apparent availability of Mg; Mg balance and apparent retention were increased by all Na treatments. Feeding the Na‐treated herbages increased intakes, apparent availability, balance and apparent retention of Ca, P and total cations.The low and medium Na treatments increased S intake, faecal output and apparent retention. It is suggested that through increasing the balance and apparent retention of minerals, the application of sodium fertilizer to pasture will improve the mineral status of sheep, particularly at the low and medium application rates employed in this experiment.
The effect of sugar beet pulp‐based silage additives on effluent production, fermentation, in‐silo losses, silage intake and animal performance
Authors: MOORE CHARLOTTE A. , KENNEDY S. J. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFirst‐harvest direct‐cut, double‐chopped grass (190 and 164g DMkg−1 in Experiments 1 and 2 resptectively) was ensiled without an additive or, in Experiment 1, with 30 kg t−1 grass of an absorbent additive based on sugar beet pulp (Sweet ‘n’ Dry) or with 3·441 t−1 grass of formic acid and, in Experiment 2, with 30, 50 and 70 kg t−1 grass of Sweet ‘n’ Dry or with 50kg t−1 grass of unmolassed sugar beet pulp. The preservation and nutritive value of the silage, in‐silo losses (including silage effluent production), silage intake and animal performance of adult and growing cattle were examined.In Experiment 1 all three silages were well preserved, although the formic acid‐treated silage displayed significantly lower pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) [g kg−1 total nitrogen (TN)] and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) than the other two silages. In Experiment 2 absorbent‐treated silages displayed significantly lower pH, buffer capacity (Bc), NH3N (gkg−1 TN), CP, modified acid detergent fibre (MADF) and VFAs than untreated silage.Treatment of grass with the absorbent additives at ensiling resulted in reduced effluent production. In Experiment 1 each kilogram of Sweet ‘n’ Dry retained approximately 11 effluent, and in Experiment 2 silages made with Sweet ‘n’ Dry applied at 70kgt−1 and sugar beet pulp applied at 50 kg t−1 produced similar volumes of effluent and each kilogram of absorbent retained 1·0 and 1·31 of effluent respectively.In Experiment 1 sixty beef cattle [mean initial live weight (LW) 460 kg] were grouped according to LW and allocated to treatment at random. For untreated silage (unsupplemented or with 1 or 2 kg supplement head−1 day−1), absorbent‐treated silage (unsupplemented or with 1 or 2 kg supplement head−1 day−1) and formic acid‐treated silage (1 kg supplement head−1 day−1) the daily silage DM intakes were 6·12, 6·21, 6·40, 7·65, 7·45, 7·11 and 7·85 (s.e. 0·280) kg respectively, the daily liveweight gains were 0·22, 0·56, 0·81, 0·59, 0·74, 0·81 and 0·75 (s.e. 0·071) kg respectively and daily carcass gains were 0·31, 0·47, 0·67, 0·47, 0·61, 0·70 and 0·57 (s.e. 0·043) kg respectively throughout a 75‐day feeding period.In Experiment 2, fifty‐six growing cattle (mean initial weight 312 kg) were grouped according to LW and allocated to treatment at random. For untreated silage (unsupplemented or with 1·5 kg Sweet ‘n’ Dry or 1·5 kg commercial concentrates head−1 day−1), silage treated with Sweet ‘n’ Dry at 30, 50 and 70 kg t−1 grass and silage treated with 50kg sugar beet pulp t−1 grass the daily silage DM intakes were 5·46, 5·28, 5·33, 6·21, 6·27, 6·60 and 6·62 (s.e. 0·154) kg respectively and daily liveweight gains were 0·39, 0·75, 0·81, 0·63, 0·76, 0·94 and 1·75 (s.e. 0·052) kg respectively throughout a 122‐day feeding period. In this experiment 360g kg−1 more absorbent was required when it was included at ensiling rather than offered as a supplement to untreated silage to achieve the same individual animal performance.
In vitro gas production kinetics of grass silages treated with different cell wall‐degrading enzymes
Authors: BEUVINK J. M. W. , SPOELSTRA S. F. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractGrass was treated with six different cell wall‐degrading enzymes and ensiled under different conditions [dry matter (DM) content, stage of maturity]. Silage samples were dried, ground and incubated with buffered rumen fluid. Gas production was monitored over 48 h and gas production curves were fitted to a modified Gompertz equation.In general, enzyme‐treated silages showed a shorter initial lag phase and lower maximum gas production rate, indicating that the enzymes degraded cell wall material to more rapidly fermentable components, leaving a more slowly fermentable fraction. The total amount of gas produced was not altered by enzyme treatment, but a shift towards more rapidly fermentable material was observed. These changes in gas production kinetics went hand in hand with a change in chemical composition (more degradation of neutral detergent fibre and higher production of lactic acid in the enzyme‐treated silages than in the control silages). Silages treated with enzyme preparations that did not contain cellulase did not differ from the control silages either in gas production kinetics or in chemical composition.Wilting up to 300 g DM kg−1 had no influence on gas production kinetics, whereas wilting up to 488 g DM kg−1 resulted in a longer initial lag phase, a lower maximum rate and lower total gas production. With increased maturity, lower total amounts of gas and lower maximum rates were observed. The measurement of changes in gas production kinetics of enzyme‐treated silages compared with control silages is a useful and rapid technique for prescreening the effects of enzyme addition.
Influence of the fungal endophyte Acremonium lolii on agronomic traits of perennial ryegrass in France
Authors: RAVEL C. , CHARMET G. , BALFOURIER F. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractFour sets of half‐sib families of perennial ryegrass with (E+) and without (E‐) infection with the fungal endophyte Acremonium lolii were established in spaced‐plant nurseries and trial plots in 1989 and 1990 at eight locations in France. In the nurseries, families were scored visually for six agronomic traits; in trial plots, dry matter yields or visual scores were obtained for eleven traits in the planting year and in the following two years. Significant differences between E‐and E+ families in each set were more frequent in trial plots than in nurseries, and in all cases there was a positive response to A. lolii infection. In the nurseries, the traits showing the greatest number of significant responses to infection were spring growth (3/28 comparisons) and autumn vigour (3/26 comparisons). In trial plots, E+ families had a significantly (P < 0·05) higher yield than E‐ families at three dry locations (5/7 comparisons at Clermont‐Ferrand, 3/9 at Montours, and 4/7 at Vemeuil I'Etang) in the 1989 sowings. However, in the 1990 sowings, when different families were studied, endophyte infection had no effect on yield at the driest location. Therefore it is concluded that infection of perennial ryegrass with some strains of A. lolii seems to benefit the host in stressful conditions. However, in Europe generally, climatic conditions are not often stressful for perennial ryegrass and the chances of E+ plants being favoured by either natural or artificial selection seem to be low.
The effects of separated cow slurry liquor on soil and herbage nitrogen in Phalaris arundinacea and Lolium perenne
Authors: STUDDY C. D. , MORRIS R. M. , RIDGE I. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractSimulated swards of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea L) and ryegrass received applications of separated cow slurry liquor in winter, at rates up to the equivalent of 500 m3ha−1. Subsequent measurement of oxidized nitrogen in the soil under the different species indicated that lower levels of soluble forms of nitrogen were found under the reed canary grass than were under the ryegrass sward. At the first harvest after liquor application, the dry weight yield of reed canary grass responded positively to increasing applications of slurry liquor, but the ryegrass sward appeared to be damaged by very high rates of application. At later harvests, yields of the two species were similar, but over the season, apparent recovery of the nitrogen applied to the swards was greater in the reed canary grass than in ryegrass, suggesting that this species could be of value in the control of losses of nutrients from livestock wastes.
Seed production in white clover (Trifolium repens L.). II. Effect of autumn defoliation on potential seed yield and seed yield components
Authors: PASUMARTY S. V. , HIGUCHI S. , MURATA T. , MATSUMURA T. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractA field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of autumn defoliation treatments on inflorescence production, potential seed yield and yield components of white clover cv Makibashiro. Between 10 July and 10 October 1992, white clover swards were subjected to one of three treatments: monthly cutting to 3–4 cm (4DEF), cutting to 3–4 cm on 10 August and 10 October (2DEF), and no cutting (control). The total numbers of inflorescences and the proportion of inflorescences in different development categories were counted throughout the period of seed crop development to determine the pattern of inflorescence development and optimum harvest date. There were consistent significant differences in inflorescence density between treatments. Plots which received the 2DEF treatment produced significantly more inflorescences than did the no‐defoliation (control) and 4DEF‐treatment plots. In this particular year the optimum harvest date (date at which the proportion of ripe inflorescences and potential seed yield was highest) was 26 July, approximately 30 d after peak flowering. Defoliation treatments had no effect on optimum harvest date. However, treatments differed in potential seed yield and ripe inflorescences on this date. The 2DEF treatment gave the highest potential seed yield because there were significantly more ripe inflorescences than either the contol or 4DEF plots. Control plots produced inflorescences with more florets than the other two defoliation treatments, but the differences were not always significant. Seed number per pod was higher in inflorescences obtained from previously defoliated plots than from control plots. The 1000‐seed weight was significantly lower in inflorescences developed in 4DEF plots than those developed in 2DEF and control plots. The results are discussed in relation to the management of white clover seed crops and the importance of canopy structure and light intensity for seed production.
Effect of interval between harvests and spring‐applied fertilizer N on the growth of white clover in a mixed sward
Authors: FISHER A. , WILMAN D. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractA perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)‐white clover (Trifollum repens) sward, that had been grazed for over 2 years, was cut at 1‐, 2‐, 3‐ or 6‐week intervals from 18 April to 28 November 1986. The effects of two rates of N application in spring, 0 and 66kg Nha−1, were compared. Clover growth was studied in three six‐week periods that began on 18 April, 18 July and 17 October respectively. Increasing the interval between cuts increased the yield of herbage without reducing the proportion of clover in the harvested herbage, but the combination of applied N and the six‐week interval was harmful to clover production. Increasing the interval between cuts tended to increase the proportion of resources allocated to stolons rather than to leaves, and to increase the weight of new dry matter (DM) per growing point rather than per m2. In the third period of the study, when the ten youngest internodes per stolon were examined separately, all ten ages of internode were found to have been affected by the cutting management. This was indicated by the positive effect of the length of the interval between cuts on the weights of N, P and K per intemode. The concentrations of N, P and K were highest in the youngest intemodes. The application of N reduced the proportion of new DM allocated to stolen rather than to leaf and it reduced the number of clover growing points per m2.
Cattle and sheep grazing effects on soil organisms, fertility and compaction in a smooth‐stalked meadowgrass‐dominant white clover sward
Authors: MURPHY W. M. , BARRETO A. D. MENA , SILMAN J. P. , DINDAL D. L. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractThis experiment was carried out to improve understanding of sward and soil responses to cattle and/or sheep rotational grazing of low‐input (no N fertilizer), natural swards dominated by smooth‐stalked meadowgrass (Poa pratensis) syn. Kentucky bluegrass and based on white clover (Trifolium repens). Treatments during two grazing seasons (1989–90) were: cattle grazing alone (C); cattle grazing followed by topping (CT); cattle grazing followed by sheep grazing (CS); and sheep grazing alone (S), Mean target pre‐ and post‐grazing herbage masses were 2200 and 1100 kg dry matter (DM) ha−1. Plants in sheep‐grazed swards regrew more quickly and accumulated more herbage (8·28 compared to 5·35 t DM ha−1 for cattle‐grazed swards, unadjusted for rejected area) than in other treatments. After 2 years, soil in sheep‐grazed areas contained 0·25% N, 5·7 kg available P ha−1, and 379 kg K ha−1, compared to an average of 0·19, 3·9, and 179 respectively for the same soil nutrients in cattle‐grazed treatments. Besides differences in manure distribution and sward rejection, differences in soil compaction among treatments also may have affected soil organisms and thus plant growth. After 2 years, soil bulk densities (g cc−1) were 1·37, 1·37, 1·27, and 1·12; soil penetrometer measurements (kg cm sec−1 sec−1) to 20‐cm soil depth were 9·8, 9·3, 9·5, and 6·7; soil nematodes per 100 g of soil were: 5333, 8705, 2810, and 15208; soil rotifers per 100 g soil were: 288, 242, 715, and 33; and earthworms m−2 (and their biomass (g m−2)) were 262 (205), 157 (162), 344 (409), and 294 (343) for C, CT, CS, and S treatments, respectively.
Uniformity trial with lucerne grown for fodder
Authors: HANDA D. P. , SREENATH P. R. , RAJPALI S. K. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractData on the yield of lucerne for individual cuts and the total for three cuts from a uniformity trial were analysed. It was observed that CV% values decreased with the increase in plot size, both for each cut and for total yield. The decrease was considerable up to a plot size of 8 to 16 m2. The plot shape did not show any consistent effect. Increasing the size of block resulted in increased CV values, but block shape had no consistent effect. The CV values were highest for the first cut and lowest for the second cut. A relationship between the average CV% and plot size was found. However, this relationship, or its modified form Y= a.X1−b1. X2−b2 taking into account the plot shape and considering the individual CV values, provide a good fit to the data for the cases where blocking was adopted. The coefficient of heterogeneity was less than 0·29, being lowest for first‐cut yields, followed by the total, the third cut and the second cut yields. This showed a high degree of positive correlation between yields of neighbouring plots. Blocking proved useful in increasing the efficiency of the experiment and it is suggested that block size may be kept at 8 or less plots per block. The relationship between average CV% and block size was of the from Y = a Xb. The present study suggests that, for field experiments with luceme, the plot size may be kept to a minimum that does not exceed 8 to 12 m2, in blocks of eight to nine plots with the shapes of plots and blocks being nearly square. Calculating the efficiencies of confounded factorial design and incomplete block design revealed that block size may be kept to a minimum. The recovery of interblock information was found useful and balancing may be attempted, but only, if necessary.
Some effects of applying undiluted silage effluent to grassland
Authors: BINNIE R. C. , FROST J. P. 
Published: April 2006

AbstractTwo small‐plot experiments were carried out to assess the influence on herbage dry matter (DM) production, chemical composition and soil fertility status of applying undiluted silage effluent at a range of application rates and intervals after a silage cut. In the first experiment, in 1990, silage effluent was applied at 25, 50, 100, 150 and 200 m3 ha−1 1, 8, 15 and 22 d after a silage cut in August. In the second experiment, in 1991, silage effluent was applied at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49, 75, 100, 125 and 150 m3 ha−1 1, 4, 8, 15, 22 and 29 d after silage cuts were taken from different sites in May, July and August. An untreated control and an Inorganic fertilizer treatment were incorporated in both experiments. The immediate effects of the treatments on herbage yield, chemical composition and soil nutrient status were assessed 6–8 weeks after the initial application; residual effects on herbage and soil fertility were measured at a subsequent harvest. Compared with the untreated control, herbage yield increases were obtained with increasing rates of effluent application. Although there was evidence that higher yields could be obtained from earlier applications, up to 50 m3 ha−1 of effluent could be applied up to 15 d after taking a silage cut with little damage to the sward. Delaying the timing of application, and increasing the application rate, increased the proportion of the sward which was damaged; this reached a maximum of 0·84 when the highest application rates were applied 29 d after a silage cut. The increase in the proportion of dead herbage in the sward, associated with increasing rate of effluent application, reduced the quality of the herbage harvested in Experiment I. In Experiment 2 the N, P and, in particular, the K content of the herbage increased with increasing rate of effluent application, whereas the effect on Mg content was variable with contents generally being less than 2·0 g kg−1 DM. Apparent recovery of nutrients applied in the effluent was both low and variable ranging from 0·58 to −0·03 for N, 0·10 to −0·005 for P, 0·34 to −0·02 for K and 0·21 to −0·002 for Mg over both experiments. Effluent had little effect on soil pH, whereas P and, in particular, K contents increased with increasing rate of effluent application. There was evidence that effluent had a beneficial effect on both herbage yield and chemical composition at the residual cut, the extent depending upon rate and time of effluent application.