• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.1090-1097
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• 2001

Nine tons of fresh rice straw from early-maturing varieties was ensiled with 50 g urea $kg^{-1}$ DM straw in plastic bags immediately after threshing. Five months after storage, preserved straw was used to partially replace elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum, Schumach) for lactating cows. Eight crossbred Holstein lactating cows (75% of Holstein blood) in their second to fourth lactation and in mid-lactation were arranged in a balanced design with two squares consisting of $4\;periods{\times}4\;treatments$ (100% grass ad lib. as a control; 75% grass+urea treated fresh rice straw (UTrFRS) ad lib.; 50% grass+UTrFRS ad lib.; 25% grass+UTrFRS ad libitum) in one square. A concentrate supplement was given at a rate of 400 g per day per kg of milk produced. Samples of fresh straw taken in the field and UTrFRS and elephant grass taken at feeding time were evaluated in a degradation trial with 3 fistulated heifers (undefined blood ratio of crossbred of Sindhi and local yellow cattle). Straw preserved for 5-9 months was in nearly all cases of good quality. Crude protein (CP) content was increased 2.1 fold and 48 h dry matter loss (DML) was 20% higher compared to dry straw. Elephant grass cultivated intensively was low in DM content and 10% higher in 48 h DML compared to UTrFRS. Dry matter intake (DMI) was higher for the mixture of UtrFRS and Elephant grass, and highest when one-third of the roughage was UTrFRS. Higher DMI of mixed roughage diets was probably due to the low DM content of elephant grass in the sole grass roughage diet. Increasing substitution of elephant grass with UTrFRS up to 75% of the roughage component increased milk fat content and had no effect on milk yield and other milk composition parameters. Feeding UTrFRS, partially replacing elephant grass in the diets of lactating cows in the dry season can reduce the cost of roughage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.680-684
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• 1998

The effect of feeding heifers young Napier grass (7-weeks regrowth) or old Napier (16-weeks regrowth) supplemented with either wilted Desmodium intortum, Sesbania sesban or dried Calliandra calothyrsus leaves on intake and live weight changes was evaluated in a 67-day trial. Thirty-two Friesian heifers with an average live weight of 271 kg and 16.8 months old were randomly allocated to the four diets. The diets were either ad libitum young Napier grass or old Napier grass supplemented with 25% of either Sesbania, Desmodium or Calliandra. There was significant difference in chemical composition between the young and old Napier grass. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed on intake of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein and neutral detergent fibre. The total dry matter intake was 2.77, 2.86, 2.62 kg/100 kg live weight (LW) for Desmodium, Calliandra and Sesbania supplemented diets, respectively. A dry matter intake of 3.11 kg/100 kg LW was observed on the heifers fed young Napier grass. The mean daily gains were 638, 732, 606, and 1,001 g/day for Desmodium, Calliandra, Sesbania supplemented and young Napier grass diets respectively. Low level supplementation rate (1-1.5 kg DM/day) was adequate to maintain good growth rate when the heifers were fed old Napier grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.561-567
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• 1993

Twenty Korean native bulls averaging 181 kg body weight were fed a fixed amount (1.5% of live weight) of concentrate and free choice roughage cubes which had four ratios of rice straw and orchard grass hay; 100:0, 85:15, 70:30 and 55:45 on a weight basis. Five bulls were assigned to each treatment and fed for 98 days in a confinement house. Nutrient digestibility and available energy content of mixed rations (40% concentrate and 60% roughage cubes) was determined in a digestion trial with twelve wethers. In vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) and in situ dry matter disappearance of the roughage cubes were also determined. The ratio of grass hay to rice straw did not influence dry matter intake. Significant improvements in body weight gains and feed/gain ratios were obtained as grass hay levels increased. Average daily gain and feed/gain for each treatment was 0.83, 0.88, 0.98 and 0.99 kg; 7.63m 7.59, 6.83 and 6.41, respectively. Digestibility of the nutrients was improved with increasing levels of grass hay in the cubes. The IVDMD of roughage samples having a ritio of 100:0, 85:15, 70:30 and 55:45 between rice straw and orchard grass hay were 31.0, 37.1, 41.8 and 43.4%, respectively. Grass hay improved the IVDMD of rice straw diets in a linear manner up to 30%. In situ dry matter disappearance rate was also increased as the level of orchard grass hay increased.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.163-166
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• 1988

Water turnover and consumption of steers fed either fresh cut grass or hay and water turnover of steers grazed in summer or in fall were determined using 18 Holstein steers weighing 226 to 382 kg. Steers consumed 7.0 or 7.5 kg of dry-matter from hay or fresh cut grass. Animals fed hay drank significantly more water than those given fresh cut grass (P<0.01). Total water consumption, however, was greater in steers fed fresh cut grass than those given hay (P<0.05). Water turnover was about the same as total water consumption with a tendency for slightly higher values in water turnover irrespective of feeding regimes. Steers grazed in summer had greater water turnover than those grazed in fall. Water turnover was about the same in steers fed fresh cut grass and grazed in summer but decreased in steers on the dry ration or grazing in a cool season of the year.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.305-318
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• 2021

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage legume grown in Kansas, USA and its productivity with cool-season grasses however is unknown. The objective of this study was to determine the dry matter yield (DMY) and forage nutritive value of alfalfa-grass mixtures compared to those of alfalfa and grasses grown in monoculture with and without nitrogen fertilization. Three different alfalfa varieties were planted (reduced-lignin alfalfa, Roundup Ready, and conventional alfalfa) and two kinds of cool-season grasses (smooth brome, Bromus inermis Leyss, and tall fescue, Festuca arundinacea Schreb) were planted as a monoculture or in alfalfa-grass mixtures. Nitrogen fertilizer (urea) was applied at green-up at a rate of 56 kg/ha and after the second cutting at a rate of 56 kg/ha in 2016 and 2017, respectively. and control treatments received no nitrogen. DMY was significantly higher in monoculture alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixtures than in grass monocultures. Between alfalfa monoculture and alfalfa-grass mixtures, no significant differences in DMY were found. For all treatments, nitrogen application significantly increased DMY compared to the control. In 2016 and 2017, the low-lignin alfalfa monoculture had the lowest acid detergent fiber (ADF) and the grass monocultures had the highest ADF. In 2016 and 2017, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in smooth bromegrass and tall fescue was higher than in other species treatments. A low-lignin alfalfa monoculture had significantly lower NDF concentration compared to alfalfa-grass mixtures. When averaged over 2016 and 2017, relative feed value (RFV) was highest in low-lignin alfalfa and lowest in the grass monocultures. In both years, nitrogen fertilizer application did not affect nutritive values.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.98 no.2
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• pp.197-202
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• 2009

We studied bird communities among in rice field (46 plots), short grallland (47plot), and tall grass mixed shrub (21 plots) during dry season, January 2007 in Boeung Prek Lapouv (BPL) Important Bird Area, Mekong Delta, Cambodia using the point-count method. Water depth, vegetation height and shrub density were significantly different among the three study areas. We recorded, 60 bird species, of which 13 differed significantly among habitats. Landbirds such as Grey-breasted Prinia (Prinia hodgsonii) and Oliver-black Sunbird (Nectarinia jugularis) were much more abundant (P<0.0001) in the tall grass mixed shrub, whereas the Sarus Crane (Grus antigone), herons and egrets were more abundant in the short grass (P<0.05). Bird species richness and species abundances were not significantly different among habitats. Bird species diversity (H') was higher in grasslands than in rice fields. Mosaic habitat matrix, such as rice field, short grass, and tall grass mixed shrub, should be maintained for the extend and quality of wetlands, and the prevailing human-land use patterns, appear adequate and conductive for waterbirds in the Mekong Delta, Cambodia.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.1125-1129
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• 2005

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding sugar cane silage compared to chopped whole sugar cane or grass silage on performances of lactating dairy cows during the dry season. Twenty four Holstein Friesian crossbred (>87.5% Holstein Friesian) lactating dairy cows in mid lactation; averaging 15.4${\pm}$3.2 kg of milk, 120${\pm}$23 days in milk, 50.5${\pm}$6.5 months old and 432${\pm}$39 kg live weight, were stratified for milk yield, days in milk, age, stage of lactation and body weight, and then randomly allocated to three treatment groups (8 cows in each group). All cows were fed 7.5 kg/d commercial concentrate plus ad libitum roughage according to treatment groups, which were grass silage, sugar cane silage or chopped whole sugar cane respectively. All cows consumed similar DM and produced similar milk and milk composition yields. However, cows on grass silage lost more weight than the other cows. The present study indicated that, during the dry season, sugar cane silage can be fed to lactating dairy cows, while giving similar milk yield to grass silage or chopped whole sugar cane.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.516-521
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to compare two varieties of Napier grass (Bana Napier grass vs French Cameroon Napier grass) and to determine whether feed intake, digestibility, average daily gain (ADG) and milk yield of lactating Friesian cows from fresh cut Bana Napier grass was greater than from French Cameroon Napier grass, using a completely randomized design. Results show that Bana Napier grass had similar percent dry matter (DM), ash and gross energy (GE) to French Cameroon. Bana grass had higher percent crude protein (CP) and lower fiber fractions, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and lignin compared to French Cameroon. Overall the forage quality was marginally higher in Bana Napier grass compared to French Cameroon. The DM and NDF intake expressed as a percentage of body weight (BW) were similar in both Napier grass types. Both grasses had similar digestible DM and energy. Bana had higher digestible CP but lower digestible ADF and NDF than French Cameroon. Bana Napier was not different from French Cameroon when fed as a sole diet to lactating cows in terms of low DM intake, milk yield and a loss of BW and condition. To improve the efficient utilization of both Napier grass varieties, a supplement capable of supplying 1085-1227 g CP/d and 17.0-18.0 Mcal ME/d is required for cows to support moderate gains 0.22 kg/d and 15 kg 4% fat corrected milk/d.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.970-973
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• 2001

An experiment was carried out to assess the effect of feeding concentrate mixtures varying in bypass protein levels with urea-treated or untreated grass on the performance of twelve Red Kandhari calves (14 months of age and 78.15 kg body weight) for a period of 75 days. Dry grass was treated with 4 percent urea solution and ensiled for 30 days. The CP ($N{\times}6.25$) content in urea treated grass increased from 3.96 to 8.89 percent. Two iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous concentrate mixtures (CM-I and CM-II) varying in RDP to UDP ratio viz., 65:35 and 55.45 were prepared. The calves in control group ($T_1$) were fed concentrate mixture-I with ad libitum untreated dry grass and those in experimental group ($T_2$) were fed concentrate mixture-II with ad libitum urea treated dry grass. The dry matter consumption in group $T_2$ was significantly (p<0.01) higher as compared to group $T_1$. The total DMI in $T_1$ and $T_2$ was 146.92 and 166.95 kg respectively, whereas the DMI per day and per 100 kg body weight was 1.94 and 2.22 and 1.90 and 2.35 kg, respectively. The average total gain in body weight (kg) and average daily gain (g) of calves in $T_2$ was significantly (p<0.01) higher as compared to those in $T_1$ the values being 28.66, 18.33 and 382.16, 244.44, respectively. Feed efficiency in terms of kg DM per kg gain in body weight was significantly (p<0.01) lower in group $T_1$ than in $T_2$. The cost of feed per kg gain in body weight for $T_2$ and $T_1$ group was Rs. 21.14, 28.22, respectively. The digestibility coefficients of DM, CP, EE, CF, NFE, NDF and ADF were 59.60, 57.50, 53.00, 65.04, 45.82, 48.48, 52.48 and 55.73 for $T_1$ group. The coressponding values were 68.78, 67.80, 59.83, 71.41, 49.93, 53.37 and 57.81, respectively for $T_2$ group. The digestibility coefficients for all the proximate principles in $T_2$ were significantly (p<0.01) higher as compared to $T_1$. However, NDF and ADF digestibilities were not significantly different. Nutritive value determined in terms of DCP and TDN for The experimental ration was significantly (p<0.01) higher than control ration, the values being 7.32 and 47.34 and 9.39 and 52.40% respectively. The blood urea nitrogen levels at 0, 3 and 6 h interval after feeding were significantly (p<0.01) lower in calves fed experiment ration as compared to control. The overall results indicated that in Red Kandhari calves an optimum growth can be economically achieved by feeding 4 percent urea treated dry and mature grass as basal roughage supplemented with a concentrate mixture containing 20 percent CP, 70% TDN and 45% UDP/bypass protein.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.24-28
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• 1997

The field experiment for field desalinization by precultivation of orchard crops were carried out to evaluate relationship between the varieation of chlorine contents of soil and crop uptake in the upland diverted from paddy field. After harvest of grass crops, soil samples were taken for analysis of chlorine contents of soil layers. Regardless of kinds of grass crops cutivated, contents of soil chlorine were decreased comparing to non-crop plot. Chlorine content in plant harvested at just before the flowering stage was much higher than that of after flowering. Chlorine uptake and dry matter were increased in order of Italian ryegrass, Perennial ryegrass, and Sudan grass. Positive correlations were showed between chlorine uptake and dry matter. The content of soil chlorine decreased by higher yield of dry matter.