• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1436-1442
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• 2014

Preservation of forage crops as silage offers opportunity to avoid the high risk of rain-damaged hay in the humid south-central USA. Recent developments with baled silage or baleage make silage a less expensive option than typical chopped silage. Silage has been important in the region primarily for dairy production, but baleage has become an option for the more extensive beef cattle industry in the region. Silage samples submitted to the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center Forage Quality Lab from 2006 through 2013 were assessed for dry matter (DM) and forage nutritive characteristics of chopped silage and baleage of the different forage types from commercial farms primarily in Louisiana and Mississippi. Of the 1,308 silage samples submitted, 1,065 were annual ryegrass (AR) with small grains (SG), the warm-season annual (WA) grasses, sorghums and pearl millet, and the warm-season perennial (WP) grasses, bermudagrass and bahiagrass, providing the remaining samples. Concentration of DM was used to indicate an effective ensiling opportunity, and AR silage was more frequently within the target DM range than was the WA forage group. The AR samples also indicated a high-quality forage with average crude protein (CP) of 130 g/kg and total digestible nutrient (TDN) near 600 g/kg. The cooler winter weather at harvest apparently complicated harvest of SG silage with chopped SG silage lower in both CP and TDN (104 and 553 g/kg, respectively) than either AR silage or baleage of SG (137 and 624 g/kg for CP and TDN, respectively). The hot, humid summer weather along with large stems and large forage quantities of the WA grasses and the inherently higher fiber concentration of WP grasses at harvest stage indicate that preservation of these forage types as silage will be challenging, although successful commercial silage samples of each forage type and preservation approach were included among samples of silages produced in the region.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.159-169
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• 2016

The goats raised in the barn are usually fed on fresh grass. As dry forage can be stored for long periods in large amounts, dry forage feeding makes it possible to feed large numbers of goats in barns. This review explains the physiological factors involved in suppressing dry forage intake and the cause of drinking following dry forage feeding. Ruminants consume an enormous amount of dry forage in a short time. Eating rates of dry forage rapidly decreased in the first 40 min of feeding and subsequently declined gradually to low states in the remaining time of the feeding period. Saliva in large-type goats is secreted in large volume during the first hour after the commencement of dry forage feeding. It was elucidated that the marked suppression of dry forage intake during the first hour was caused by a feeding-induced hypovolemia and the loss of $NaHCO_3$ due to excessive salivation during the initial stages of dry forage feeding. On the other hand, it was indicated that the marked decrease in feed intake observed in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period was related to ruminal distension caused by the feed consumed and the copious amount of saliva secreted during dry forage feeding. In addition, results indicate that the marked decreases in dry forage intake after 40 min of feeding are caused by increases in plasma osmolality and subsequent thirst sensations produced by dry forage feeding. After 40 min of the 2 h dry forage feeding period, the feed salt content is absorbed into the rumen and plasma osmolality increases. The combined effects of ruminal distension and increased plasma osmolality accounted for 77.6% of the suppression of dry forage intake 40 min after the start of dry forage feeding. The results indicate that ruminal distension and increased plasma osmolality are the main physiological factors in suppression of dry forage intake in large-type goats. There was very little drinking behavior observed during the first hour of the 2 h feeding period most water consumption occurring in the second hour. The cause of this thirst sensation during the second hour of dry forage feeding period was not hypovolemia brought about by excessive salivation, but rather increases in plasma osmolality due to the ruminal absorption of salt from the consumed feed. This suggests the water intake following dry forage feeding is determined by the level of salt content in the feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.6
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• pp.692-696
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• 1998

An experiment was conducted with eight growing sheep (average initial weight 20.6 kg and average final weight 23.7 kg) in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design to study the effect of type of forage supplementation to a basal diet of rice straw (ad libitum) and cassava (Manihot esculanta, approximately 9 g of dry matter $(DM).kg^{-0.75}{\cdot}day^{-1}$) on voluntary intake, digestion, rumen microbial protein synthesis and daily weight gain. Forages used were Leucaena (L, Leucaena leucocephala), Gliricidia (G, Gliricidia maculata) and Tithonia (T, Tithonia diversifolia, wild sunflower) at a DM supplementation level of approximately $13g.kg^{-0.75}.day^{-1}$. Organic matter intake was 40.4, 55.5, 55.0 and $54.9g{\cdot}kg.^{-0.75}{\cdot}day^{-1}$ for control (C, ad libitum straw and cassava), L, G and T. respectively, significantly lower for C than for the supplemented diets. Intake of supplementary forage had also a significantly positive effect on voluntary rice straw intake. All forage supplemented diets showed a significantly higher whole diet organic matter digestion than C ($488g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$), while T ($557g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) differed significantly from L ($516g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$) but not from G ($526g{\cdot}kg^{-1}$). Daily weight gain was -1.7, 5.2, 5.4 and $4.7g{\cdot}kg^{-0.75}$, for C, L, G and T. respectively, significantly lower for C than for the forage-supplemented diets. Efficiency of microbial protein synthesis estimated from urinary excretion of purine derivatives was lower for C (3.8 g microbial N. (kg digestible organic matter intake $(DOMI))^{-1}$ than for the forage supplemented diets (11.3, 9.0 and 9.4 g microbial $N.(kg\;DOMI)^{-1}$ for L, G and T. respectively).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.313-320
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• 2009

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage system and fertilizer type on the forage yield and quality of Italian ryegrass. This experiment was a $2{\times}2$ factorial arrangement for two tillage systems (tillage and no-tillage) and two fertilizer type (chemical and manure compost). The plant height, dry matter (DM) content, DM yield, TDN (total digestible nutrients) yield, and CP (crude protein) yield have significant differences in tillage system of Italian ryegrass. Italian ryegrass cultivated with tillage (plow and rotary till) had lower plant height, DM yield, TDN yield and CP yield than no-tillage, while its DM content showed the opposite results. However, there were no significant differences in the results on fertilizer types. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents were significantly higher in no-tillage compared to tillage. However, there was no significant difference in CP content on tillage system. TDN and relative feed value (RFV) were higher in tillage than no-tillage system (p<0.01). The TDN content was lower when using manure as fertilizer. No significant effects were observed for NDF and RFV in fertilizer type of Italian ryegrass. Based on the results of this study, tillage system and fertilizer type affected forage quality as well as forage yield. Forage yield of no-tillage was higher compared to tillage.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.27-38
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• 1996

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of Festulolium braunii(Festuca pratensis Huds. $\times$ Loliurn mulrijZorum Lam.)as forge sources. The experiment was arranged in a split plot design with four replications from Feb. 1995. to Jan. 1996 at Hohenheim university. Main plots consisted of three forage species, Festulolirtrn braunii(Paulita), Lolium multiJomm(Lemtla), and Secale cereale(Halo) and subplots consisted of three maturity, boot, heading, and anthesis. The growth characteristics, DM yields, nutritive value, N and energy balance were observed. The heading date of Festulolium braunii was about two days earlier than that of Loliunz mrtltiflorum, farthermore Fesrulolium braunii retained higher leaf weight ratio(LWR) than other species. Festulolium brarrnii failed to show any significant differences in grass length, number of tillers, LAI, CGR, and DM accumulation when harvested at the same stage of maturity as compare with Loliurn mulriiflorutn or Setale cerede, bur the content of CP, OMD, and mineral elements and NEL value of Festulolium braunii compare to othes were slightly increased(P<0.05), while the content of NDF, ADF, and lignin decreased(P<0.05). The yield of CP was greater for Festulolium braunii than for Lolium multfimm and yields of DOM and NEL per unit area(ha) for Festulolium braunii were greater than for other species(P<0.05). The equivalent or higher DM production and nutritive value are obtained when Festulolium braunii are cut during the period from boot to anthesis stages, therefor DM intake, preference, and N and energy balance were also higher for Festulolirtm braunii compare to for other species. It could be suggested that Lolium multrfirum would be a more suitable substitute to Festuloliron braunii without decreasing forage production and quality, but the substitutive effect of Secale cereale would be difficult because of the maor differences in growth type and period compare to Fesrulolium braunii. From above the results of this experiment it appears that Festulolium braunii have a potential to provide forage sources. but funher research is needed to ascertain their potential under the climate of Korea.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.209-220
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• 2012

Most oats are used for livestock feed in the world. This experiment was conducted at Iksan city of Korea from 2007 to 2008. The objective of this study was to select eminent oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars with high-yielding and a quality for forage adaptable in each planting seasons. Experimental design was split-plot design with three replications. A split plot design was used with seeding date on the main plots and other treatments fully randomized in sub-plots. A factorial arrangement of treatments included three different ecotypes cultivars, winter type (Sanmhan, Donghan and Chohan), summer type (High-speed, Darkhorse, and Swan), and naked oats near to spring type (Daeyang, Choyang, and Sunyang) and twelve seeding dates (twice a month from March to November). Plant height, dry matter yield, and percent TDN was significantly affected by seeding dates, cultivars, and the interaction of cultivars ${\times}$ seeding dates. There was a decrease in plant height, dry matter yield, and percent total digestible nutrients (TDN) as seeding was delayed from early March to late June and it also from early September to early November. The winter type oat cultivars such as Samhan, Donghan, and Chohan adapted to fall seeding and early summer harvest, while summer type cultivars such as High-speed, Darkhorse, and Swan showed high productivity either to summer seeding and mid-fall harvest or to spring seeding and early summer harvest. Naked type cultivars, Choyang and Daeyang, showed high forage yield by spring and summer seeding except for fall seeding because of cold damage. Summer type oat cultivars such as High-speed, Darkhorse, and Swan can supplement high forage production in spring. TDN yield showd the most at seeding in October 10 (780 kg $10a^{-1}$), followed at seeding in March 23 (627 kg $10a^{-1}$).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1174-1183
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• 2010

In goats fed on dry forage twice a day, an esophageal fistula was used to investigate the physiological factors present in the marked suppression of dry forage intake that occurs after 40 min of feeding. The animals used in this study were five large-type male esophageal- and ruminal-fistulated goats. Roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes with any large remaining chunks removed were used as feed for this research. The study was conducted under both normal feeding conditions (NFC) and sham feeding conditions (SFC). In the NFC control, the esophageal fistulae were closed by plugs and the animals ate dry forage in the normal manner. In the SFC treatment, before starting the experiment the plugs for closing the esophageal fistula were removed and the cannulae for collecting boluses were fitted into the fistulae. Therefore, the esophageal boluses were removed via an esophageal fistula before they entered the rumen. In the NFC control, eating rates sharply decreased in the first 40 min of feeding and were subsequently maintained at low levels. However, eating rates in the SFC treatment remained high after 40 min of the feeding period had elapsed and the goats ate continuously during the 2 h feeding period. In comparison with the NFC control ($1,794{\pm}203.80\;g$/2 h), cumulative dry forage intake in the SFC treatment ($3,182{\pm}381.69\;g$/2 h) was 77.4% greater (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. In the SFC treatment, cumulative bolus output ($6,804{\pm}469.92\;g$/2 h) was about twofold the cumulative dry forage intake due to cumulative salivary secretion volume ($3,622{\pm}104.13\;g$/2 h) upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period. The result indicates that large amounts of secreted saliva during dry forage feeding act in conjunction with consumed feed to form the ruminal load responsible for ruminal distension. The increased plasma total protein concentrations were higher in the SFC treatment than in the NFC control. However, plasma and ruminal fluid osmolalities increased in the NFC control during and after feeding but were mostly unchanged in the SFC treatment. In comparison with the NFC control ($3,440{\pm}548.04\;g$/30 min), thirst level in the SFC treatment ($1,360{\pm}467.02\;g$/30 min) was 60.5% significantly less (p<0.05) upon conclusion of the 30 min drinking period. The results of the present study indicate that In the second hour of the 2 h feeding period, dry forage intake is regulated by factors produced when boluses enter the rumen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.502-514
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• 2012

When ruminants consume dry forage, they also drink large volumes of water. The objective of this study was to clarify which factor produced when feed boluses enter the rumen is mainly responsible for the marked increase in water intake in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period in large-type goats fed on dry forage for 2 h twice daily. Six large-type male esophageal- and ruminal-fistulated goats (crossbred Japanese Saanen/Nubian, aged 2 to 6 years, weighing $85.1{\pm}4.89kg$) were used in two experiments. In experiment 1, the water deprivation (WD) control and the water availability (WA) treatment were conducted to compare changes in water intake during and after dry forage feeding. In experiment 2, a normal feeding conditions (NFC) control and a feed bolus removal (FBR) treatment were carried out to investigate whether decrease in circulating plasma volume or increase in plasma osmolality is mainly responsible for the marked increase in water intake in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. The results of experiment 1 showed that in the WA treatment, small amounts of water were consumed during the first hour of feeding while the majority of water intake was observed during the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. Therefore, the amounts of water consumed in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period accounted for 82.8% of the total water intake. The results of experiment 2 indicated that in comparison with the NFC control, decrease in plasma volume in the FBR treatment, which was indicated by increase in hematocrit and plasma total protein concentrations, was higher (p<0.05) in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period. However, plasma osmolality in the FBR treatment was lower (p<0.05) than compared to the NFC control from 30 min after the start of feeding. Therefore, thirst level in the FBR treatment was 82.7% less (p<0.01) compared with that in the NFC control upon conclusion of the 30 min drinking period. The results of the study indicate that the increased plasma osmolality in the second hour of the 2 h feeding period is the main physiological stimulating factor of water intake during and after dry forage feeding in large-type goats.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.443-450
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• 2004

To examine the potentiality of grassland dominated with turf-type grasses, which are mainly used for the establishment of green spaces, forage production and its utilization as forage resources, dry matter yield and forage quality of three different turf-type mixtures were estimated throughout three consecutive experimental years. According to the experiment, the mean of dry matter(DM) yield, chemical composition, DM digestibility, crude protein dry matter(CPDM) and digestible dry matter(DDM) yield was not significantly different among species(p > 0.05) over three experimental years. Botanical composition of three dominant species(tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass) was 42, 35 and 28%, respectively, in three mixtures at the last cutting(6th) in 2001. The botanical composition of three dominated species such as tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass was maintained 84% of the total plants in all types of mixtures. Therefore, It is observed that the mixture types did not closely affect the botanical composition. But botanical composition of the other species such as redtop(8%) and creeping bentgrass(6${\sim}$7%) was low. Especially, that of red fescue was the least(1${\sim}$2%) of all mixed species. As mentioned above, any difference was not observed in DM yields, forage quality and botanical composition among mixture types. Therefore, any types of mixtures can be used as public green spaces like school ground areas or river-sides, and as forage resources additionally.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.1182-1189
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• 2007

An intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of somatostatin 1-28 (SRIF) was used as a thirst-controlling peptide antagonist to investigate whether or not thirst-controlling peptides are involved in the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding large-type goats on dry forage. A continuous ICV infusion of SRIF was conducted at a small dose of $4{\mu}g$ ml/h for 27 h from day 1 to day 2. Goats (n = 5) were fed roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes for 2 h twice daily and water was given ad libitum. Feed intake was measured during ICV infusion of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) and SRIF. The feed intake during SRIF infusion increased significantly compared to that during ACSF infusion. In comparison to the ACSF treatment, plasma osmolality during the SRIF treatment significantly decreased during the first half of the 2 h feeding period. The factor causing the decrease in plasma osmolality during the ICV infusion of SRIF was a decrease in plasma Na, K, Cl, and Mg concentrations. In comparison to the ACSF infusion treatment, parotid saliva secretion volumes during the 2 h feeding period in the SRIF infusion treatment were significantly larger. While there was no significant difference in cumulative water intake (thirst levels) between the SRIF and the ACSF treatments upon conclusion of the 2 h feeding period, based on the plasma osmolality results it is thought that thirst level increases brought about by alfalfa hay cube feeding in the first half of the feeding period were reduced. It is thought that the somatostatin-induced increases in feed intake during the 2 h feeding period in the present experiment were caused by decreases in plasma osmolality brought about by the somatostatin infusion. As a result, it is suggested that the significant decrease in feed intake during the initial stages of feeding in large-type goats given roughly crushed alfalfa hay cubes, was due to the actions of thirst-controlling peptides.