• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.247-254
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• 1996

Three stages of growth of Italian ryegrass (pre-blooming, P-B; early-blooming, E-B; and late-blooming, L-B) were used to evaluate the effect of maturity on in vitro digestion of dry matter, fiber components and gas production. The rumen digestibility and gas production values were obtained by incubation of each sample in the rumen fluid of sheep for 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hr, respectively. The results showed that digestibility of dry matter (DM) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) as advancing maturity of the grass. Similarly, the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) also significantly decreased (p < 0.05) with advancing maturity at all incubation times. However, the effect of maturity on digestibility of cellulose and hemicellulose was only detected when the samples were incubated more than 36 hr, where L-B was lower than P-B and E-B. Potential digestibility of nutrients, the maximum digestibility attainable in the rumen theoretically, was also higher at P-B than those of E-B and L-B. The amount of gas produced by microbial fermentation was closely related to the extent of DM digestion, and it was negatively correlated with advancing maturity of the grass.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.330-341
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• 2014

Andropogon gayanus is an important grass due to its high biomass production, drought tolerance and favorable growth on low fertility acidic soils. Currently, there is little research on the impact of growth stage on the nutritional quality or the degree of $CH_4$ production that may arise from this forage during ruminal fermentation. The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of regrowth stage of A. gayanus on its chemical composition, in vitro production of gas and CH4, as well as in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility when grown under tropical Brazilian conditions and conserved as hay or as silage. The nutritional value of A. gayanus grass declined with increasing maturity; however digestible DM yield linearly increased. After 112 d of regrowth, A. gayanus produced higher quality silage (higher lactate and lower pH and butyrate content) and higher DM yield. However, the low levels of crude protein at this time would make protein supplementation a necessity for proper rumen fermentation. No differences in $CH_4$ kinetic parameters were found with advancing maturity or preservation method (hay or silage).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.225-231
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• 2009

The objective of this experiment was to study the effects of grass maturity at harvest on the nutritive value of grass silage (GS) in relation to voluntary intake, digestibility, nitrogen (N) utilization and in sacco dry matter (DM) degradability. Silage was cut from a sward dominated by orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) at the late-vegetative (early-cut), internode elongation (mediumcut) and flowering (late-cut) stages of growth. The DM yield at harvest was the lowest for early-cut silage (5.4 t/ha) and increased to 6.5 and 7.0 t/ha for the medium and late-cut silage respectively. As the crop matured, the crude protein (CP) concentration decreased significantly (p<0.05) and there was a marked increase in acid detergent fiber (ADF) concentration (p<0.001). The three different silages were offered to four 18-month old Charolais wether sheep to measure the voluntary intake, in vivo digestibility and N retention over four 21-day periods in an incomplete changeover design. Silage degradability characteristics were determined using four fistulated sheep to measure DM degradability over 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h. There was a linear decrease in the voluntary intake of silage fresh matter, DM, organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, ADF and CP, and digestibility of OM in DM (Dvalue) ($P_L<0.01$) as harvesting of grass was delayed. Nitrogen intake, N output in urine, N output in faeces and N balance also linearly decreased ($P_L<0.01$) with postponed harvesting of grass for silage. DM degradability and effective degradability (ED) significantly decreased with increasing maturity of grass at harvest. The results suggest that harvesting date has a significant influence on the nutritive value of GS in terms of intake, digestibility, N balance and in sacco degradability in the rumen. It was concluded that early harvest GS ensured higher intake, digestibility, N intake and DM degradability in comparison with the medium and the late cut GS as a result of improved rumen N efficiency and utilization probably due to a better balance of available energy and protein.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.41-48
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• 1994

This experiment was carried out in order to evaluate the chemical composition and rumen degradation characteristics of Italian ryegrass harvested at three different growth stages, i,e. pre-blooming, early-blooming and late-blooming. Degradation values were obtained by incubation of the samples using the nylon bag technique on the rumen of sheep fed a normal diet (Timothy hay with 200 g/d concentrate per head) for 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 hours, respectively. Neutral detergent fiver (NDF) content was highest at late-blooming (64.4%) while no difference was found among the pre-blooming and early-blooming (49.4% vs 48.3%). However, acid detergent fiber (ADF) content markedly increased from 30.0% at pre-blooming to 35.4% and 46.4% at early-blooming and late-blooming, respectively. Lignin and silica contents also increased as advancing maturity of the grass, Rumen degradation of dry matter (DM) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) as advancing maturity of the grass. Ruman degradation cellulose and ADF at pre-blooming were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of early-blooming and late-blooming. However, no significant differences were observed among the early-blooming and late-blooming. With advancing maturity, rumen degradation of NDF and hemicellulose significantly reduced (p < 0.05) at the incubation times.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Near Infrared Spectroscopy Conference
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• 2001.06a
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• pp.1611-1611
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• 2001

The main selection parameters used by forage grass (rye and Italian rye grass) breeders are dry-matter yield, seasonal growth, persistency, disease resistance, heading date, and heading. These characteristics can all be identified usually in the segregating F2 population, however characteristics such as soluble carbohydrate level, protein, lipid and digestibility cannot be identified. The emphasis of this work is to introduce a quantitative selection process for characterization of herbage quality e.g. protein, water-soluble carbohydrates, fiber fractions, dry matter digestibility. NIRS calibrations are currently being developed for identifying grass genotypes to assist the selection process, thereby allowing the opportunity to actively breed improved herbage quality. The changes in fibre fractions, associated components and digestibility of a number of grass clones at different growth stages are being assessed changes taking place during a growing season. This will provide a database of the major changes taking place during a growing season. Attempts to classify quality differences between genotypes will be carried out using multivariate analysis of the spectral data. I addition changes associated with maturity of grass will be considered in order to develop robust calibrations.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.47 no.6
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• pp.985-1000
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• 2005

In vitro anaerobic incubations of timothy (Phleum pretense L.) forage with bovine rumen fluid were conducted at 39℃ for 0, 3, 6, 9, 24, and 36 h in three trials to examine the biohy- drogenation of linolenic (C18:3) and linoleic acids (C18:2) and their bypass from the rumen. The objectives of the first trial was to study the effect of growth stage (stem elongation, early heading, late heading, and early flowering) and N-fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha－1) on in vitro biohydrogenation of C18:2 and C18:3. The hydrogenable fraction, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 were high in timothy harvested at stem elongation, and decr- ease linearly with maturity. The N-fertilization increased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:3, the effective disappearance and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. However, the rate of disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3 were not affected by maturity and N-fertilization (P>0.1). In trial 2, the effect of timothy conservation method on in vitro C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenation was determined. Silage had the highest effective disappearance of C18:2 and C18:3, and grass hay had lowest one. The amounts of C18:2 and C18:3 biohydrogenated were higher in haylage and silage than in grass hay. Comparative to haylage timothy, the bypass of C18:3 was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay. The bypass of C18:2 was higher in fresh grass and silage in comparison to grass hay and haylage. In trial 3, the effects of formic acid and Lactobacillus plantarum inoculum addition to timothy haylage and silage on C18:2 and C18:3 disappearance and bypass were studied. Haylage and silage additives had no effect (P>0.1) on effective disappearance and bypass of C18:2 and C18:3. The addition of formic acid increased the rate of biohydrogenation of C18:3 in haylage and silage, but it decreased the hydrogenable fraction of C18:2 in silage. The results of these three incubation trials show that the hydrogenable fraction and the bypass of C18:2 and C18:3 in timothy decreased with maturity and increased with N-fertilization. Higher amount of C18:2 and C18:3 were biohydrogenated in haylage and silage than in grass hay, and C18:3 ruminal disappearance was higher in fresh grass, wilted grass and grass hay than in haylage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.123-128
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• 1989

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of frequency of defoliation on the ensiling characteristics and nutritive value of Guineaecotype 'A' (Panicum maximum Jacq) grass. Guinea grass harvested at 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 12-week cutting intervals was chopped (2 cm) and ensiled alone or with the addition of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) meal (w/w-fresh weight basis), for periods of 6, 7 or 8 weeks in 2-litre laboratory silos. Dry matter, water soluble carbohydrates, lactic acid, pH, ash, nitrogen and digestibility in vitro were measured in representative samples of preensiled and ensiled material. Dry matter content of silages prepared from herbage harvested at 2 and 3 weeks intervals was lower (P<0.05) compared to longer defoliation intervals. The pH of silage prepared from herbage over 8 weeks old were higher (P<0.05) than those harvested below 8 weeks. The water soluble carbohydrate content of silage prepared from 3-weekly defoliated herbage was higher (P<0.05) than those prepared from longer periods. Lengthened growth period decreased (P<0.001) the crude protein content of the ensiled material, whereas the addition of coconut meal resulted in marginal increases. In vitro organic matter digestibility of the silages decreased (P<0.05) with the increase in forage maturity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.381-385
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• 2006

This study examined the influence of re-growth periods on chemical composition, biomass production, nutritive value and digestion kinetics of Setaria sphacelata (SS) and Cenchrus ciliaris (CC) in ruminally cannulated buffalo bulls. Two re-growth intervals i.e. clipping every month ($CI_1$) and clipping after every two months ($CI_2$) were compared with the control (clipped after 4 months). Mean values of leaf to stem ratio in SS and CC grasses were decreased (p<0.05) with increasing re-growth interval. The lowest leaf to stem ratio was recorded in control plots of both grasses. In both grasses, increasing growth period increased the concentrations of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and organic matter (OM) and decreased crude protein (CP). Mean dry herbage, OM and CP yields of SS and CC were increased (p<0.05) with increasing re-growth interval. Ruminal DM and NDF digestibilities of SS and CC were decreased (p<0.05) with increasing interval. Ruminal rate of DM and NDF disappearance was higher while the ruminal lag time of these nutrients was lower with monthly than with bi-monthly clipping interval. The results from present study imply that SS and CC clipped after every two months is more beneficial than when clipped every month or every four months in terms of optimal biomass with adequate nutritional value for buffaloes.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.455-461
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• 1987

The ovaries or the ovules of grasses were pollinated and cultured in vitro to raise the interspecific or the intergeneric hybrids between tall fescue, meadow fescue, and Italian ryegrass. The isolated and suface-sterili-zed pistils were dusted with compatible pollens on stigma, on stump after removing stigma, or on excised ovule. Furthermore, the fertilized ovaries and ovules were cultured on MS, M6, or White's media and treated with plant growth regulators: IAA, kinetin, BA to promote embryo development and seed maturity. The in vitro fertilization in grass species ranged from 44 to 92% depending on ovary and pollen parents. The stigmatic pollination was resulted in 67.8% fertilization, the stump pollination 89.0%, and the excised ovule pollination 61.0%, repectively. White's medium was the most effective to provide embryo development and seed maturity in grass species. And the combined treatment of IAA 10mg/$\ell$, kinetin 0.2mg/$\ell$, was better than the non-treatment. Only two seedlings, one complete and one abnormal with root formation were obtained from 127 ovaryies cultured. The anatomy of ovules in vitro cultured was revealed the differentiation of vascular system and meristematic tissue, and the formation of sclerenchyma cells inside ovule.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.375-382
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• 2009

This study examined the influence of forage source (grass hay and rice straw) and shipping time (24, 26, 28 and 30 months) on feed conversion ratio, growth performance and carcass characteristics of Hanwoo steers. Sixty four Hanwoo steers at 6 months age were fed either grass hay (n=32) or rice straw (n=32) for 24, 26, 28 and 30 months of age. Steers fed on mixed grass hay gained significantly higher body weight at 24, 26, 28 and 30 months compared with those fed on rice straw. Feed efficiency was slightly better in steers fed mixed grass hay compared to those fed rice straw. Back fat thickness and marbling score were increased with the age of steers (p<0.05). Carcass quality traits (meat color, fat color, texture and maturity) were not affected by forage source and shipping time. Shear force, cooking loss and water holding capacity of beef were reduced with advancing age of steers (p<0.05). Moisture content was lower and fat content was higher in beef produced from steers fed mixed grass hay than those fed rice straw (p<0.05). Beef juiciness was reduced with the advancing shipping time of steers. In conclusion, it would be beneficial to feed hay compared with rice straw during whole period of Hanwoo steer to produce high quality beef.