• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권2호
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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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• 제7권4호
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• pp.591-596
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• 1994

Chemical composition and nutritive values of napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum.) silages subjected to two cutting intervals were studies; 1st harvest in July (A), and 2nd (B) and 1st (C) harvests in November. Each forage was ensiled with 4% molasses in plastic bags and stored for 5 or 9 months. A feeding experiment with castrated goats was conducted from April to June of the following year. Dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) content of the harvests varied from 9.5 to 22.8% and 6.6 to 13.6% of DM, respectively. The dry matter content of the silages fed to the goats were 13.0 to 24.4%, because some effluent was removed from each silage before the feeding trial. The pH values of the silages were between 4.03 and 4.29. Goats were given sufficient silage to meet maintenance nitrogen requirements from napier grass silage. Silage C was not completely consumed, and the silage had low digestibilities of DM, CP, hemicellulose and cellulose. Nitrogen balance was slightly positive for goats consuming silage B and was negative for goats consuming silages A and C. Nitrogen utilization was discussed in terms of ruminal $NH_3-N$ and volatile fatty acid concentration in the rumen fluids. It is concluded that goats could not maintain N-equilibrium not only when a younger forage was consumed at a level of N requirement by a restricted feeding, but also when an older forage could not be consumed enough for N requirement because of feed intake limitation.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제61권5호
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• pp.254-259
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• 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of polished rice (PR) vs unpolished rice (UPR) as a potential feedstuff for sheep in order to use as a replacer to corn in sheep diet, and as well as to present the application in the formulation of cattle diet. Six corriedale ewe were randomly assigned to each treatment. UPR and PR were provided as a dietary treatment together with timothy grass as a basal diet in a crossover design for two period with 15-d duration for each period. The ratio of experimental and basal feeds were 33.3% and 66.7%, respectively. The differences in the total digestible nutrient (TDN) contents between sheep and cattle was determined according to the references. The number of data collected sheep and cattle was 9 and 17, respectively. The PR showed higher nutrients digestibility than UPR. Similarly, higher TDN content was observed PR than UPR (p < 0.05). As a result, the replacement of corn in the formulate feed with UPR and PR feed rice could be possible with the ratio of 91.2% and 100.0%, respectively. The result of comparation the TDN contents of UPR and PR in sheep and cattle, the PR has no difference in the nutritive value which suggests the applicability of the results of sheep to cattle. On the other hand, UPR has known to have different nutritive value between sheep and cattle, so caution should be taken when preparing formula feeds for cattle.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.118-123
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• 1995

This experiment was canied out to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization level (0, 70, 140, 280 and 420 k a a ) on the grass growth, dry matter (DM) production, numtive value, and botanical composition in reed canarygrass (Phalaris ancndinacea L.) pasture. \ulcornerhe cultivar used in this study was Palaton, and the grass was harvested at soiling-hay stage (3 times per year) in 1992 and 1993. As the N level was increased, the plant height, DM produdion, and crude protein (CP) content were significantly increased (P<0.05). When the N was applied at the levels of 0, 70, 140, 280, 420 kg, DM yields were 4,540, 5,316, 6,060, 7,923 and 9,960 kgha, and CP contents were 17.6, 17.4, 17.4, 18.4 and 19.8%, respectively. However, as the N level was increased, DM percentage, total digestible nutrients, and relative feed value were decreased, while the contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, and bareland were continuously increased, particularly in the plot of N 420 kg fdzation. From the above results, it is suggested that reed canarygrass was one of the sensitive pasture grasses to N fertilizer, and the proper amount of N application was 280 kg/ha/yr for desirable production, nutritive value, and botanical composition in r e d conarygrass pasmre.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.112-117
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• 1995

A field experiment was canied out to determine the effects of harvest time (grazing, soiling and hay stage) on the grass growth, dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value, and weed development in reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.) pasture. The cultivars of reed canarygrass used in this study were Palaton, Venture, Castor, and Frontier (control). The grass was harvested 3 times at hay stage, 4 times at soiling stage, and 6 times at grazing stage in 1992. The average plant height was 31-41cm at grazing, 47-59cm at soiling, and 76-86cm at hay stage. Similar DM yield was observed in Palaton(12,567 kglha), Venture(l2,435kg), and Frontier(12,762kg), and the yields of 3 cultivars were significantly higher than that of Castor(ll,025kg) (P<0.05). Total yields affected by harvest time were lO,O6 1, 1 1,832, and 14,699 kg/ha at grazing, soiling, and hay stage, respectively(P<0.05). The content of crude protein (CP) was not significantly different among cultivars. CP contents by harvest time were 21.6% at grazing, 19.3% at soiling, and 18.8% at hay stage, regardless of cultivm(P<0.05). The contents of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were similar among cultivars and harvest time. However, slightly higher NDF and ADF contents were found in Frontier. The contents of Ca, P, K, and Mg were not affected by cultivars and harvest time. The appearance of weeds was high in Castor, and low in Frontier. The weeds at grazing stage(33.3-60.0%) were remarkably higher than those at soiling and hay astage (ca 10%). In conclusion, it is suggested that 3-4 times (soiling and hay stage) of harvest was recommended for grass production, nutritive value, and weed control in reed canarygrass pasture, regradless of cultivars of Palation, Venture and Frontier, except Castor.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권12호
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• pp.1754-1759
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• 2002

A study was carried out to investigate the nutritive value and utilization of hybrid sorghum and perennial grass species viz. setaria (Setaria anceps) and hybrid napier when intercropped with soybean by growing Jersey crossbred heifers. Fifteen growing crossbred heifers (Jersey${\times}$Red Sindhi) of between 7-10 months age and pre-trial average body weight of 49-50 kg were divided on the basis of weight in to three treatment groups viz. $T_1$-hybrid sorghum+soybean, $T_2$-setaria+soybean and $T_3$-hybrid napier+soybean in a completely randomized block design. Intercropped forages were harvested fresh, chaffed and mixed before they were offered to the heifers. Chemical composition of the herbage, dry matter intake (DMI), body weight gain and nutrient digestibility co-efficients were estimated. The herbage mixtures had crude protein (CP) content in the range of 11.87 to 13.86% and ether extract (EE) contents were 2.91 to 3.11%, respectively. The herbage mixtures were rich in minerals (ash). The gross energy (kcal/g DM) was higher in hybrid napier+soybean, while hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures had lower value for gross energy. The hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures had higher contents of NDF, ADF, cellulose, lignin and silica as compared to that of hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture. The heifers fed hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture had significantly (p<0.05) higher $DMI\;g/kg\;W^{0.75}$ ($97.41{\pm}4.34$) as compared to hybrid sorghum+soybean ($88.31{\pm}2.66$) and setaria+soybean ($79.29{\pm}1.06$) herbage mixtures. Nutrients digestibility, DCP percent, DCP intake and nitrogen balance were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the heifers fed on hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference among different herbage mixtures in TDN. The heifers on setaria+soybean herbage mixture had lower average body weight gain (g/day) than those on hybrid sorghum+soybean and hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixtures. Data obtained in this experiment demonstrated that herbage mixture of hybrid napier+soybean was better than hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean herbage mixtures in the nutrition of growing heifers. It had highest nutritive value, better digestibility co-efficients which showed better growth rate and higher feed efficiency. In ranking, hybrid napier+soybean herbage mixture was better followed by hybrid sorghum+soybean and setaria+soybean in nutritive value in the parameters studied. For future wasteland development program in humid-sub tropics of Himachal Pradesh hybrid napier and its intercropping with soybean is recommended for general adoption because of its better adaptability and higher nutritive value.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제15권3호
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• pp.164-168
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• 1995

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of nitrogen (N) fertilization levels after first harvest (0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 kglha) during spring season on the gms growth, dry matter (DM) yield, nutritive value, and efficiency of DM production per N kg applied in orchardgrass meadow. Additional N was applicated at early spring (70 kg), after second harvest (50 kg), and after fourth harvest (30 kg/ha) in all treatments, 1990. Growth and DM yield of orchardgrass at second harvest were significantly increased with increasing level of N after first harvest (P<0.05), but no yield differences were observed between application of N 60, N 90, and N 120 kg. The efficiency of DM increment per N kg applied was rapidly decreased with increasing level of N; that was 14.8, 12.0, 10.7 and 4.7 DM kg/N kgha in the plot of N 30, N 60, N 90 and N 120 kg, respectively. The content and yield of crude protein of orchardgrass at second harvest were significantly increased with increasing of N (P<0.05), ranged h r n 11.0% (N 0 kg) to 16.8% (N 120 kg), and from 195.0 kg (N 0 kg) to 508.2 kglha (N 120 kg), respectively. However, the content of neutral detergent fiber was not affected by N level after first harvest. From the above results, it is suggested that application of N fertilizer after first harvest was very effective for regrowth and nutritive value of orchardgrass during spring season, and the proper amount of N after first harvest was 60-90 kglha in this experiment.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제12권8호
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• pp.1222-1227
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• 1999

Effect of three major cropping seasons and five fertilizer treatments on botanical composition, nutritional composition and in sacco digestibility of native grasses grown in 30 experimental plots of a medium fertile land was determined. It was observed that all the major grass species were grown in all seasons but their predominancy of growth was different. During the study the predominant grass species were Panicum repens (Angta), Fimvristylis miliacea (Joina), Cyanolis axillaries (Kanainala), Cynodon dactylon (Durba) and Cyperus iria (Phulchaise) which contributed about 27, 20, 13, 11 and 9% of the total grass yield, respectively. Dry matter (DM) contents was higher in dry followed by monsoon and summer seasons (p<0.05). Crude protein (CP) content in the summer and monsoon appeared to be higher (p<0.05) than that of dry season. Organic matter (OM) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) were higher (p<0.05) in dry and monsoon than in summer season. Application of urea fertilizer and cowdung increased 28.2% of CP content of the grasses, but decreased 19.5 and 9.8% of DM and NDF contents, respectively. The potential degradation of DM and CP of the grasses grown in summer were 4.1 and 8.4% and 3.9 and 5.8% higher than those of monsoon and dry seasons, respectively, and both of these increased (11.3 and 5.9%, respectively) with the application of cowdung and urea fertilizer.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제17권7호
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• pp.942-946
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• 2004

This study aimed to examine the fermentation quality of a tropical Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpuereum) and temperate Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) forages ensiled additive of fermented juice of epiphytic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and to determine what factor affects the fermentation characteristics of the crops. In both species cell walls neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) contents in silages were consistently decreased (p<0.05) with the addition of FJLB at ensiling more then Control treatment. The FJLB additive increased number of LAB (cfu) and lactate concentration in the silages in both species. The Control treatment without additive underwent a clostridial type of fermentation with traces of propionic, iso-butyric, n-butyric acids contents with higher (p<0.01) levels of volatile basic nitrogen (VBN %TN) and had appreciable decreased of nutrient in silages. FJLB treatment improved silage nutritive value with little contents of VBN %TN, ethanol and very small amount of dry matter (DM) and hemicellulose losses (p<0.05) between 2 to 5% and 7 to 3% respectively, in Elephant grass and Italian ryegrass species. The results in this study indicates that while among the factors affecting silage fermentation butyric type of fermentation was more pronounced in tropical elephant grass compared to the temperate Italian ryegrass, FJLB additive revealed a better silage fermentation products in both species.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권8호
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• pp.1109-1112
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• 2000

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effects of mechanical and chemical conditioning at mowing on field drying rate and quality of grass hay in 1996. Mower conditioner and/or chemical drying agent $(K_2CO_3)$ were used at different harvest stages (late boot, heading and bloom stages) for hastening hay-making. After field drying, square bales were made by hay baler, and the visual estimation and nutritive value of hay were evaluated after storing two months. In mower conditioning, the duration of field drying was shortened by 0.5 to 1 day compared with drying agent, and by 1 to 2 days compared with control. The drying matter loss of hay was reduced by late harvest and mechanical conditioning. The visual score (leafiness, green color, odor and softness), and acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro dry matter digestibllity (IVDMD), and relative feed value (RFV) of hay were improved with mechanical conditioning, but chemical alone had little effect on quality. The quality of hay harvested at bloom stage was much lower than that of hay harvested at late boot and heading stage. In conclusion, mower conditioning can enhance the field drying rate of grass hay, however the drying efficiency of chemical drying agent is very low. Also the effects of chemical/mechanical combined conditioning are very similar compared with mechanical conditioning alone. Harvesting at late boot to heading stage is recommended for the production of high quality hay.