• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.637-647
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• 2019

Objective: The study aimed at quantifying seasonal and spatial variations in availability and nutritive value of herbaceous vegetation on native pastures and supplement feedstuffs for domestic ruminants in Western Kenya. Methods: Samples of herbaceous pasture vegetation (n = 75) and local supplement feedstuffs (n = 46) for cattle, sheep, and goats were collected in 20 villages of three geographic zones (Highlands, Mid-slopes, Lowlands) in Lower Nyando, Western Kenya, over four seasons of one year. Concentrations of dry matter (DM), crude ash (CA), ether extract (EE), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), gross energy (GE), and minerals were determined. Apparent total tract organic matter digestibility (dOM) was estimated from in vitro gas production and proximate nutrient concentrations or chemical composition alone using published prediction equations. Results: Nutrient, energy, and mineral concentrations were 52 to 168 g CA, 367 to 741 g NDF, 32 to 140 g CP, 6 to 45 g EE, 14.5 to 18.8 MJ GE, 7.0 to 54.2 g potassium, 0.01 to 0.47 g sodium, 136 to 1825 mg iron, and 0.07 to 0.52 mg selenium/kg DM. The dOM was 416 to 650 g/kg organic matter but differed depending on the estimation method. Nutritive value of pasture herbage was superior to most supplement feedstuffs, but its value strongly declined in the driest season. Biomass yields and concentrations of CP and potassium in pasture herbage were highest in the Highlands amongst the three zones. Conclusion: Availability and nutritive value of pasture herbage and supplement feedstuffs greatly vary between seasons and geographical zones, suggesting need for season- and region-specific feeding strategies. Local supplement feedstuffs partly compensate for nutritional deficiencies. However, equations to accurately predict dOM and improved knowledge on nutritional characteristics of tropical ruminant feedstuffs are needed to enhance livestock production in this and similar environments.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.7
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• pp.1069-1079
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• 2022

Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of 4-month intensive feeding on the meat quality, fatty acid profile, flavor, and growth performance of grazing Hulunbuir sheep (HBS). Methods: The HBS were selected 4-months after birth in a pasture rearing system as the experimental animals (n = 44, female, average body weight 23.8±2.2 kg) then divided equally into pasture-based grazing fattening (PAS) and concentrate-included intensive fattening (CON) groups for another 4-month finishing. When finished fattening, all animals were slaughtered to collect musculus longissimus dorsi subcutaneous adipose tissue and to investigate the influences on meat quality, fatty acid profile, flavor and growth performance. Results: The results showed lambs in CON group got significantly higher live weight, hot carcass weight, and dressing percentage. The CON group had significantly higher value of redness (a^*), lightness (L^*) and water holding capacity (p<0.05), significantly lower value of Warner-Bratzler shear force than the PAS group (p<0.05). The subcutaneous fat from CON group lambs demonstrated a significantly higher content of C18:1 and C18:2 (p<0.05), but lower C14:0 and C16:0, indicating an increased degree of unsaturated fatty acid. The content of 4-methyloctanoic acid, 4-ethyloctanoic acid and 4-methylnonanoic acid had increased 2 to 4 times, representing a more intense odor in the CON group. However, the values were still lower than most sheep breeds reported, indicating the indoor feeding system could not fundamentally deteriorate the excellent meat characteristic of HBS. Conclusion: It was evident that lambs in CON group exhibited a better meat production performance, improved in meat color, texture and healthier fatty acid profile through pasture-weaned concentrate included intensive fattening system, which offers a good alternative regimen for lamb finishing and has a wide prospection in the HBS meat industry.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.113-120
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• 2006

This study was conducted to select the optimum seed mixture for beef cattle (Hanwoo) grazing in middle mountain area at 450m from sea level during 2 years from October 1, 1999. Seed mixtures were composed of four different treatment according to main species such as orchardgrass (T1), perennial ryegrass (T2), timothy (T3) and Italian ryegrass (T4). Grass composition rate of different seed mixtures was decreased mostly at first year of grazing, like 44.9% of orchardgrass in T1 plot, 27.6% of perennial ryegrass in T2 plot, 40.9% of timothy in T3 plot and 40.7% of Italian ryegrass in T4 plot, respectively. Main species in seed mixture were decreased in grazing pasture, but kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue were increased in all plots. Italian ryegrass in T4 plot was well grown in early grown stage and inhibited the growth of other grass species, and 44.2% of Italian ryegrass was maintained in second year in the grazing plot. Average dry matter yields of first you showed 6,673 kg/ha and second year was 10,177 kg/ha. Average TDN yields of different seed mixtures were 6,399 kg/ha in T1, 7,769 kg/ha in T2, 4,383 kg/ha in T3 and 7,146 kg/ha in T4 plot. Average herbage dry matter intakes by different seed mixtures during 2 years were 5,937 kg/ha in T1, 6,375 kg/ha in T2, 4,925 kg/ha in T3 and 6,456 kg/ha in T4. This result indicated that perennial ryegrass would recommended in main species of Hanwoo grazing pasture.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2015

This study was carried out to offer basic information for the promotion of the goat industry and the improvement of mountainous-pasture management by investigating seasonal changes in forage and livestock productivity according to the grazing-pasture type. The forage productivity of rangeland was the highest (p < 0.05) in summer and decreased in autumn; but that of pasture was the largest (p < 0.05) in spring and had relatively stable productivity with minor seasonal differences, although it decreased slightly in autumn. The dry matter content was not seasonally different at pasture, but it was changeable from spring to autumn at rangeland. The crude protein content increased in autumn at pasture (p < 0.05), and decreased in summer and autumn compared with spring at rangeland. The crude fiber content was lower and the ether extract was higher at pasture compared with rangeland. The average daily gain of the goats was different depending on forage productivity and pasture type; consequently, the lowered forage productivity at rangeland compared with pasture means that rangeland needs to be changed or improved to a pasture type that provides a more effective grazing system for goats.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.81-88
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• 2016

This study was conducted to find out the effects of Improvement of Botanical Composition Technology (IBCT) on the forage production and ecological characteristics in a Rumex acetosella-dominated hilly pasture in Pyeongchang, in a period from August 2013 to the end of growing season in October 2015. $2MT\;ha^{-1}$ limestone was applied in August 2013 and April 2014. Liming significantly increased soil pH from 4.69 to 5.47 and then the soil pH consistently hovered at 4.91~4.98. For every grazing time, plant height was found to be higher with the application of IBCT as compared with the control. After grazing, no significant difference in plant height was found between the IBCT group and the control. Changes in the botanical composition of grassland can be affected by a lot of circumstances, but application of IBCT decreased Rumex acetosella from 12% to 2%, while also increasing the proportion of pasture. In relation to the botanical composition of grass, orchardgrass and timothy showed the highest percentages throughout the whole study period. The proportion of Kentucky bluegrass increased over time while tall fescue steadily decreased. The totals for grazing days were 58 in 2014 and 55 in 2015. Average herbage dry matter intake was $7,848kg\;ha^{-1}$ in 2014 and $6,941kg\;ha^{-1}$ in 2015. Due to the application of IBCT, dry matter productivity showed a significant increase of 59% during the first grazing period in 2014 (3,437 kg ha and 5,460 kg ha in control and IBCT). In 2015, the total dry matter yield of the IBCT group was 51% greater than the control ($5,742kg\;ha^{-1}$ and $8,685kg\;ha^{-1}$ in control and IBCT). Under acidic soil conditions, red sorrel can grow more strongly than grasses because it has better tolerance in dry and acidic conditions. Therefore, constant management is required in order to keep red sorrel from dominating the hilly pasture. In this study, the application of IBCT was able to effectively control weeds at all points. As a result, total management, including improvement of soil, overseeding, and application of selective herbicide and fertilizer, is needed to maintain excellent grassland conditions due to the limiting effects of environmental factors on grassland productivity.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.435-444
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• 1999

This paper summarizes the size and output of the major animal industries in Australia and the feed resource available to maintain production. The most important feed source is pasture but there is also extensive use of cereal grains, pulses and by-products in the intensive animal industries and in supplementing the diet of grazing animals. These resources must be used in ways that ensure sustainable production. We outline a number of Decision Support Systems such as GrazFeed, GrassGro, and AusPig which play an important role in optimizing the way in which resources are used. Waste management with respect to mineral pollution of water courses and methane production as a greenhouse gas are important issues for the animal industries and are also considered.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.6
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• pp.647-650
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• 1995

The study on the sex ratios of natural population of Ixodid ticks in pasture was conducted in the Bangladesh Agricultural University Campus, Mymensingh, from 1988 to June 1990. The samples were collected from the five grazing fields consisting of five different vegetations. Dragging methods were used for the collection of samples. In 24 months of observations a total of 1113 ticks of two different species, Boophilus microplus (670), Haemaphysalis bispinosa (443) were collected and their sex ratio was determined. Females were recorded higher in both B. microplus and H. bispinosa.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.695-698
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• 2006

Six, one-year old dairy steers were randomly divided into two groups according to a Completely randomized design (CRD) to receive high-quality feed block (HQFB) without cassava hay and drenching (HQFB1+Ivomex) and HQFB with cassava hay (HQFB2) as block licks while grazing on Ruzi grass pasture. During the eight weeks, fecal parasitic egg counts dramatically declined for both treatment groups with 63.2 and 27.6% reduction from initial period for HQFB1+Ivomex and HQFB2, respectively. However, digestion of coefficients of nutrients particularly OM, were significantly higher in HQFB2 than, those in HQFB1+Ivomex, in addition, ADG of animals in HQFB2 tended to be higher than the group on HQFB1. It was, hence concluded that cassava hay could not only provide as a protein source but also serve as an anthelmintic in ruminants.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.197-200
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• 1994

The study was conducted in the Bangladesh Agricultural University campus, Mymensingh, from July 1988 to June 1990. Five grazing fields consisting of five different vegetations were selected for this study. The specimen were collected from this study. The specimen were collected from the grazing fields by dragging method. The results revealed that two species of ticks namely Boophilus microplus and Haemaphysalis bispinosa were collected from five different vegetation. The highest incidence of both B. microplus and H. bispinosa were recorded during winter season and lowest in Monsoon for the year of 1988-89 and 1989-90. These two species were significantly occurred in Winter followed by Monsoon and Autumn.