• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 1997

Studies were designed to study the peri-parturient rise in strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) in ewes grazing in a rubber plantation in North Sumatra, Indonesia. In three consecutive lambing seasons strongyle FEC of peri-parturient ewes and dry ewes were monitored from 2 to 3 weeks before lambing until 7 to 9 weeks post lambing to measure the magnitude and duration of the peri-parturient rise. A significant rise in FEC was observed during the post-parturient period in two of the three studies. FEC increased in the three studies from lambing day, and were elevated until 5 to 9 weeks following lambing. Lactating ewes shed on average 3 times more eggs than dry ewes. Lactating ewes were therefore considered as an important source of pasture infection. These findings are discussed in relation to the epidemiology and control of gastrointestinal nematodes in the humid tropics.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.766-773
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• 2011

The objective of the present study was to examine whether yaks possess any adaptive mechanisms of nitrogen (N) metabolism to survive in the harsh foraging environment of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. A grazing experiment on native alpine meadows was conducted to determine availability of herbage biomass and body weight (BW) change of yaks over the year, followed by two indoor feeding trials to investigate adaptation mechanisms of N metabolism in yaks fed at similar intake level to grazing conditions. Three castrated males of each of three genotypes; yak (Bos grunniens), indigenous cattle (Bos taurus) and their crossbred - cattleyak (Bos taurus male${\times}$Bos grunniens female), were used in the housed trials. Results showed that: i) Monthly herbage biomass production and daily grazing intakes by yaks over the year ranged from 220 to 4,664 kg DM per ha, and 1.90 to 8.50 kg DM, respectively. For about seven months each year, yaks suffer from malnutrition as a result of inadequate pasture conditions; ii) Urinary N excretion and N retention by yaks were significantly affected by feeding level, and yaks had a lower (p<0.05) average daily urinary N excretion (0.39 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) and a greater (p<0.05) N retention (-0.09 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) than indigenous cattle (0.47 and -0.16 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$, respectively). Fasting daily urinary N excretion was greater (p<0.05) for indigenous cattle than yaks (353 vs. 248 mg/kg $BW^{0.75}$). Purine derivative N excretion and purine derivative N index (PNI) increased with increasing feeding level, while the value of PNI was greater (p<0.05) for yaks and cattleyak (0.11 and 0.12, respectively) than for indigenous cattle (0.09) during the feeding trials. These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on the recycling of N to adapt to the harsh forage environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.), were used in the housed trials. Results showed that: i) Monthly herbage biomass production and daily grazing intakes by yaks over the year ranged from 220 to 4,664 kg DM per ha, and 1.90 to 8.50 kg DM, respectively. For about seven months each year, yaks suffer from malnutrition as a result of inadequate pasture conditions; ii) Urinary N excretion and N retention by yaks were significantly affected by feeding level, and yaks had a lower (p<0.05) average daily urinary N excretion (0.39 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) and a greater (p<0.05) N retention (-0.09 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$) than indigenous cattle (0.47 and -0.16 g/kg $BW^{0.75}$, respectively). Fasting daily urinary N excretion was greater (p<0.05) for indigenous cattle than yaks (353 vs. 248 mg/kg $BW^{0.75}$). Purine derivative N excretion and purine derivative N index (PNI) increased with increasing feeding level, while the value of PNI was greater (p<0.05) for yaks and cattleyak (0.11 and 0.12, respectively) than for indigenous cattle (0.09) during the feeding trials. These results suggest that yaks could rely, in part, on the recycling of N to adapt to the harsh forage environment on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.286-293
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• 1993

This study was carried out to determine the effects of the fertilization levels and oversowing treatment on liveweight gain of glazing cattle, changs of botanical composition, and dry matter(DM) yield in tall fescue dominant mixed pasture during the grazing period. The treatments were T$_1$(low fertilizing; 120-100-100 kg/ha), T$_2$(medium fertilizing; 280-200-200 kg/ha) and T$_3$(medium fertilizing+oversowing). The botanical composition of tail festuce was increased in T$_1$ and that of tall fescue, orchardgrass and pernnial ryegrass in T$_3$ was 30.5%, 23.8% and 24.1%, respectively. The total forage DM yield was the highest in T$_3$, and the average stocking rate (animal unit; AU) per day during the grazing period in T$_1$, T$_2$ and T$_3$ was 2.4 AU. 3.0 Au and 3.3 AU, respectively. The total grazing days (animal unit day; AUD) in T$_3$(664 AUD) was higher than that of T$_1$, and T$_2$. There is no significant difference in average daily liveweight gain per head among the treatments but daily liveweight gain per ha in T$_3$ was higher than that of T$_1$, and T$_2$. The total liveweight gain per ha during the grazing period in T$_1$, T$_2$ and T$_3$ was 601kg. 762kg and 877kg, respectively. The herbage consumption per day per 100kg LW was similer among the treatments but crude protein, P, K and Ca contents in herbage were increased with medium fertilization levels(T$_2$) and with oversowing(T$_3$).

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.551-560
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• 2014

Twenty-four male 1-year old swamp buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) were randomly allocated to 4 groups. One group grazed on guinea grass (GG) and another on guinea grass and the legume Stylosanthes guianensis (GL). The other two groups were kept in pens and fed freshly cut guinea grass and concentrate at an amount of 1.5% (GC1.5) and 2.0% (GC2.0) of body weight, respectively. The effect of the different feeding intensities on carcass characteristics and meat quality were assessed. The mean body weight at slaughter was 398 (${\pm}16$) kg. Average daily gain was higher in concentrate-supplemented groups (570 and 540 g/d in GC1.5 and GC2.0, respectively) when compared to GG (316 g/d) and GL (354 g/d) (p<0.01). Likewise, the warm carcass weight was higher in GC1.5 and GC2.0 compared to GG and GL. Dressing percentage was 48.1% and 49.5% in GC1.5 and GC2.0 in comparison to 42.9% and 44.8% observed in GG and GL, respectively. Meat of Longissimus throracis from GC1.5 and GC2.0 was redder in color (p<0.01), while water holding capacity (drip and thawing loss) was improved in pasture-fed groups (p<0.05). Protein and fat content of Longissimus thoracis was higher in animals supplemented with concentrate (p<0.01), as was cholesterol content (p<0.05), whereas PUFA:SFA ratio was higher and n-6/n-3 ratio lower (p<0.01) in pasture-fed buffaloes. Results of the present study showed that the supplementation of pasture with concentrate enhances the growth and carcass characteristics of swamp buffaloes expressed in superior dressing percentage, better muscling, and redder meat with a higher content of protein and fat, whereas animals grazing only on pasture had a more favorable fatty acid profile and water holding capacity. In conclusion, the supplementation of concentrate at a rate of about 1.5% of body weight is recommended to improve the performance and carcass quality of buffaloes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.8
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• pp.1140-1150
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• 2009

Forage diets provide good quality carcasses in sheep but very little is known in tropical goats. An experiment was designed with Creole male goats using grass-based systems to assess carcass yield, scores, cuts and composition. After weaning (84 d, 9.2 kg LW) two modes of forage feeding were compared with two replicates of each. Feeding groups were: PF for animals reared at pasture (n = 62) and IF when reared indoors (n = 60). Given that forage finishing will result in low ADG it appeared necessary to study different fattening lengths. The kids were equally divided into 4 groups: group A (n = 32), 4mo after weaning; group B (n = 32), 4mo after A; group C (n = 30), 3mo after B and group D (n = 28), 2mo after C. The animals grazed (in two sub-flocks) on irrigated tropical pastures managed in a rotational system (28 d of re-growth) at a mean stocking rate of 1,200 kg/ha/yr LW. The IF groups were reared in collective pens on a slatted floor (2 replicates of 7 or 8 kids each). They were fed the same stand of tropical grass (25% DM, 12% CP) as that of pasture that was cut daily and provided ad libitum. The ADG (-10%), the weights of omental fat (-60%) and fat in shoulder (-18%), the ultimate pH of carcass (-12%), the meat colour score (-24%), the ""parameter accounting for redness (12%) and the DM and lipid contents (-4%) were significantly lower (p<0.05) in PF than in IF, while the liver was heavier (+23%, p<0.05). Feeding conditions seemed to be similar, thus, differences could be related to gastrointestinal parasitism in the PF system and hypotheses are discussed. Increasing the fattening duration, resulted in significant difference (p<0.01) in many traits: the weights at slaughter and of carcass increased by 40% and 60% from groups A to D and consequently the weights of body compartments and carcass cuts (1.5 to 2.0 fold more). When the results were presented as percentage of empty body weight and carcass weight, these preliminary results (carcass weight 9kg and yield 53%, muscle proportion 70%) and qualitative parameters (low fat score 2/5, fat proportion 5%), seem to be a good incentive for the sector to develop a niche market to meet consumer lean meat expectations. The indoors system could be implemented where there was low availability of grazing areas or problems of dog attacks.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.154-160
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• 2017

This study was conducted to find out an alternative way of rapid and accurate analysis of chemical composition of permanent pastures in hilly grazing area. Near reflectance infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to evaluate the potential for predicting proximate analysis of permanent pastures in a vegetative stage. 386 pasture samples obtained from hilly grazing area in 2015 and 2016 were scanned for their visible-NIR spectra from 400~2,400nm. 163 samples with different spectral characteristics were selected and analysed for moisture, crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF). Multiple linear regression was used with wet analysis data and spectra for developing the calibration and validation mode1. Wavelength of 400 to 2500nm and near infrared range with different critical T outlier value 2.5 and 1.5 were used for developing the most suitable equation. The important index in this experiment was SEC and SEP. The $R^2$ value for moisture, CP, CA, CF, Ash, ADF, NDF in calibration set was 0.86, 0.94, 0.91, 0.88, 0.48 and 0.93, respectively. The value in validation set was 0.66, 0.86, 0.83, 0.71, 0.35 and 0.88, respectively. The results of this experiment indicate that NIRS is a reliable analytical method to assess forage quality for CP, CF, NDF except ADF and moisture in permanent pastures when proper samples incorporated into the equation development.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.10
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• pp.1455-1463
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• 2006

Effects of different levels of molasses in a concentrate supplement on milk yield of cows grazing Setaria grass pastures were investigated. Thirty Friesian cows, 6-7 years old with mean pre-experimental body weight of $428{\pm}6.5$ kg, in early stage of lactation were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design experiment that lasted for 126 days. Experimental dietary treatments were forage alone and forage/concentrate mixtures with molasses included at 0, 5, 10 or 15% levels designated as $T_1$, $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$, respectively. The parameters studied were voluntary dry matter (DM) intake, average daily live weight change (LWC), milk yield, body condition score (BCS) and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients. The DM and energy contents of Setaria grass were low compared to the concentrate diets. Fibre fractions-NDF, ADF, ADL, hemicellulose and cellulose; and gross energy were higher in concentrate mixtures than in the forage. Total DM intake (forage+concentrate mixtures) was significantly higher (p<0.001) in cows on the concentrate mixtures. LWC was not significantly different (p>0.05) between the cows. Average milk yields were significantly different (p<0.05) between cows. Fat corrected milk (FCM) was similar among cows in the treatments. BCS was better (p<0.001) in cows on concentrate mixtures. Digestibilities of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, OM, and energy were significantly higher (p<0.001) in cows on $T_2$, $T_3$, $T_4$ and $T_5$ than in those on $T_1$. There were no significant differences in the digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, ADF and ADL (p>0.001) in cows on concentrate mixtures. This study therefore demonstrated that lactating dairy cows in Fiji need a level of readily fermented energy source such as molasses in their diets; however, a level above 10% is not nutritionally suitable for lactating dairy cows. Based on data on production parameters-milk yield, fat corrected milk, body condition score and apparent nutrient digestibility coefficients-molasses levels that range between 5-10% are recommended, however, 10% is the best and therefore recommended for inclusion in the concentrate mixture of lactating dairy cows on a basal diet of Setaria sphacelata in Fiji.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.29-36
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• 2007

A study was conducted to determine the trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Cd, Zn, Mo, Se, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni) levels in pasture soils and forages collected in Jeju area. Chemical characteristics and total or soluble trace minerals levels in 187 pasture soil samples (76 very dark brown and 111 black soils) were measured. Total trace minerals contents in hay samples of 60 Italian ryegrass, alfalfa and mixture grasses each were assessed. The pasture soils of Jeju were characterized to have low pH (5.1) and to contain low levels of available $P_2O_5$ (20.5 mg/kg) and exchangeable Ca, Mg, K, Na (2.6, 0.9, 0.5, 0.2 cmol+/kg, respectively) when comparing to upland soils of Jeju or Korean mainland. All trace elements in total or soluble analysis of pasture soils were detected, and there was a big difference between total and soluble levels. The pasture soils tended to have the higher total Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn contents. Cr in all forages was not detected, but other trace minerals levels showed normal range. The hay samples of Italian ryegrass and mixture grasses produced in Jeju tended to contain higher Mn (105 vs 23 mg/kg) and lower Mo (2.7 vs 4.9 mg/kg) than those of alfalfa hay imported from USA. Results show that trace minerals of pasture soils and forages in Jeju seem to be not deficient, indicating that supplementation of some trace minerals are not always necessary in diets for grazing animals and should be done after careful evaluation of diets with regard to concentrations and biological availability of essential elements.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1587-1593
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• 2010

Pastures of the Apennines of Central Italy contribute to feed resources of high altitude (above 1,300 m sea level) grazing systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of faecal extract from the yak (Bos grunnienes) as an alternative microbial inoculum to rumen fluid for estimation of digestibility of several forage species. Forage samples produced at high altitude were tested in this study: four legumes (Lathyrus sativus L., Lotus corniculatus L., Onobrychis viciaefolia L. and Trifolium pratense L.), three forbs (Achillea millefolium L., Potentilla reptans L. and Teucrium flavum L.) and one grass (Brachipodyum pinnatum L.) were incubated with yak rumen fluid or faecal extract. A large variability in chemical composition was observed among the species collected. Rumen liquor and faecal samples were collected from adult healthy yak. The $Daisy^{II}$ incubator was used to evaluate the nutrient digestibility of forages using rumen liquor as control and faecal extract as alternative microbial inoculum sources. Filter bags containing samples of browse species were added to the four digestion vessels along with their respective inoculum and then incubated for 48 h and dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral and detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility was determined. There was a significant relationship between estimates, indicating that faecal liquor has the potential to be used instead of rumen fluid for estimation of in vitro digestibility of plants. It is concluded that the $Daisy^{II}$ incubator results are appropriate for the determination of in vitro digestibility of nutrients using faecal liquor to define the potential for adaptation of yak to new pastures.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.93-98
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• 1993

To determine the effects of potassium($K_2O$) fertilization level(0, 100, 200 and 300 kg/ha/year) on the growth, dry matter(DM) yield, nutritive value and nitrate nitrogen($NO_3$-N) concentration of grasses grown under shading condition, this experiment was carried out in Grassland Div., LES, 1989. The plants were sampled on different growing seasons (spring, summer and autumn) and growth stages (grazing and soiling), respectively. Shade was controlled artificially ca. 45-50%, and the level of nitrogen fertilization was 200 kg/ha/year in all treatments. Higher DM was produced in spring 1, 453 kg at grazing and 2, 364 kg/ha at soiling stage, and DM production was increased with increasing level of $K_2O$. In this experiment, the optimum amount of $K_2O$ fertilizer was 200 kg/ha. The neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, DM digestibility, and relative feed value of grasses were not affected by $K_2O$ fertilization, regardless of growing season and growth stage. The $NO_3$-N concentration of grasses grown in spring was very low (ca. 1.0%), regardless of growth stage and $K_2O$ level. However, $NO_3$-N concentration was very high in summer and autumn season, also $NO_3$-N was decreased significantly with increasing level of $K_2O$ fertilization (P<0.05). Application of $K_2O$ fertilizer, therefore, is thoughs to be desirable for reducing $NO_3$-N concentration of grasses, especially in summer and autumn season. So annual split fertilization of $K_2O$ could be recommended on woodland pasture.