• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1383-1388
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• 2001

To explore the factors restricting animal performance in relation to sward structure under a strip-grazing system, measurements of sward factors, herbage intake and milk production at 3 levels of herbage allowance were made on perennial ryegrass (Latium perenne L.) sward for 3 experimental periods. About 29%, 36% and 52% of the biomass offered was removed by grazing in high $(42kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$, medium $(30kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$ and low $(18kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$ herbage allowance plots. Live leaf material was much more affected by grazing under different herbage allowance levels than dead material or leaf sheath. Grazing with a low herbage allowance decreased the proportion of live lamina by 93% and live lamina density by 96% before grazing. The density of dead material plus sheath was decreased by 17% after grazing at a low allowance, while it slightly increased or remained constant in the plots applied with high and medium allowances, respectively. The highly significant (p<0.01) correlations between herbage allowance and proportion (r=0.94) and density (r=0.91) of live lamina in residual sward after grazing were observed. Daily herbage intakes in the plots with high and medium levels of herbage allowance were not significantly different at $15.3kg\;OM{\cdot}head^{-1}$ in average, whereas with low level it decreased to $13.9kg\;OM{\cdot}head^{-1}$. Daily milk production was significantly (p<0.05) declined from $22.3kg{\cdot}head^{-1}$ (at high herbage allowance) to $19.7kg{\cdot}head^{-1}$ (at low herbage allowance). The data obtained clearly indicated that herbage intake and milk production were highly affected by the characteristics of residual sward, which were closely related to the level of herbage allowance.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.8-13
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• 1988

The botanical, chemical composition and dry matter digestibility of collected herbage samples from sheep fitted esophageal fistula were compared to those of offered herbage samples by the sown pasture, oversown pasture and forest pasture at the 3rd flush stage (25cm grass height). Experimental fields was treated by one plot design and lasted from Aug. 1987 to Oct. 1987 at Chungnam National University, Daejon. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The botanical composition of collected herbage samples was different from offered herbage samples and this difference seemed to depend on diet selection. 2. The sheep consistantly selected more ladino clover than orchardgrass and tall fescue. 3. Crude protein content of collected herbage samples was high (P<0.01) and NDF content was low (P<0.01) on the sown and oversown pastures but forest diets contained more crude fat content (P<0.05) and less crude protein and NDF content (P<0.01) than offered herbage samples. 4. Dry matter digestibility of collected herbage samples was higher than offered herbage samples (P<0.0 1) and this difference was found out among pasture types.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.12
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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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.110-119
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• 1994

Measurements of hehage intake and milk yield were made on high yielding dairy cows, which were strip-grazed on Loliurn perenne sward at three levels of herbage allowance in three experimental periods. The contents of nitrogen, chrome and ash in the faeces slightly decreased with the progress of growth period of experimental sward, and the decrease of herbage allowance. There were small difference in herbage digestibility among periods or the levels of herbage allowance with falling from 82.7% to 79.1% from period 1 to period 3 and from 81.6% to79.9% from high to low level of herbage allowance. Daily herbage intake was 15.8 and 15.9 kg OMIcow at the high and medium levels of hecbage aljowance, but reduced significantly to 14.6 kg OM/cow at the low level. Herbage intakes in three periods were shown a slight decrease. Daily milk yield in terms of 4% FCM significantly decreased from 23.6 to 20.6 kg/cow from period 1 to period 3. Milk yield at the high and medium levels of herbage allowance were 23.5 and 22.2 kg/cow at the low level of herbage allowance. The highly significant (P<0.01) correlations between the level of herbage allowance and herbage intake (r=0.88), or milk yield (r=0.81) were obtained.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.147-151
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• 1988

The preference, chemical composition, intake, digestibility and chewing efficiency of collected herbage sample from sheep using esophageal fistula and fecal collection method were compared to those of offered herbage samples on the native and improved pastures at the 3rd flush stage(25 cm grass height). Experimental field was treated by one plot design and the begining of September 1987, at Chungnam National University, Daejon. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. Preference indices were not different among herbage species on improved pasture, while those on in native pasture were markedly different and this difference seemed to depend on diet selection. 2. Chemical compositions of collected herbage samples were different from those of offered herbage samples. Crude protein content was significantly high on native pasture, but NDF, cellulose and lignin content were significantly low on improved pasture (p < 0.01). 3. DM intake, digestibility and herbage utilization percent on improved pasture were significantly higher than those on native pasture (P < 0.01). 4. Eating rate, ruminating and chewing efficiency were influenced by the amounts of NDF intake. Therefore, eating rate, ruminating and chewing efficiency on improved pasture tended to be higher than those on native pasture (p <0.01).

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 1994

The objective of this study was to examin some animal and sward factors which determine the daily herbage intake of high yielding dairy cows at different levels of daily herbage allowance. In this paper, the principal data relevent to the changes of sward characteristics after five days of daily strip grazing at three experimental peliods were summarized. The pregrazing herbage mass and extended height increased significantly from 5,047 kg OM/ha and 341 mm in period 1 to 6,877 kg OM/ha and 446 mm in period 3, while there was not a significant difference among herbage allowance treatments(average 6,068 kg OM/ha and 410 mm). The live leaf material in the residual herbage showed a greater reduction than the dead material and leaf sheath in terms of extended height, proportion and density. The decreased rates after grazing were higher when the level of herbage allowance decreased. Live leaves were vertically distributed to 50 cm of sward height before grazing. All live lamina distributed to 25 cm were grazed in the high and medium, and to 20 cm in the low levle of herbage allowance after grazing. The depth of grazing and grazed volume of forage material were heighly affected by the levels of hehage allowance. The biomass after grazing in the high, medium and low daily herbage allowance decreased 35, 36 and 52%, respectively, compared to before grazing level. The highly significant correlations between herbage allowance and extended tiller height(r=0.79), proportion of live lamina(r=0.94) and density of live lamina(r=O.91) after grazing, respectively, were observed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.929-934
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• 2000

Optimum stand density of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varies with locations and climates. Stand density is one of the factors that determines herbage yield, forage quality and persistence of alfalfa. As establishment costs increase, the question arises whether present population densities are optimum for obtaining maximum herbage yield and forage quality. The objectives of this study were: 1) to determine the optimum plant density for highest herbage yield and forage quality for the dehydrated alfalfa industry under Edmontons climatic conditions in Alberta, Canada; 2) to compare herbage yield and forage quality of the cultivars 'Algonquin' and 'Vernal' grown at a range of stand densities. Alfalfa seedlings of both cultivars were either transplanted at spacings of 6, 10, 15 and 25 cm or direct seeded at the 4.5 cm plant spacings, providing population densities of 494, 278, 100, 45 and $16plants/m^2$. The experimental design was a randomized complete block with a split-plot arrangement having three replicates; the main plots consisted of two alfalfa cultivars Algonquin and Vernal, and the sub-plots were the five population densities. The cultivar Vernal had significantly higher annual yield than did the cultivar Algonquin. There was no significant effect of plant density on herbage yield. There was no difference in crude protein (CP) between the two cultivars. At the first cut, there was a significant quadratic effect of plant density on CP content and the greatest CP occurred at the 100 plants/m2 density. Crude protein was not affected by plant density at the second cut. Acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not affected by plant density. The cultivar Algonquin usually had a lower ADF and NDF than cultivar Vernal. In conclusion, high population densities ($278plants/m^2$ or more) of alfalfa did not improve herbage yield and forage quality compared with low plant population densities ($100plants/m^2$ or less) of alfalfa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.758-765
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• 1999

Comparative studies of the effects of rates and frequency of application of dairy slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of alfalfa and various forage grasses have not previously been conducted. The results being reported here are part of a larger study having a primary objective of comparing the effectiveness of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), various grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures for utilizing nutrients from applied dairy slurry. The objectives of this part of the study were to evaluate the effects of various rates and frequencies of application of slurry on herbage yield and stand persistence of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), and alfalfa-orchanrdgreass and alfalfa-reed canarygrass mixtures managed as a 4-cutting management system. A randomized complete block design with treatments in a split plot arrangement with four replicates was used. The main plots consisted of 9 fertility treatments: 7 slurry rate and time of application treatments, one inorganic fertilizer treatment, and an unfertilized control. The sub-plots consisted of the two grasses and two alfalfa-grass mixture mentioned above. Slurry was composed from stored solids scraped from the alleyways of a free-stall housing barn and water added to form a slurry having about 8% solids. Manure was pumped from a liquid spreader tank into 10.4 L garden water cans for manual application to the plots. Herbage yields within species were generally unaffected by various rates of application in the first production year. Herbage yields of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures the second year were generally not affected by frequency of application for the same rate of slurry applied. Slurry application resulted in greater herbage yield increases in grasses than alfalfa-grass mixtures in the 4-cutting management system. In general, herbage dry matter yields of grasses from the dairy slurry treatments equaled or exceeded yields from the inorganic fertilizer treatment. Stand ratings of grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures were not changed by manure application rates. In this study, the highest rate of slurry ($967kg\;total\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1995 plus $2,014kg\;N\;ha^{-1}$ in 1996) was not detrimental to herbage yields or stand persistence of any of the species. It was concluded that applying dairy slurry to these cool-season grasses and alfalfa-grass mixtures managed in a 4-cutting system is an acceptable practice from the standpoint of herbage yield and satnd persistence and by doing so the utilization of inorganic fertilizers can be reduced.

• Journal of Forest and Environmental Science
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.91-108
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• 2015

The study investigates herbage communities along the altitudinal gradient in northwest Himalaya and highlights the effect of trees on its understory floristic diversity and phytosociology. The study was conducted in nine forests at three elevations viz., chir pine (Pinus roxburghii), mixed and khair (Acacia catechu) forests at elevation $E_1$ (850-1150 m), chir pine, mixed and ban oak (Quercus leucotrichophora) forests at elevation $E_2$ (1151-1600 m) and ban oak, mixed and chir pine forests at elevation $E_3$ (>1600 m) in a sub-watershed located in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh, India. These were compared grasslands located adjacent to forests. In all, 20 grass, 3 sedge, 2 forb and 4 legume species were recorded in study sites. Jaccard's coefficient of herbage vegetation was highest between chir pine forests and grasslands, and lowest in khair and ban oak forests. TWINSPAN dendrogram of herbage composition exhibited three subtypes with Apluda mutica, Arundinella nepalensis and Dichanthium annulatum as indicator species. Three groups of plant communities were identified on the basis of their moisture requirement. Peak density and basal area of herbage in forests and grasslands occurred by September. Density and basal area of herbage in grasslands at different elevations ranged from 649.6 to $1347.9tillers/m^2$ and 30.0 to $65.7cm^2/m^2$, respectively, while, in forests it varied from 351.2 to $1005.3tillers/m^2$ and 14.9 to $43.9cm^2/m^2$, respectively. Density and basal area of the herbage in plant communities decreased along the elevation. Under trees in forests the density of herbage decreased up to 77% and basal area up to 62% of their respective values in grasslands.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.191-202
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• 2001

Experiments were conducted on established grassland sward at Gongiam, Kwangju, and Kyung-gi in Korea from 1995 to 1997. The influence of mineral-N fertilizer or animal manure(AW) on herbage dry matter(DM) yield, N yield, the recovery of AM-N, and soil N and organic matter(0M) content in the mixed sward('potomac' orchardgrass, 'fawn' tall fescue, and 'kenblue' Kentuky bluegrass) was investigated. The treatments were replicated three times in a split plot block design. AM(the main plots) was applied at 200kg N ha ' year ' on each plot. The types of AM were cattle feedlot manure(CFM), pig manure fermented with sawdust(PMFS) and Korea native cattle slurry(KNCS). Three levels of mineral-N fertilizer, as urea, ranging from 0 to 200kg N $ha^{-1}\;year^{-1}$ in 100kg increments, were superimposed on each plot. The fertilizers and AM were applied in two equal dressings(the end of March and middle of November). AM and mineral fertilizer had significant effects(p<0.05) on herbage DM and N yields. Herbage yields in KNCS were higher than those in CFM and PMFS(p