• 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.12 no.4
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• pp.211-217
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• 1992

This experiment was conducted over a 3-year period (1990-1992) to evaluate the production and quality of orchardgrass (Potomac)-red clover (Kenland) mixture when orchardgrass + red clover mixture was sown at seed rates of 20+0. 18+2, 16+4, 14+6 and 12+8 kg/ha. Total herbage dry matter, crude protein and digestible organic matter production and organic matter intake were markedly affected by increasing rcd clover seed rate, those increased with increasing red clovcr seed rate due to the cnhancernent of red clover percentage of total herbagc in all 3-year. but significant differences occured between the orchardgrass alone and orchardgrass-red clover mixture with a seed rate of 4,6 and 8 kg/ha red clover (P<0.01). But on the other hand increasing red clover seed rate increased red clover percentage in total herbage, the mean red clover percentage of total herbage at the last cutting ranged from 54 to 65% in first year. 58 to 60% in second year, and 62 to 69% in third year, particularly it was observed that red clover was sown at seed rates of 6 and 8 kg/ha for red clover sown dominated strongly as the cutting times were progressed. Considering the maintenance of good botanical composition balance and the enhancement of production and quality of herbage, the optimized seed rate for orchardgrass-red clover mixtures, 16 kg/ha orchardgrass and 4 kg/ha red clover seems to be considered adequate.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 1989

This experiment was carried out to determine the seasonal herbage production and utilization during the growing season of pasture on the forest (shading 30%). Plant height, leaf area index(LAl), dry matter(DM) production and distribution, chemical composition, in vitro dry matter digestibility(IVDMD), herbage utilization percentage and chewing efficiency were investigated using the Corridale sheep. Experimental field was treated by one plot design(3 rep.) and performed from 1987 to 1988 at Chungnam National University, Daejon. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The highest plant height and LA1 were observed in May(35.0 cm, 4.89), followed by April(28.0 cm, 4.23), while the plant height and LA1 in October (13.0 cm, 0.49) showed very low. 2. During the growing season, about 58.3 % of annual DM production (7240 kg/ha) was produced during the spring (April, May and June) and the highest DM production was obtained in May (2040 kg/ha), which was more than 28.2 % of total DM production. However, DM production in July and August was about 24.2 % and those in September and October (17.5 %) was very low, but the difference of DM production from June to September was small. 3. The maximum DM production per day (65.8 kg/ha) was observed in May, followed by June (28.7 kglha), while DM production per day in October (16.5 kg/ha) showed very low (p <0.01). 4. Crude protein content and IVDMD of herbage samples during the spring (April, May and June) were higher, while crude fiber, ADF, and NDF content were lower in an summer growth herbage samples (July and August), but autumn growth herbage samples was intermediate. Crude ash content and IVDMD of collected herbage samples were slightly more, while crude fiber, ADF and NDF content were slightly less than offered and residued herbage samples during the growing season. 5. The maximum DM intake per metabolic body size was observed in May(68.9 g), followed by October (66.7 g), while very low in August (52.5 g). Significant positive correlation (p <0.05) was found between DM intake and IVDMD. 6. Herbage utilization percentage was very high in April (83.4 %), while very low in August (64.0 %). The percentage of annual herbage utilization was about 75.5 %. 7. The maximum ruminating and chewing efficiency of herbage samples were observed in May, followed by October, while very low in August.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.131-138
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• 2000

This experiment was carried out during the period from September, 1997 to October, 1998 to determine the effect of fermented saw-dust pig manure (FSP) application on the herbage production on a mixed pasture in the Cheju brown volcanic ash soil. Split plot design (main plot: 3 nitrogen application levels of 0, 150 and 300 kgiha; sub plot: 4 pig sawdust manure levels of 0, 3, 6 and 12 tonha) was used. Plant height and dry matter yield increased significantly with an increase of nitrogen and FSP level. There was no difference in the botanical composition of grasses as affected by FSP application level, but herbage yields of grass species were increased by nitrogen application compared to that without nitrogen application. Botanical composition of white clover decreased with an increase of nitrogen application, but increased with an increase of FSP application level. Percentages of weeds were not affected by application rates of chemical nitrogen fertilizer and swine manure in the mixed species pasture. Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents of species in the pasture significantly increased with increasing application rates of nitrogen fertilizer. In conclusion, it would be an optimum to apply 150 kgha of inorganic chemical fertilizer and plus either 3 or 6 toniha of fermented swine manure with sawdust for optimum production of mixed pasture on Cheju Island. (Key words : Herbage production, Botanical composition, Morphology, Plant mineral contents)

• 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.

• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.361-363
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• 1989

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.757-760
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• 2000

The selenium status of beef cattle in the southern part of Thailand and the selenium concentration of soil and herbage consumed by those animals were investigated. Samples were collected from three areas with different soil types, namely, sandy soil, peat soil and laterite soil. The selenium concentration of soil, herbage and blood plasma showed a similar tendency; the values of laterite soil were higher than those of the other two areas. However, the selenium concentration of herbage of each pasture was lower than the NRC requirement, and that of blood plasma was not in the sufficient level. These data suggested that beef cattle raised in these areas were in the chronic selenium deficiency. We concluded that selenium supplementation is needed for the increase of animal productivity in the southern part of Thailand.

• 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.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.108-114
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• 1983

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of existing vegetation on seedling establishment and herbage production of oversown grasses in the Pinus rigida forest. The dominant existing vegetations were Miscanthus sinensis, Festuca ovina, and Lycopodium serratum. In establishment year, seedling stands and herbage production were not affected in Miscanthus sinensis and Festuca ovina, while in Lycopodium serratum it was affected relatively seriously. The pattern of sown species response to the existing vegetations was trend to toward simplified two or three species as Dactylis glomerata, Lolium perenne, and Trifolium repens to advancing the time. Among sown species, Dactylis glomerata was a major dominant species in all existing vegetation area. The content of sown pasture grasses in the sward increased markedly, while the existing vegetations before seeding seriously decreased to advancing the cutting time. The above results shown that the improvement of forest pasture with a surface seeding was better in Miscanthus sinensis and Festuca ovina, but in Lycopodium serratum was found very difficult to improvement of pasture without surface treatment, also establishment method must favor the low herbage production potential.