• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.30 no.11
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• pp.1575-1589
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• 2017

Objective: This study was conducted to determine molecular structures related to carbohydrates and lipid in alfalfa hay cut at early bud, late bud and early flower and in the afternoon and next morning using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT/IR) and to determine their relationship with alfalfa hay nutrient profile and availability in ruminants. Methods: Chemical composition analysis, carbohydrate fractionation, in situ ruminal degradability, and DVE/OEB model were used to measure nutrient profile and availability of alfalfa hay. Univariate analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis (CLA) and principal components analysis (PCA) were conducted to identify FT/IR spectra differences. Results: The FT/IR non-structural carbohydrate (NSCHO) to total carbohydrates and NSCHO to structural carbohydrate ratios decreased (p<0.05), while lignin to NSCHO and lipid CH3 symmetric to CH2 symmetric ratios increased with advancing maturity (p<0.05). The FT/IR spectra related to structural carbohydrates, lignin and lipids were distinguished for alfalfa hay at three maturities by PCA and CLA, while FT/IR molecular structures related to carbohydrates and lipids were similar between alfalfa hay cut in the morning and afternoon when analyzed by PCA and CLA analysis. Positive correlations were found for FT/IR NSCHO to total carbohydrate and NSCHO to structural carbohydrate ratios with non-fiber carbohydrate (by wet chemistry), ruminal fast and intermediately degradable carbohydrate fractions and total ruminal degradability of carbohydrates and predicted intestinal nutrient availability in dairy cows ($r{\geq}0.60$; p<0.05) whereas FT/IR lignin to NSCHO and CH3 to CH2 symmetric stretching ratio had negative correlation with predicted ruminal and intestinal nutrient availability of alfalfa hay in dairy cows ($r{\geq}-0.60$; p<0.05). Conclusion: FT/IR carbohydrate and lipid molecular structures in alfalfa hay changed with advancing maturity from early bud to early flower, but not during the day, and these molecular structures correlated with predicted nutrient supply of alfalfa hay in ruminants.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.259-263
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• 1983

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of pH at coagulation on fatty acid and sterol composition of green LPC. Green juice of Italian ryegrass, red clover, oats and alfalfa was adjusted at pH 4, 6, 8 and heated at $85^{\circ}C$ for ten minutes. Green LPC was taken from the above green juice. The results obtained were as follows. 1. Green LPC of Italian ryegrass, oats and alfalfa contained much on the order of linoleic acid, palmitic acid and linolenic acid. Methyl ester of these three fatty acid accounted for 70.4% to 86.2% of total fatty acid methyl ester. Green LPC of red clover contained much palmitic acid, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. These three fatty acid methyl ester accounted for 82.5% to 86.2% of total fatty acid methyl ester. 2. Linolenic acid was highest in the green LPC of red clover, oats and alfalfa which was adjusted at pH 8 and heated and coagulated, and next at pH 6, and pH 4, respectively. Linolenic acid was highest in the green LPC of Italian ryegrass which was adjusted at pH 6, next pH 8, and pH 4. 3. Green LPC of red clover and alfalfa contained cholesterol. The all green LPC contained campesterol, stigmasterol and sitosterol. 4. Sterol was highest in the green LPC of Italian ryegrass, red clover and oats which was adjusted at pH 8 and next at pH 4, and pH 6, respectively. Sterol was highest in the green LPC of alfalfa which was adjusted at pH 8, and next at pH 6, and pH 4, respectively.

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.198-206
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• 1981

A field research was conducted to evaluate the effects of inoculation of Rhizobium meliloti and lime application on the early growth of alfalfa, var. Luna, in an acid soil. Alfalfa seeds were inoculated by lime-peat pelleting method with $A_3$ strain isolated from alfalfa roots. Both inoculated and noninoculated seeds were sown in acid soil (pH 5.5) with three levels of lime application (1, 3, 6 ton/ha) on mid-April. Inoculated seeds produced many effective nodules in early stage and increased nitrogen and chlorophyll contents of leaf, consequently stimulating alfalfa growth. Pseudo nodules were found in noninoculated, while they were seldom formed in inoculated. Lime application increased soil pH, plant height, root length, and shoot and root weight. Liming effect on nodulation was significant at first cut, but no longer after then. Both inoculation and liming increased the forage yield of alfalfa. Inoculation and liming of 6 ton/ha together produced the highest yield. As compared to control plot of nitrogen application, the effect of seed inoculation only could be equal to about 120 kg/ha nitrogen application. The total nitrogen contents of forage were little affected by number or weight of nodules and amounts of lime application.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2021

The optimal determination of seeding rate is critical to minimizing uncertainties about the large variations observed in forage quality and productivity when alfalfa is cultivated under different geographical areas and growing conditions. The objective of this investigation was to provide information about the proper seeding rate according to harvest timing for alfalfa cultivation in the Northern regions of Korea. Alfalfa was sown in September 2018 at a seeding rate of 20, 30 or 40 kg/ha and harvested four times in 2019: May 3, July 2, September 11, and October 13. Regardless of seeding rate, alfalfa plant height was longest at the third harvest (113 cm) and the shortest in the last annual harvest (43.8 cm). However, seeding rate had no effect on alfalfa plant height at any harvest. Forage relative feed value was increased in the first cutting but decreased in the third cuttings as seeding rate increased. However, seeding rate had slight effect on alfalfa forage quality components at the second and fourth cuttings. Total annual DM and crude protein production (in 4 harvests) was greater at higher seeding rates. Plots seeded at a rate of 40 kg/ha produced on average 1,257 and 2,620 kg/ha more forage (DM basis) than those seeded at a rate of 30 or 20 kg/ha, respectively. Forage DM production at the first, second, third, and fourth harvests accounted for 36.1, 24.0, 27.1, and 12.8 % of total annual DM production, respectively. Overall, small differences were seen when alfalfa seeding rate was different but maximum forage DM production (in four harvests) was detected when seeding rate was 40 kg/ha. These data could be useful to the alfalfa growers by allowing them to make more accurate trade-offs between seed price and the expected magnitude of forage yield gains in order to select the best seeding rate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.375-386
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• 2019

Objective: We hypothesized that silage additives may alter the undigested neutral detergent fiber (uNDF) content through ensiling. Therefore, urea and formic acid were applied to corn, whole barley crop (WBC) and alfalfa to change uNDF content of the ensiled forages. Methods: Six experimental diets at two groups of high uNDF (untreated corn and alfalfa silages [CSAS] and untreated whole barley and alfalfa silages [BSAS]) and low uNDF (urea-treated corn silage+untreated alfalfa silage [$CS_UAS$], urea-treated whole barley silage+untreated alfalfa silage [$BS_UAS$], untreated corn silage+formic acid-treated alfalfa silage [$CSAS_F$], and untreated whole barley silage+formic acid-treated alfalfa silage [$BSAS_F$]), were allocated to thirty-six multiparous lactating Holstein dairy cows. Results: The untreated silages were higher in uNDF than additive treated silages, but the uNDF concentrations among silages were variable (corn silage0.05). Milk yield tended to increase in the cows fed high uNDF diets than those fed low uNDF (p = 0.10). The cows fed diet based on urea-treated corn silage had higher milk yield than those fed other silages (p = 0.05). The substitution of corn silage with the WBC silage tended to decrease milk production (p = 0.07). Changing the physical source of NDF supply and the uNDF content from the corn silage to the WBC silage caused a significant increase in ruminal $NH_3-N$ concentration, milk urea-N and fat yield (p<0.05). The cows fed diets based on WBC silage experienced greater rumination time than the cows fed corn silage (p<0.05). Conclusion: Administering additives to silages to reduce uNDF may improve the performance of Holstein dairy cows.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.41 no.1
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• pp.47-55
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• 2021

The objective of this study was to access the effect of climate and soil factors on alfalfa dry matter yield (DMY) by the contribution through constructing the yield prediction model in a general linear model considering climate and soil physical variables. The processes of constructing the yield prediction model for alfalfa was performed in sequence of data collection of alfalfa yield, meteorological and soil, preparation, statistical analysis, and model construction. The alfalfa yield prediction model used a multiple regression analysis to select the climate variables which are quantitative data and a general linear model considering the selected climate variables and soil physical variables which are qualitative data. As a result, the growth degree days(GDD) and growing days(GD), and the clay content(CC) were selected as the climate and soil physical variables that affect alfalfa DMY, respectively. The contributions of climate and soil factors affecting alfalfa DMY were 32% (GDD, 21%, GD 11%) and 63%, respectively. Therefore, this study indicates that the soil factor more contributes to alfalfa DMY than climate factor. However, for examming the correct contribution, the factors such as other climate and soil factors, and the cultivation technology factors which were not treated in this study should be considered as a factor in the model for future study.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.214-220
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• 2005

The study was conducted to compare the dry matter intake and digestibility of Atriplex halimus (AH) and Atriplex nummularia (AN) and determine the proper proportion of saltbushes for partial replacement of alfalfa hay in the diets of Awassi sheep. The foliage of AH and AN were hand-plucked, air-dried in shade and then chopped mechanically similar to alfalfa hay. Two trials were conducted separately to determine voluntary feed intake and digestibility of saltbush browse. In the first trial, fifteen 8 month old Awassi lambs were distributed into 3 equal groups, and each animal was housed in individual pen. Each group received one of three dietary treatments: chopped alfalfa hay (H), dried foliage of Atriplex nummularia or foliage of Atriplex halimus. In the second trial, twentyseven 12 months old Awassi male lambs were randomly selected, distributed into nine equal groups, and housed into metabolic crates. Each group of animals received one of nine dietary treatments: alfalfa hay, AN, AH and different proportions (25, 50 and 75%) of AN or AH mixed with alfalfa hay. Forage type had a significant (p<0.001) effect on dry matter intake (DMI) and growth rate of lambs of the voluntary feed intake trial. Lambs receiving the alfalfa hay diet showed high DMI and high growth rate compared to those fed the diets containing saltbush. In the digestibility trial, dietary treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on DMI, dry matter digestibility (DMD) (p<0.01) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) (p<0.01). The inclusion of AN in the diet up to 50% had no significant effect on DMI and DMD, whereas the inclusion of AH above 25% reduced DMI, DMD and OMD. The treatments had significant (p<0.05) effect on water intake and on live weight changes of lambs. Except for the diet containing 25% of AN browse, all lambs fed diets containing the saltbushes exhibited loss in body weight. The nutritive value of Atriplex nummularia foliage is better than that of A. halimus and it is possible to replace up to 50% of alfalfa hay by A. nummularia without negative effects on intake and digestibility of dry matter.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.209-214
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• 1991

The germination of seeds is developmentally complex process requiring water uptake, which is regulated by both genotypic and environmental factors. The present study was undertaken to determine the difference in germination characteristics, and to compare the ability of the logistic and Weibull functions to describe the cumulative germination curve when two levels of osmotic potential(0, -5 bar) were put to seeds of alfalfa, tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. The effects of grass type, osmotic potential, and their interaction on the total germination and coefficient of germination velocity were significant(P<0.01). The Weibull equation for predicting percent cumulative germination curve of alfalfa had significantly lower residuals than the logistic equation regardless of osmotic potential(P<0.01), indicating that the Weibull equation was more efficient than the logistic equation to fit the data of the percent cumulative germination of alfalfa. The rate parameter from the logistic equation was decreased under water stress, whereas the scale and shape parameters were increased. There were significant differences in days to 20% germination estimated from the logistic and Weibull equations.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.475-482
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• 2010

Thirty-six Najdi ram lambs, weighing an average of 24 kg and circa 3 months old, were utilized in this trial to evaluate the effects of various alfalfa hay particle lengths in the diet on growth performance, digestion coefficients, nitrogen retention and carcass characteristics. Lambs were randomly allotted to three dietary treatments: 9.5 and 14 mm diets, where alfalfa hay was processed to 9.5 and 14 mm particle lengths, respectively, mixed with 3 parts of concentrate and pelleted as a total mixed ration (TMR), and long hay diet, where one part of loose alfalfa hay (17.8${\pm}$2.4 cm) was offered in combination with 3 parts of only-concentrate pellet. All dietary treatments were homogeneous in their ingredient composition. All lambs were slaughtered after a 14-week feeding trial. Although the results showed no significant effect of hay particle length on DMI, TDN and DCP, lambs fed the 9.5 mm pelleted diet had higher (p<0.05) final body weight, ADG, gain efficiency and nitrogen retention than lambs fed the 14 mm and long hay diets. Altering the particle length of alfalfa hay in diets did not affect the digestibility of DM or CP, whereas digestibilities of ADF and NDF were 3.7% and 5.4% higher (p<0.05), respectively, for the long hay diet versus the 9.5 mm pelleted diet. Hot carcass weight, percentage of separable lean from the $9-11^{th}$ rib joint, and percentages of protein and EE in the separable lean increased (p<0.05) as the particle length of alfalfa hay in the diet decreased. Under the conditions of this study, the reduction of particle length in the TMR played an important role in enhancing performance without altering DM consumption, and this may lead to more efficient productivity of lamb fattening compared with longer chopping lengths.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.245-252
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• 1995

To select a carrier as Rhizobiwn inoculants for alfalfa, severeal Rhizobium inoculants were produced by adding or not sub-materials($CaCO_3$ and sucrose) to main materials(organic or inorganic materials). The root nodule bacteria, Rhizobium meliloti 1061 distributed from KAIST, and Vemal alfalfa was used in this experiment. The Rhizobium populations and inoculation effects of the Rhizobium inoculants produced in several materials were scrutinized at laboratory and greenhouse in Livestock Experiment Station, RDA from 1993 to 1994. Moisture contents of the caniers were varied from 32 to 50% on dry weight basis according to material characteristics and the pH ranges of these were varied from pH 4.56 to 10.06 according to raw material characteristics and preparations. Initial Rhizobium numbers of the carriers were higher in organic material-inoculants than in inorganic, and among the inoculants, the inoculant made of Bentonite+Vermiculite(l:3 w/w) was excellent because of high rhizobium population($7.8~8.3\times10^8/g$ inoculant) and high rhizobium reappearance of inoculant in severed different production time. The root nodules of the alfalfa inoculated with different inoculants were fast formed in the fermented sawdust with cattle dung (FSC) inoculant, and bentonite(B)+vermiculite(V) than others. Plant length of alfalfa was differentiated on 15 days after inoculation but was not nearly different between higher inoculants than rhizobium number $10^7/g$ inoculant. Total dry matter of alfalfa was yielded by 20.65, 20.34mg per pot in FSC + sucrose 0.5% and B + V + sucrose 1% inoculants respectively that were higher inoculation effect by 17 times compared with non-inoculation, 1.2 mg per pot.