Late Summer Management Can Improve Forage Yield Distribution and Nutritive Value in Temperate Grassland

2009 ◽  
Vol 101 (3) ◽  
pp. 584-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martín J. Arzadun ◽  
Silvia A. Mestelan
2013 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan C. Sather ◽  
Craig A. Roberts ◽  
Kevin W. Bradley

Field trials were conducted in 2009 and 2010 to investigate the effects of metsulfuron-containing herbicides on tall fescue growth, seedhead production, yield, and forage nutritive value. Several rates of metsulfuron-containing products and picloram plus 2,4-D were applied to a weed-free tall fescue hay field in the early spring vegetative, late spring boot, and late summer dormancy stages of growth. Compared to the nontreated control, applying metsulfuron-containing herbicides to vegetative tall fescue reduced plant height by 13 to 40% whereas boot-stage applications of these same herbicides reduced height by 28 to 45%. Metsulfuron-containing herbicides reduced seedhead density from 14 to 61% when applied to vegetative tall fescue, and from 53 to 88% when applied at the boot stage. Metsulfuron plus 2,4-D plus dicamba (0.01 + 0.40 + 0.14 kg ai ha−1) was the only metsulfuron-containing treatment applied at the vegetative application timing that did not reduce tall fescue seedheads or yield when compared to the nontreated control. Vegetative-stage applications of metsulfuron-containing herbicides reduced tall fescue yields by 33 to 63%, whereas boot-stage applications reduced yields by 15 to 35%. Picloram plus 2,4-D did not reduce tall fescue height, seedhead density, or yield when applied at either timing. Tall fescue crude protein (CP) concentration was greater in response to the vegetative compared to boot-stage herbicide applications, and vegetative-stage applications of metsulfuron-containing herbicides increased CP concentration of tall fescue by 1.5 to 3.4% compared to the nontreated control. Results from these experiments indicate that spring applications of metsulfuron-containing herbicides can be utilized to reduce tall fescue seedhead production and increase CP content of tall fescue pastures and hay fields, but summer applications of these same herbicide treatments will have only limited effects on yield, nutritive values, or seedhead density of tall fescue harvested in the fall or the spring following treatment.


Crop Science ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 42 (6) ◽  
pp. 2049-2054 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daren D. Redfearn ◽  
Brad C. Venuto ◽  
W. D. Pitman ◽  
M. W. Alison ◽  
Jerry D. Ward

1996 ◽  
Vol 126 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Evans ◽  
M. O. Humphreys ◽  
T. A. Williams

SUMMARYThe impact of white clover on seasonal yield and nutritive value traits in perennial ryegrass was investigated using six ryegrass varieties which expressed contrasting levels of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC). These were sown in an upland environment at Syfydrin, near Aberystwyth, in mixtures with white clover and in monocultures. Plots were grazed by sheep and sampled during 1991–93. Grass yields in mixtures and monocultures were similar except during mid to late summer when clover contents were high. White clover had a considerably lower WSC content but a much higher crude protein (CP) content than the ryegrasses. The WSC content of grasses in mixed swards was consistently lower than in monocultures and markedly so during mid to late summer. Use of ryegrass varieties with a relatively high WSC content can compensate for this depletion. Consequently high WSC grasses may reduce the amounts of nitrogen excreted by ruminants grazing mixed swards by increasing the efficiency of protein use from clover.


2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (10) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Aldenamar Cruz-Hernández ◽  
Alfonso Hernández-Garay ◽  
Emilio Manuel Aranda-Ibáñez ◽  
Alfonso J. Chay-Canul ◽  
César Márquez-Quiroz ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the e ect of grazing frequencies and intensities on herbage accumulation and nutritive value of Brachiaria hybrid 36061 cv. Mulato. Grazing frequencies of 14, 21 and 28 d and intensities of 9 to 11 and 13 to 15 cm were studied under a randomized block design in a 3x2 factorial arrangement with three replicates. Herbage accumulation, morphological components, in situ digestibility (DIGDM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent ber (NDF) and acid detergent ber (ADF) were evaluated. Annual yield distribution was 55, 28 and 16 % during the rainy, northern cold-front and dry seasons, in the rst cycle, with the highest annual accumulation of 12 310 kg DM ha−1 obtained by grazing every 28 d. The highest DIGDM and PC were obtained by grazing at an intensity of 9 to 11 cm every 14 d in all seasons. However, grazing at an intensity of 13 to 15 cm every 28 d resulted in greater forage yield with a high concentration of NDF and ADF. In conclusion, the greatest herbage accumulation, NDF and ADF were recorded by grazing of 13 to 15 cm in height every 28 d in both cycles. DIGDM and CP had high values by grazing of 9 to 11 cm every 14 d.


Crop Science ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. C. Venuto ◽  
B. L. Burson ◽  
M. A. Hussey ◽  
D. D. Redfearn ◽  
W. E. Wyatt ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Clayton R. Bailey ◽  
Lathan B. Daniels ◽  
Wayne K. Coblentz ◽  
Elizabeth B. Kegley ◽  
Levi J. McBeth ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 31-31
Author(s):  
Kevin R Meng ◽  
Eric Bailey ◽  
Josh Zeltwanger ◽  
Hannah Allen ◽  
Mikaela Adams ◽  
...  

Abstract Chemical seed-head suppression of endophyte infected tall fescue (Lolium arundinaceum) improves stocker cattle performance but may decrease forage yield. Spring nitrogen application increases tall fescue growth with a concomitant increase in ergot alkaloids, produced by the symbiotic endophyte Epichloë coenophiala. We hypothesized that greater amounts of nitrogen applied to tall fescue would increase forage yield and offset losses in forage production from chemical suppression of seed-heads with metsulfuron without effect on alkaloid concentration. Ninety-six steers (270 ± 20 kg) were randomly assigned to one of sixteen paddocks (1.8 ha) on April 18 and continuously grazed for 57 d. Paddocks were blocked by previous use (n = 4) and randomly assigned to one of four treatments; no metsulfuron, no nitrogen (NEGCON), metsulfuron with 0 (MET0), 67 (MET67), or 134 (MET134) kg/ha of ammonium nitrate, applied March 11. Steers grazing MET0 paddocks were removed 17 d early due to insufficient forage availability. Steer weight, forage yield, forage nutritive value and ergot alkaloids in forage samples were measured monthly. Seed-head frequency and species composition were determined in June. Metsulfuron application reduced (P < 0.01) tall fescue seed-heads by 80%. Metsulfuron decreased (P = 0.03) ergovaline but ergovaline increased (P < 0.01) at each monthly sampling across treatments. Nitrogen had no impact on ergovaline concentration (P = 0.50). Forage yield tended to be least (P = 0.07) for MET0, intermediate for NEGCON and MET67, and tended to be greatest for MET134 (P = 0.08). Steer ADG was not affected by treatment (P < 0.80). Metsulfuron decreased NDF (P=0.02) regardless of fertilization rate. Forage CP increased with fertilization (P < 0.01) and no differences were detected between NEGCON and MET0 (P = 0.45). Species composition was not impacted (P >0.07) by treatment. Metsulfuron decreased seed-head growth and ergovaline concentration in tall fescue. Additional nitrogen fertilizer ameliorated forage yield lost to metsulfuron application but did not impact steer gain.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 203-210
Author(s):  
Akim Omokanye ◽  
Guillermo Hernandez ◽  
Herbert A. Lardner ◽  
Buthaina Al-Maqtari ◽  
Kabal Singh Gill ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 28-29
Author(s):  
Kelly Mercier ◽  
Chris Teutsch ◽  
Ray Smith ◽  
Eric Vanzant ◽  
Kenny Burdine ◽  
...  

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine if increasing forage botanical diversity improved stocker gains on warm-season annual (WSA) pastures. An opportunity exists to add extra gain on fall-born calves by grazing summer pastures after spring weaning and selling at a more favorable late summer market. However, cool-season perennial pastures in the Mid-South often have insufficient quality and yield to support desired summer gains. Therefore, the improved production and nutritive value of WSA forages shows promise in this system. A study was conducted near Princeton, KY, where calves (329, 366, and 297 kg in 2017, 2018, and 2019, respectively) grazed one of three WSA forage treatments without supplementation in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included 1) sorghum-sudangrass monoculture (MONO), 2) simple mixture (SIMPLE = sorghum-sudangrass, pearl millet, soybean), and 3) complex mixture (COMPLEX = SIMPLE + sudangrass, corn, crabgrass, cowpea, sunflower, sunn hemp, daikon radish, forage rape, Korean lespedeza). In 2017, MONO and SIMPLE calves had higher average daily gain (ADG) than COMPLEX calves (0.79 kg/day vs. 0.66 kg/day, P < 0.03). In 2018, no differences in ADG were detected among treatments (P > 0.3); however, calves only gained 0.01 kg/day. In 2019, MONO and SIMPLE calves again had higher ADG than COMPLEX calves (0.59 kg/day vs. 0.43 kg/day, P < 0.03). The exceptionally low 2018 ADG was likely due to the higher nutritional demand of heavier calves and the lower nutritive value of mature forages compared to other years. In conclusion, complex WSA forage mixtures did not offer any improvement in animal performance, and proper management of all WSA forages (maintaining a vegetative state) is paramount to achieving adequate gains on stockers without supplementation; however, supplementation may be necessary to improve WSA forage utilization in the rumen, potentially leading to more favorable gains.


2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 1845-1852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Schalemberg Diehl ◽  
Clair Jorge Olivo ◽  
Carlos Alberto Agnolin ◽  
Ricardo Lima de Azevedo Junior ◽  
Vinícius Felipe Bratz ◽  
...  

The objective of this research was to evaluate of three grazing systems (GS) with elephant grass (EG), Italian ryegrass (IR) + spontaneous growing species (SGS); EG + IR + SGS + forage peanut (FP); and EG + IR + SGS + red clover (RC), during the winter and summer periods in rotational grazing with dairy cattle. Experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments, two replicates with repeated measures. Lactating Holstein cows receiving 1% BW-daily feed supplement with concentrate were used in the evaluation. Eight grazing cycles were performed during the experimental period. The values of pre forage mass and stocking rate were 2.52, 2.60 and 2.99 t ha-1 and 2.64, 2.77 and 3.14 animal unit ha-1, respectively for GS. Samples of forage were collected by hand-plucking technique to analyze the crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in situ dry matter digestibility (ISDMD), in situ organic matter digestibility (ISOMD) of forage present between rows of elephant grass, in the rows of elephant grass and the legumes. Higher value of CP, ISOMD and lower of NDF were observed for the grazing systems mixed with legumes forage.


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