Grazing diverse combinations of tanniferous and non-tanniferous legumes: Implications for foraging behavior, performance, and hair cortisol in beef cattle

A diversity of forages with different types and concentrations of nutrients and plant secondary compounds may lead to complementary relationships that enhance cattle performance and welfare. We determined whether grazing combinations of tanniferous legumes (Lotus corniculatus, birdsfoot trefoil [BFT], Onobrychis viciifolia, sainfoin [SF]), and alfalfa [ALF] (Medicago sativa) influence foraging behavior, performance, and hair cortisol concentration in beef cattle compared with grazing the same legumes as monocultures. Twenty-one pairs of heifers grazed 3 spatial replications of seven treatments: monocultures of BFT, SF, or ALF, and all possible 2- and 3-way choices among strips of these legumes: SF-BFT, ALF-BFT, ALF-SF, and ALF-SF-BFT in 2 periods of 25 d each (adaptation phase + experimental period) during two consecutive years. The lowest incidence of grazing events occurred in the BFT treatment (42.0% of the total scans recorded; P < 0.10), with the rest of the treatments ranging between 47.8 (SF-BFT) and 52.6% (ALF-SF) of the total scans recorded. Heifers selected a varied diet, preferring sainfoin over birdsfoot trefoil or alfalfa in a 46:27:27 ratio for the 3-way choice, and in a 70:30 ratio for both 2-way choices. Heifers preferred birdsfoot trefoil over alfalfa (62:38 ratio) in a 2-way choice. All treatments followed similar daily grazing patterns (P > 0.10), with two major grazing events (1 hour after sunrise and 3 hours before dark). No differences among treatments were observed for the number of steps taken by heifers on a daily basis, motion index, or the percentage of time heifers spent standing (1599, 5356, and 45.3%, respectively; P > 0.10), suggesting that heifers on choice treatments did not invest extra time in walking, searching or patch switching activities relative to heifers grazing monocultures. Heifers grazing the 3-way choice gained more BW (1.27 Kg/d) than the average gains observed for animals grazing in all legume monocultures (1.00 kg/d; P = 0.014) or 2-way choices (0.97 kg/d; P = 0.007), suggesting a synergism among pasture species for the treatment with the highest diversity. No differences in hair cortisol concentration were observed among treatments, with values ranging between 1.4 (BFT) and 2.12 ng/g (3-way choice) (P > 0.10). Thus, forage diversity has the potential to enhance animal performance without affecting grazing efficiency, likely explained by the spatial arrangement of the forage species presented in the study.

The effect of lime and mineral fertilizers on agrochemical characteristics of soil and productivity of birdsfoot trefoil and timothy grass mixture

The article presents the results of three-year (2017-2019) field studies on changes in agrochemical characteristics of soil and formation of productivity of birdsfoot trefoil and timothy grass mixture in dependence of the liming (hydrolytic acidity 0.25) and application of mineral fertilizers, phosphorite meal in particular. The soil is sod-podzolic, medium loamy, strongly acidic, with intermediate concentration of mobile phosphorous and metabolizable potassium, humus content is 1.9 %, and mobile aluminum – from 4.27 to 5.24 mg/kg of soil. It has been established that application of finely ground lime at a dose of 3 tons per hectare prior to sowing of birdsfoot trefoil and timothy grass mixture decreased soil acidity in the layer of 0-10 cm from 4.2 to 5.6 pH units by next autumn. Application of phosphorite meal (1t/ha) led to an increase in the concentration of mobile phosphorous in the layer of 0-10 cm by 135-163 %. The highest productivity of birdsfoot trefoil and timothy mixture during 3 years was obtained by means of combined application of lime and mineral fertilizers, and for 3 years on the average the yield of metabolic energy exceeded 50 GJ/ha, which is over 35 % higher than in the control variant without fertilizers. The use of mineral fertilizers increased grass mixture productivity only during the first two years. The applied dosage of phosphorite meal (1t/ha) promoted the increase in grass productivity on strongly acidic soil only in the year of sowing. Additional treatment with ammonium nitrate (N30) together with phosphorous and potassium fertilizers (Р60К60), as well as potassium chloride (К60) with phosphorite meal did not result in significant rise in metabolizable energy yield.

The fodder value of green mass of mixtures of birdsfoot trefoil and cereal perennial grasses, depending on the mode of useThe fodder value of green mass of mixtures of birdsfoot trefoil and cereal perennial grasses, depending on the mode of use

The development of animal husbandry requires the annual production of a sufficient amount of high-quality feed, their nutritional balance, which cannot be achieved without perennial legumes and legume-cereal mixtures. The content of nutrients in the dry matter of forage depends on both the composition of the grass mixture and the mode of use of the grass stand. Therefore, the main reference point for modern feed production should be an innovative development model that will ensure the production of feed with specified quality parameters. Goal and tasks. Determine the effect of the composition of grass mixtures and the mode of use on the fodder value of the grass stand, in particular, the content in dry matter of fodder units, crude protein, gross and metabolic energy. Research methods. System analysis, field, laboratory, comparative calculation. Results. Perennial legumes and legume-grass mixtures are the main source of protein for livestock. According to the results of three-year studies, it was found that regardless of the composition of grass mixtures in the tri-grass regime of grass use, the content of crude protein in the dry weight of feed was much higher compared to the two-grass regime of grass use. And a high content of crude protein was in the dry mass of the forage from the grass mixture of birdsfoot trefoil with tail grass. So, with a three-time alienation of the yield of the leafy mass of the grass mixture, the birdsfoot trefoil with tail grass, had a high content of crude protein: 13.93 – in the first, 15.83 – in the second and 15.09% – in the third slopes. Replacement of the two-oxide mode of use with trioxide increased the content of exchange energy from the first cut of the grass mixture with birdsfoot trefoil with tail grass by 0.19 MJ/kg of dry matter, and of the grass mixture of birdsfoot trefoil with bromus inermis – by 0.18 MJ/kg of dry matter. Conclusions. Thus, in the triangular mode of use of larch-grass stands, the nutritional value of the feed was higher compared to the two mowings. Thus, with three-time alienation of the crop of leaf mass, the content of feed units was 0.76-0.82, metabolic energy – 8.77-9.15 MJ/kg, while with double mowing – respectively 0.75-0.80 and 8,75-9.03 MJ/kg of dry matter

Efficiency of fertilizer application on seed stands of birdsfoot trefoil

On sod-podzolic medium-loamy soils of the Central Non-Chernozem region of Russia with an average availability of mobile forms of phosphorus and an average close to low potassium content, high efficiency of using potash fertilizer together with phosphorus on birdsfoot trefoil seed crops was established. Effective doses of phosphorus-potassium fertilizers, providing an increase in seed yield in the first year by 42–47% and, according to the aftereffect, in the second year by 17–33%, are the application of P30–60K90–120. Keywords: Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), seed herbage, phosphoric and potash mineral fertilizers, yield, seeds, sowing qualities.

The Fate of Tannins from Birdsfoot Trefoil and Their Effect on the Nitrogen Balance in Growing Lambs Fed Diets Varying in Protein Level

Two experimental periods were employed to investigate the fate of ingested CT from BT and their effects on the intake, digestibility, and N balance in lambs fed diets differing in CP levels. In period 1, 24 lambs were fed a basal diet either treated with polyethylene glycol (PEG+) to deactivate CT or without polyethylene glycol (PEG−). In period 2, the same lambs were used in a 2 × 2 factorial design and fed either the basal diet (BP) or a high protein diet (HP), again treated with or without PEG. In both experimental periods, feeding lambs diets without PEG caused a reduction in the dry matter (DM) intake and an increase in the DM digestibility. Urinary and total N excretion decreased in lambs fed diets without PEG, but only in absolute terms and not in relation to the N intake. The total N intake, total N excretion, and body N retention were higher with a higher dietary CP level. Related to the CT intake, less soluble and protein-bound CT were excreted by lambs fed diets without PEG, and more protein-bound and fiber-bound CT were excreted by lambs fed BP diets. Regardless of the PEG treatment and CP level, not all CT that are ingested are also excreted. The effect of PEG treatment on the N excretion pathway was independent of the CP level.

Changes in Feed Proanthocyanidin Profiles during Silage Production and Digestion by Lamb

Proanthocyanidins are plant specialized metabolites which are beneficial to animal nutrition and health. This study determined how proanthocyanidin profiles of sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) change during the forage conservation process and along the digestive tract of lamb. We determined soluble, protein- and fiber-bound proanthocyanidins by spectrophotometric methods and soluble proanthocyanidin profiles by UPLC-MS/MS. During the conservation process, the total proanthocyanidin contents reduced in both forages and the relative proportion of insoluble proanthocyanidins increased, especially in sainfoin. The soluble proanthocyanidins, their mean degree of polymerization and the relative prodelphinidin share declined in both feed species. In the abomasum of lambs fed sainfoin silage, most of the proanthocyanidins were in insoluble form bound to proteins and fibers, but in the small and large intestines, the proportion of soluble proanthocyanidins increased again. For lambs fed birdsfoot trefoil, the trend was not so clear as proanthocyanidins were already mainly soluble in the abomasum. Nevertheless, a large part of soluble proanthocyanidins was recovered in the digestive tract but could not be detected by the UPLC-MS/MS method used. This study suggests that proanthocyanidins have probably been metabolized in the digestive tract by the resident microbiota.

PSV-11 Grazing diverse combination of tanniferous and non-tanniferous legumes: Implications for foraging behavior, performance and hair cortisol in beef cattle

We tested the effect of increasingly diverse combinations of tanniferous legumes (birdsfoot trefoil-BFT, sainfoin-SF) and alfalfa (ALF) on cattle foraging behavior, performance and hair cortisol concentration. Pairs of heifers (401 ± 49.6 kg) grazed three spatial replications of seven treatments (n = 3/treatment): monocultures (BFT, SF, ALF) and all possible 2- and 3-way choices among strips of these legumes in a completely randomized block design in two 25-d periods during 2 consecutive years. The fewest grazing events occurred in BFT (42.0% of the total scans recorded; P < 0.10), with other treatments ranging between 47.8 (SF-BFT) and 52.6% (ALF-SF) of the total scans recorded. Heifers selected a varied diet, preferring SF over BFT or ALF in 46:27:27 and 70:30 ratios (3- and 2-way choice, respectively) and preferred BFT over ALF (62:38 ratio). All treatments followed similar daily grazing patterns (P >0.10), with two major grazing events (1 hour after sunrise and 3 hours before sunset). No differences among treatments were observed for the number of steps taken, motion index, or percentage of time spent standing (1,600, 5,356, and 45.3%, respectively; P >0.10), suggesting that heifers in choice treatments did not invest extra time in walking, searching or patch-switching activities relative to monoculture treatments. Heifers in the 3-way choice gained more BW (1.27 Kg/d) than in monocultures (1.00 kg/d; P = 0.014), or 2-way choices (0.97 kg/d; P = 0.007), suggesting nutritional synergism among legumes in the treatment of greatest diversity. No differences in hair cortisol concentration were observed among treatments, with values ranging between 1.40 (BFT) and 2.12 ng/g (3-way choice) (P >0.10). Thus, forage diversity enhanced animal performance, likely driven by interactions among condensed tannins and dietary protein, without affecting hair cortisol levels or grazing efficiency, explained by the spatial arrangement (strips) of the forage species presented.

94 President Oral Presentation Pick: Grazing diverse combinations of tanniferous and non-tanniferous legumes: Implications for beef cattle performance and environmental impact

We tested the effect of increasingly diverse combinations of tanniferous legumes (birdsfoot trefoil-BFT, sainfoin-SF) and alfalfa (ALF) on cattle performance, methane (CH4) emissions and nitrogen (N) balance. Pairs of heifers (401 ± 49.6 kg) grazed three spatial replications of 7 treatments (n = 3/treatment): monocultures (BFT, SF, ALF) and all possible 2- and 3-way choices among strips of these legumes in a completely randomized block design of two 15-d periods during 2 consecutive years. Average daily gains (ADG) of heifers grazing the tanniferous legumes (1.05 kg/d) were 40% greater (P < 0.10) than of heifers grazing ALF (0.74 kg/d) during the first year. Heifers grazing the 3-way choice had greater intakes (10.4 vs 7.8 kg/d; P = 0.064) and ADG (1.21 vs. 0.95 kg/d, P = 0.054) than those grazing monocultures, suggesting a nutritional synergism among legumes. The average CH4 emissions for legume monocultures vs. 2- and 3-way choices was 222 vs. 202 and 162 g/kg BW gain (P > 0.10), respectively. For heifers grazing SF and BFT compared with ALF, blood urea N was less (14.3 and 16.8 vs 20.8 mg/dL; P < 0.05) as were urinary N concentrations (3.7 and 3.5 vs 6.0 g/L; P < 0.05), but fecal N concentrations were greater (34.5 and 35.5 vs 30.5 g/kg, respectively; P < 0.05). Combining both tanniferous legumes (SF-BFT) led to the greatest declines in urinary N (2.24 g/L) and urea-N (1.71 g/L) concentration, suggesting that different types of tannins in different legume species result in associative effects that enhance N economy. In addition, heifers grazing 3-way choices partitioned less N into urine (40.7 vs 50.6%; P = 0.037) and retained more N (36.1 vs 25.2%, P = 0.046) than heifers grazing monocultures. In summary, combinations of tanniferous legumes with alfalfa improved animal performance and reduced environmental impacts relative to monocultures, resulting in a more sustainable approach to beef production in pasture-based finishing systems.