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1.
Greyface (Border Leicester × Scottish Blackface) ewes, mated in October, were housed in winter and turned out after lambing in late March to one of four treatments replicated three times on perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)-dominated pastures. On three of the treatments the stocking rate was 12·5 ewes plus lambs ha?1 annum?1 (SR12·5), whereas on the fourth it was 15·0 ewes plus lambs ha?1 annum?1 (SR15·0). There were two levels of applied fertilizer nitrogen (N), 152 kg N ha?1 annum?1 (N152) and 205 kg N ha?1 annum?1 (N205). Three patterns of nitrogen application were used: predominantly in spring (E), predominantly in autumn (L), and mainly in spring and autumn (E + L). Grazed sward surface height was controlled within the range 3·5–5·5 cm during spring and summer, and supplementary feed was offered when sward height was below 3·5 cm. The effects on animal performance, yield of silage and requirement for supplementary feed were measured over 3 years (1986–88). Management of the sward height within the specified limits resulted in similar levels of individual animal performance for all treatments, but treatment SR15·0N205E + L produced a significantly (P < 0·05) greater output of lamb per hectare. There was no evidence to suggest that, by increasing the amount of N fertilizer applied in the autumn, ewe reproductive performance was increased. Neither the treatment with the lower level of N applied in the spring (SR12·5N152L) nor the high stocking rate treatment (SR15·0N205E + L) was self-sufficient in winter feed (silage) production. SR15·0N205E + L also required more supplementary feed in both the lactation (38·1 kg ewe?1) and the mating (9·1 kg ewe?1) periods. SR12·5N152L required the second greatest amount of supplementary feed during lactation (36·1 kg ewe?1), whereas SR12·5N205E + L required the least supplementary feed over both periods (27·8 kg and 4·8 kg ewe?1). Taking all treatments together, there were significant (P < 0·05) differences between years in lamb weaning weight (kg), lamb output (kg ha?1), yield of silage (kg ewe?1) and supplementary feed required (kg ewe?1), arising mainly from a lower level of herbage production in one year. Treatment SR12·5N152E generated the highest gross margin per hectare.  相似文献   

2.
In 1988 and 1989, swards of grass (G0), while clover (C0) and grass/white clover (GC0) receiving no N fertilizer, and a grass sward supplied with 420 kg N ha?1 (G420), were grazed by non-lactating sheep to maintain a sward surface height of 6 cm. Herbage organic matter (OM) intakes averaged between 1200 and 1700 g OM ewe?1 d?1. For treatments G0, C0, GC0 and G420 respectively, the ewes' live weight gain was 102, 112, 100 and 110 g d?1 and changes in body condition scores were +0·28, +0·52, +0·36 and +0·44 units season?1. However, the effect of treatment was not significant for either variable. There were similar levels of output of faecal N ewe?1 but significantly more urinary N ewe?1 was excreted on treatments C0 and G420, where the concentrations of N in herbage laminae were also higher. For example, in 1989, total daily N excreted was 39·7, 64·4, 44·0 and 63·3 g N ewe?1 for G0, C0, GC0 and G420 respectively. Taking into account the mean daily stocking rates, which were 19·4, 26·6, 27·2 and 36·5 ewe ha?1, the total faeces and urine returns over the season were 161, 358, 249 and 484 kg N ha?1 for each treatment respectively. The herbage OM intakes ewes?1 d?1 measured in September and October were similar for C0 and G420, and so the intake of herbage OM ha?1 d?1 was related to stocking rate, i. e. the estimated herbage intake ha?1 over the growing season for the white clover monoculture was 73% of that for N-fertilized grass. Excretal nitrogen returns to the pasture from grazed mono-cultures of clover were high, and similar to those from a grass sward receiving 420 kg fertilizer N ha?1. Consequently potential losses of N to the environment are high under these management systems.  相似文献   

3.
The sustainability of white clover in grass/clover swards of an upland sheep system, which included silage making, was studied over 5 years for four nitrogen fertilizer rates [0 (N0), 50 (N50), 100 (N100) and 150 (N150) kg N ha?1]. A common stocking rate of 6 ewes ha?1 was used at all rates of N fertilizer with additional stocking rates at the N0 fertilizer rate of 4 ewes ha?1 and at the N150 fertilizer rate of 10 ewes ha?1. Grazed sward height was controlled, for ewes with their lambs, from spring until weaning in late summer by adjusting the proportions of the total area to be grazed in response to changes in herbage growth; surplus pasture areas were harvested for silage. Thereafter sward height was controlled on separate areas for ewes and weaned lambs. Areas of pasture continuously grazed in one year were used to make silage in the next year. For treatments N0 and N150, white clover stolon densities (s.e.m.) were 7670 (205·4) and 2296 (99·8) cm m?2, growing point densities were 4459 (148·9) and 1584 (76·0) m?2 and growing point densities per unit length of stolon were 0·71 (0·015) and 0·67 (0·026) cm?1 respectively, while grass tiller densities were 13 765 (209·1) and 18 825 (269·9) m?2 for treatments N0 and N150 respectively. White clover stolon density increased over the first year from 780 (91·7) cm m?2 and was maintained thereafter until year 5, reaching 8234 (814·3) and 2787 (570·8) cm m?2 for treatments N0 and N150 respectively. Growing point density of white clover increased on treatment N0 from 705 (123·1) m?2 to 2734 (260·7) m?2 in year 5 and it returned to the initial level on treatment N150 having peaked in the intermediate years. Stolon density of white clover was maintained when the management involved the annual interchange of continuously grazed and ensiled areas. The non‐grazing period during ensiling reduced grass tiller density during the late spring and summer, when white clover has the most competitive advantage in relation to grass. The increase in stolon length of white clover in this period appears to compensate for the loss of stolon during periods when the sward is grazed and over winter when white clover is at a competitive disadvantage in relation to grass. The implications for the management of sheep systems and the sustainability of white clover are discussed.  相似文献   

4.
A randomized block design experiment involving thirty beef cattle (mean initial live weight 462 kg) was carried out to evaluate a bacterial inoculant based on a single strain of Lactobacillus plantarum as a silage additive and to provide further information in relation to its mode of action. Three herbages were harvested on 10 August 1989 using three double-chop forage harvesters from the first regrowth of a perennial ryegrass sward which had received 170 kg N, 25 kg P2O5, and 42 kg K2O ha?1. They received either no additive (silage C), formic acid at 2·91 (t grass)?1(silage F) or the inoculant at 3·21 (t grass)?1 (silage I). Mean dry-matter (DM), water-soluble carbohydrate and crude protein concentrations in the untreated herbages were 158g kg?1, 88 g (kg DM)? and 183g (kg DM)?1 respectively. For silages C, F and I respectively, pH values were 4·01, 3·57 and 3·62; ammonia N concentrations 117, 55 and 77 g (kg total N)?1; and butyrate concentrations 2·18, 0·50 and l·24g (kg DM)?1. The silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·5 kg concentrates per head daily for 77 days. For treatments C, F and I, silage DM intakes were 6·59, 7·25 and 6·80 (s.e. 0·074)kg d?1; metabolizable energy (ME) intakes 86,99 and 94 (s.e. 0·8) MJ d?1; liveweight gains 0·90, 0·97 and 1·02(s.e.0·066) kg d?1; carcass gains 541,656 and 680 (s.e. 34·0) g d?1. Inoculant treatment increased DM (P < 0·01), organic matter (P < 0·01), crude fibre (P < 0·05), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (P < 0·05) and energy (P < 0·05) digestibilities, the digestible organic matter concentration (P < 0·01) and the ME concentration (P < 0·05) of the total diets. Additive treatment altered rumen fermentation patterns but had little effect on the rumen degradability of silage DM, modified acid detergent (MAD) fibre, NDF or hemicellulose. It is concluded that treatment with the inoculant improved silage fermentation and increased digestibility, had little effect on silage DM intake but significantly increased carcass gain to a level similar to that sustained by a well-preserved formic acid-treated silage  相似文献   

5.
This experiment evaluated a bacterial inoculant based on a single strain of Lactobacillus plantarum as a silage additive. Three silages were harvested on 8 September 1989 from the second regrowth of a perennial ryegrass sward, which had received 167 kg N, 28 kg P2O5 and 45 kg K2O ha?1. Mean dry matter (DM) and water soluble carbohydrate concentrations of the herbages at ensiling were 148 g kg?1 and 78 g.(kg DM)?1 respectively. Herbages were treated with either no additive (C), formic acid (3·0 1 t?1) (F) or the inoculant (3·0 1 t?1) (I) and were ensiled in three 80-t capacity silos. For silages C, F and I respectively, pH values were 4·70, 3·77 and 4·47, ammonia-N concentrations were 192, 111 and 182 g (kg total N)?1 and butyrate concentrations were 6·8, 1·8 and 7·1 g (kg DM)?1. The silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 2·0 kg concentrates per head daily to thirty-six heifers (mean initial live weight 442 kg). For silages C, F and I, silage DM intakes were 12·7, 14·4 and 14·1 (s.e. 0·42) g (kg live weight)?1, metabolizable energy intakes were 155, 166 and 172 (s.e. 5·1) kJ (kg live weight)?1, and estimated carcass gains were 456, 519 and 518 (s.e. 28·1) g d?1 respectively. A further 18 similar cattle were used in studies on the digestibility of the silages, and rumen degradation of each was estimated with three mature cattle. Inoculant treatment significantly increased crude fibre (P <0·01), neutral detergent fibre (P <0·01), modified acid detergent fibre (P <0·01), hemicellulose (P <0·05) and N digestibilities (P <0·05) and tended to increase N retention from the total diet. It is concluded that although treatment of herbage that was difficult to ensile with the inoculant did not improve silage fermentation, it significantly increased digestibility, especially of the fibre fractions, and silage DM intake and tended to increase animal performance to levels similar to those achieved with a well preserved formic acid-treated silage. Increases in silage DM and metabolizable energy intakes are likely to have been attributable to the effects of the inoculant on digestibility, especially of the fibre fractions.  相似文献   

6.
The effect of feeding a urea-based supplement for the last 8 weeks of pregnancy was examined on ewes grazing the grass-shrub steppes of NW Patagonia, Argentina. The productivity of ewes and lambs and the utilization rate of the major, less preferred, grass species (Stipa speciosa, 27% cover) was analysed. In a paddock-scale experiment, ewes grazed two areas of 450–500 ha from 15 August to 15 February at a stocking rate of 0·5 ewes ha?1. From 15 August to 10 October, one group of ewes was given access to a urea-based supplement containing 300 g kg?1 urea, 320 g kg?1 salt, 30 g kg?1 molasses and 300 g kg?1 bone meal. Average supplement consumption was 3·5 g ewe?1 d?1. The performance of 100 ewes in each of the two areas was evaluated. Supplemented ewes gained 4·2 kg more live weight than the control ewes between 15 August and 10 October (prepartum) (liveweight gain was 10·3 vs. 6·1 kg ewe?1, P < 0·05). The number of live lambs at 8 weeks of age, as a proportion of ewes mated, was 15% higher in the supplemented than in the control group (0·634 vs. 0·553, P < 0·05). A similar increase in the live weight of lambs at 8 weeks of age in the supplemented group compared with the controls was also observed (12·1 vs. 10·6 kg, P < 0·05). In the paddock with the supplemented ewes, there was a significant increase in the proportion of Stipa speciosa plants defoliated (0·62 vs. 0·38, P < 0·05) and in the intensity of defoliation of these plants. It was concluded that urea-based supplements increased productivity of ewes and that this was likely to be associated with an increase in the intake, and possibly digestibility, of the less preferred species such as Stipa speciosa.  相似文献   

7.
Two silages were made from perennial ryegrass ensiled without wilting in 2-t capacity silos with the application of either formic acid or an enzyme mixture of cellulases and hemicellulases. Effluent losses were monitored over the ensiling period. Subsequent silage analysis showed that the enzyme-treated silage had higher concentrations of residual water soluble carbohydrate, lactic acid and acetic acid, and lower concentrations of cellulose, ADF and NDF. Effluent production was higher with the enzyme silage (formic acid, 211 1 t?1; enzyme, 2671 t?1). The silages were either offered as the sole diet or supplemented with rapeseed meal at two levels (60 or 120 g fresh weight kg?1 silage DM offered) to growing steers equipped with rumen cannulae and T-piece duodenal cannulae. Apparent whole tract digestibilities for DM, OM, N, ADF and NDF were similar for all diets although nitrogen retention (g d?1) was increased with supplementation of both silages (formic acid, 21·1; formic acid + 60 g, 23·5; formic acid+ 120 g, 28·5; enzyme, 22·6; enzyme + 60 g, 25·8; enzyme+ 120 g, 31·6). Rumen pH, ammonia and total volatile fatty acids patterns were similar. Supplementation increased the amount of organic matter apparently digested in the rumen (ADOMR) with formic acid-treated silage but not with enzyme-treated silage. Liveweight gains were similar for both unsupplemented silages (0·49 kg d?1). These increased to 0·55 and 0·65 kg d?1 for formic + 60 and formic + 120 respectively. Liveweight gains for the corresponding enzyme-treated supplemented diets were 0·81 and 0·91 kg d?1 respectively. Liveweight gains on supplemented enzyme-treated diets were significantly (P < 0·05) greater than those on formic acid-treated diets.  相似文献   

8.
This study examined productivity, nitrogen (N) flows and N balances in grassland‐based systems of dairy production in Ireland. There were four stocking densities of dairy cows on grass/white clover pastures and four inputs of N as fertilizers, concentrates and biological fixation over 2 years; 2001 and 2002. Annual stocking densities were 1·75, 2·10, 2·50 and 2·50 cows ha?1. Associated N inputs were 205, 230, 300 and 400 kg ha?1 respectively. There were eighteen cows per system. Cows calved within a 12‐week interval in spring with a mean calving date of 28 February and lactation extended until mid‐December in each year. There were no differences in annual milk yield (6337 kg cow?1; s.e.m. 106·1), live weight or body condition score. Pre‐grazing N concentrations in herbage increased (P < 0·001) with increasing N input, whereas there were no differences in N concentrations in silage reflecting optimum N inputs for silage production. Grazed herbage accounted for 0·64, silage 0·26 and concentrates 0·10 of annual dry matter consumed by the cows. Annual intakes of N ranged from 144 to 158 kg cow?1 and were mostly influenced by N concentration in grazed herbage. Annual output of N in milk and liveweight change was 38 kg cow?1 and was not different between systems. Annual N surpluses increased with increasing N inputs from 137 to 307 kg ha?1, whereas the proportion of N inputs recovered in products declined from 0·34 to 0·24. More efficient N use was associated with lower N inputs and in particular lower N concentrations in grazed herbage.  相似文献   

9.
This study investigated the effect of ewe prolificacy potential (PP; predicted number of lambs born ewe?1 year?1), stocking rate (SR; ewes/ha) and their interaction on herbage dry matter (DM) production, utilization, quality and sward morphology within a temperate grass‐based lamb production system. The study had a 2 × 3 factorial design, consisting of two ewe PP as dictated by sire breed (180 medium prolificacy potential (MP—Suffolk crossbred) and 180 high prolificacy potential ewes (HP—Belclare crossbred)) and three SR: low (LSR; 10 ewes/ha), medium (MSR; 12 ewes/ha) and high (HSR: 14 ewes/ha). Each treatment was managed in a rotational grazing system, with LSR, MSR and HSR treatments grazing to target post‐grazing sward heights (PGSH) of 4.55, 4.15 and 3.75 cm respectively. Herbage DM production (above target PGSH) and utilization were highest at the HSR, intermediate at the MSR and lowest at the LSR (p < .001). Ewe PP had no effect on herbage DM production, utilization, quality or sward morphology (p > .05). The proportion of leaf in the sward (above target PGSH) was 4% greater in MSR and HSR compared with LSR (p < .05). In conclusion, findings demonstrate the potential to support increased ewe PP through the selection of ewe genotypes of a genetically higher PP and lower mature live weight and increased SR within a temperate grass‐based lamb production system.  相似文献   

10.
First-harvest direct-cut, double-chopped grass (190 and 164g DMkg?1 in Experiments 1 and 2 resptectively) was ensiled without an additive or, in Experiment 1, with 30 kg t?1 grass of an absorbent additive based on sugar beet pulp (Sweet ‘n’ Dry) or with 3·441 t?1 grass of formic acid and, in Experiment 2, with 30, 50 and 70 kg t?1 grass of Sweet ‘n’ Dry or with 50kg t?1 grass of unmolassed sugar beet pulp. The preservation and nutritive value of the silage, in-silo losses (including silage effluent production), silage intake and animal performance of adult and growing cattle were examined. In Experiment 1 all three silages were well preserved, although the formic acid-treated silage displayed significantly lower pH, ammonia nitrogen (NH3N) [g kg?1 total nitrogen (TN)] and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) than the other two silages. In Experiment 2 absorbent-treated silages displayed significantly lower pH, buffer capacity (Bc), NH3N (gkg?1 TN), CP, modified acid detergent fibre (MADF) and VFAs than untreated silage. Treatment of grass with the absorbent additives at ensiling resulted in reduced effluent production. In Experiment 1 each kilogram of Sweet ‘n’ Dry retained approximately 11 effluent, and in Experiment 2 silages made with Sweet ‘n’ Dry applied at 70kgt?1 and sugar beet pulp applied at 50 kg t?1 produced similar volumes of effluent and each kilogram of absorbent retained 1·0 and 1·31 of effluent respectively. In Experiment 1 sixty beef cattle [mean initial live weight (LW) 460 kg] were grouped according to LW and allocated to treatment at random. For untreated silage (unsupplemented or with 1 or 2 kg supplement head?1 day?1), absorbent-treated silage (unsupplemented or with 1 or 2 kg supplement head?1 day?1) and formic acid-treated silage (1 kg supplement head?1 day?1) the daily silage DM intakes were 6·12, 6·21, 6·40, 7·65, 7·45, 7·11 and 7·85 (s.e. 0·280) kg respectively, the daily liveweight gains were 0·22, 0·56, 0·81, 0·59, 0·74, 0·81 and 0·75 (s.e. 0·071) kg respectively and daily carcass gains were 0·31, 0·47, 0·67, 0·47, 0·61, 0·70 and 0·57 (s.e. 0·043) kg respectively throughout a 75-day feeding period. In Experiment 2, fifty-six growing cattle (mean initial weight 312 kg) were grouped according to LW and allocated to treatment at random. For untreated silage (unsupplemented or with 1·5 kg Sweet ‘n’ Dry or 1·5 kg commercial concentrates head?1 day?1), silage treated with Sweet ‘n’ Dry at 30, 50 and 70 kg t?1 grass and silage treated with 50kg sugar beet pulp t?1 grass the daily silage DM intakes were 5·46, 5·28, 5·33, 6·21, 6·27, 6·60 and 6·62 (s.e. 0·154) kg respectively and daily liveweight gains were 0·39, 0·75, 0·81, 0·63, 0·76, 0·94 and 1·75 (s.e. 0·052) kg respectively throughout a 122-day feeding period. In this experiment 360g kg?1 more absorbent was required when it was included at ensiling rather than offered as a supplement to untreated silage to achieve the same individual animal performance.  相似文献   

11.
Two experiments were carried out to examine the interaction between early and late-heading varieties of ryegrass and date of harvesting of primary growths for silage in terms of the performance of beef cattle. A sward containing equal proportions of three early heading varieties (Cropper, Premo and Frances) (50% ear-emergence on 18 May) was harvested on 20 May (T1), 28/29 May (T2) and 5/6 June (T3) and a sward containing three late-heading varieties (Perma, Preference and Parcour) (50% ear-emergence on 12 June) was harvested on 28/29 May (T4), 5/6 June (T5) and 12/14 June (T6) in 1985 and 1987. In each year the six silages were harvested without wilting and were ensiled in trench silos. In Experiment 1 they were offered ad libitum and unsupplemented to 48 steers (407 kg live weight (LW)) for 101 days and in Experiment 2 they were offered with 2 kg concentrates per head daily to 48 heifers (392 kg LW) for 105 days. In Experiment 1 in vivo digestible organic matter (DOMD) concentrations in dry matter were 717, 671, 643, 709, 672 and 640 (s.e. 8·4) g (kg DM)?1; silage DM intakes 7·1, 6·6, 6·6, 7·2, 7·3 and 6·7 (s.e. 0·15) kg d?1; LW gains 0·94, 0·74, 0·62, 0·90, 0·82 and 0·57 (s.e. 0·047) kg d?1; for T1 to T6 respectively. For Experiment 2, DOMD concentrations were 732, 699, 636, 734, 686 and 663 (s.e. 9·6) g (kg DM)?1; silage DM intakes 6·4, 5·7, 6·0, 6·0, 5·5 and 5·0 (s.e. 0·22) kg d?1; LW gains 1·12, 0·92, 0·99, 1·14, 0·88 and 0·76 (s.e. 0·078) kg d d?1; and carcass gains 0·66, 0·56, 0·51, 0·68, 0·55 and 0·48 (s.e. 0·048) kg d d?1; for TI to T6. It is concluded that silages made from early and late-maturing swards of perennial ryegrass sustained similar levels of performance in beef cattle when they were harvested at equal digestibility, and the digestibility declined at similar rates for the two sward types when harvesting of the primary growths was delayed. Under the conditions of these experiments the same level of animal performance was sustained by silages made from the two swards when the late-maturing varieties were harvested 7 days after the early varieties. This compares with an interval of 25 days between the early and late-maturing varieties reaching 50% ear-emergence.  相似文献   

12.
Abstract The implications for the agricultural productivity of the UK upland sheep systems of reducing nitrogen fertilizer application and lowering stocking rates on perennial ryegrass/white clover swards were studied over 4 years at a site in Wales. The system involved grazing ewes and lambs from birth to weaning on swards maintained at a constant height with surplus herbage made into silage, thereafter ewes and weaned lambs grazed on separate areas until the onset of winter with adjustments to the size of the areas grazed and utilizing surplus pasture areas for silage. Four stocking rates [SR 18, 15, 12 and 9 ewes ha?1 on the total area (grazed and ensiled)] and two levels of annual nitrogen fertilizer application (N 200 and 50 kg ha?1) were studied in five treatments (N200/SR18, N200/SR15, N50/SR15, N50/SR12 and N50/SR9). Average white clover content was negatively correlated with the level of annual nitrogen fertilizer application. White clover content of the swards was maintained over the duration of the experiment with an increasing proportion of clover in the swards receiving 50 kg N ha?1. Control of sward height and the contribution from white clover resulted in similar levels of lamb liveweight gain from birth to weaning in all treatments but fewer lambs reached the slaughter live weight by September at the higher stocking rates and with the lower level of fertilizer application. Three of the five treatments provided adequate winter fodder as silage (N200/SR15, N50/SR12 and N50/SR9). Because of the failure to make adequate winter fodder and the failure of white clover to fully compensate for reduction in nitrogen fertilizer application, it is concluded that nitrogen fertilizer can only be reduced on upland sheep pastures if accompanied by reduced stocking rates.  相似文献   

13.
A changeover design experiment involving thirty-six 3-month-old Friesian male calves (mean initial live weight 127 kg) was carried out to evaluate a bacterial inoculant based on a single strain of Lactobacillus plantarum (Ecosyl, ICI) as a silage additive. On 25–31 August 1988, nine silages were harvested using double-chop forage harvesters from the second regrowth of three swards, namely permanent pasture which had received 100 kg N ha?1 and perennial ryegrass which had received either 100 or 150 kg N ha?1. Herbages (mean DM and WSC concentrations 144 and 11·2 g kg?1 respectively) from each sward were treated with either no additive, formic acid (2·4 1 t?1) or the inoculant (3·3·1 t?1) and were ensiled in 126 silos of 0·8 t capacity. The only effects of the inoculant on chemical composition of the silages were a decrease in modified acid detergent fibre and an increase in endotoxin and crude and true protein concentrations. Silages were offered ad libitum and supplemented with 1·0 kg of concentrates per head daily for three periods each of 3 weeks in a partially balanced changeover design experiment. Digestibilities of the total diets were determined at the end of the experiment. For the untreated, formic acid-treated and inoculant-treated silages, silage dry matter intakes were respectively 3·58, 3·66 and 3·67 (s.e. 0·044) kg d?1, estimated metabolizable energy (ME) intakes were 46·1, 46·7 and 47·1 (s.e. 0·44) MJ d?1, energy digestibilities were 0·727, 0·727 and 0·738 (s.e. 0·0046) and organic matter digestibilities were 0·770, 0·771 and 0·788 (s.e. 0·0042). Rumen degradabilities of the silages were determined using two rumen-fistulated cows. Mean dry matter and nitrogen degradabilities for the control, formic acid-treated and inoculant-treated silages, assuming an outflow rate of 0·05 h?1, were 10·508, 0·49, 0·491 and 0·702, 0·676 and 0·729. It is concluded that the inoculant significantly increased the digestibility of the silages but did not affect dry matter or ME intake.  相似文献   

14.
Two experiments were carried out with grass silages cut at a leafy (Experiment 1) and a more mature (Experiment 2) stage of growth to evaluate the effect of wilting and chop length on silage intake and performance of store lambs. In each experiment, the herbage was cut with a rotary mower and was either ensiled within 24 h as unwilled silage (U) or wilted for 1–3 d (W). Each silage type was harvested with either a double-chop harvester (D) or a precision-chop harvester (P). All silages were treated with formic acid at 3 1 t?1 and were well preserved. The silages were fed ad libitum to Suffolk crossbred store lambs (twenty-four lambs per treatment) without any supplement over a period of 8 or 9 weeks. Wilting of the silages had little effect on silage intake (797 vs. 809g dry matter (DM) d?1) or on lamb performance in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, wilting of the D silage increased silage DM intake (589 vs. 534 g DM d?1; +10%) and reduced the extent of liveweight losses. Wilting of the P silage reduced silage intake (770 vs. 791g DM d?1; -3%) and reduced liveweight gains. In Experiment 1 intakes of the D silages were 650–667g DM d?1 and just maintained lamb live weights. Intakes of the P silages were 39–49% higher than the D silages (927–968 g DM d?1) and increased liveweight gains. In Experiment 2 intakes of the D silages were 534–589 g DM d?1 and resulted in a loss in lamb live weight. Precision-chopping increased silage intakes by 31–48% (770–791 DM d?1)in Experiment 2 and improved lamb liveweight gains. Lamb performance was higher on the UP silage than on the WP silage. The rumen retention lime (RRT), estimated from the rumen contents of the lambs at slaughter and their silage intake before slaughter, was much shorter for the lambs fed on the P silages (12.6–20.6 h) than those fed on the D silages (21.4–29.3 h) in each experiment. Silage intake and liveweight gain were positively related to silage in vivo DM digestibility (DMD), whereas RRT was negatively related to DMD. However, there were distinct differences between the P and D silages in the elevation and, to a lesser extent, in the slope of the regression lines, indicating that intake of D silage was limited by factors other than the digestibility of the silage The results of this study show that the chop length of grass silage had a far greater effect on intake and on lamb performance than silage digestibility, whereas wilting had little or no effect.  相似文献   

15.
Results for years 4–8 of a long-term grazing experiment on swards of a diploid perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne), var. Contender (D swards), a tetraploid ryegrass, var. Condesa (T swards) and Condesa with S184 white clover (Trifolium repens) (TC swards), direct sown in May 1987, are presented. The swards were continuously stocked with sheep from 1988 to 1990, as previously reported, and for a further 5 years, 1991–95, at a target sward surface height (SSH) of 4–6 cm. Control of sward height was successfully achieved by variable stocking, except in 1993 when paddocks were set stocked and the resulting mean SSH was 9·3 cm. Grass swards received on average 160 kg N ha?1 year?1; grass/clover swards were mainly not fertilized with N with the exception that they were given 30 kg N ha?1 as a remedial mid-summer application during a period of low herbage mass on offer in 1994 and 1995. Mean white clover content of the swards fell from 18·2% of herbage dry-matter (DM) in 1992 to 8·5% in 1993, whereas stolon lengths fell from 120 to 58 m m?2. A return to lower sward heights in 1994–95 resulted in an increase in white clover content to 12·8% by the final sampling in August 1995. Perennial ryegrass content of the grass swards remained high throughout (mean 96·7% in 1995). Perennial ryegrass tiller densities recorded in August 1991, 1993 and 1994 showed consistently significant (P < 0·001) sward differences (3-year mean 16 600, 13 700 and 10 100 perennial ryegrass tillers m?2 for the D, T and TC swards). In 1994, the year after lax grazing, a low perennial ryegrass tiller density (9100 m?2) and low white clover content (mean 4·3%) in the TC swards resulted in a much lower herbage bulk density than in the grass swards (April–July means 72, 94 and 44 kg OM ha?1 cm?1 for the D, T and TC swards). There was a consistent 40 g d?1 increase in lamb liveweight gain on the TC swards over the T swards, except in 1994. In that year there was a reduction in lamb liveweight gain of 33 g d?1 on the TC swards and a significant increase in ewe liveweight loss (117 g d?1) associated with low herbage bulk density despite optimal sward height. Lamb output (kg liveweight ha?1) on TC swards reflected white clover content, falling from a similar output to that produced from grass given 160 kg N ha?1, at 18% white clover DM content, down to 60% of grass + N swards with around 5% clover. A 6% greater output from the T than the D swards was achieved mainly through higher stocking rate. The experiment demonstrated a rapid, loss in white clover under lax grazing, and showed that the relationship between performance and sward height is also dependent on herbage density. High lamb output from a grass/clover sward was only achieved when the clover content was maintained at 15–20% of the herbage DM.  相似文献   

16.
First and second harvests of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture [80 or 144 g kg?1 dry matter (DM) of ryegrass] at the first and second harvests were cut and conditioned, wilted to 500 or 700 g DM kg?1 then baled and stretch‐wrapped for silage on the same dates. Lucerne bales were denser (411 kg m?3) than bales of perennial ryegrass (331 kg m?3) (P < 0·05). After an 8‐month storage period, silage made from high DM‐content forage had a higher concentration of neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) and was less digestible than that made from low DM‐content forage. Daily DM intakes by beef steers, when the silages of the second harvest were fed ad libitum, were 31·2, 31·2 and 22·3 g kg?1 live weight for lucerne, lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture and perennial ryegrass silages, respectively (P < 0·01), when the herbage had been wilted to 500 g kg?1. In vivo digestibility of NDF in the lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture silage (0·587) was significantly lower than that of perennial ryegrass silage (0·763) but higher than lucerne silage (0·518). Higher intakes of baled lucerne silage tended to offset its lower digestibility values. Lucerne–perennial ryegrass mixture silage had a higher DM and NDF digestibility than lucerne silage, indicating perhaps the presence of associative effects.  相似文献   

17.
Grassland and its management is central to the productivity of and nitrogen (N) losses from dairy farms in north‐west Europe. Botanical composition, production and N surplus of grassland were assessed during five consecutive years. The experiment consisted of all combinations of five defoliation systems: cutting‐only (CO), rotational grazing (GO), grazing + one (MSI) or two silage cuts (MSII) and simulated grazing (SG). Four mineral N fertilization rates (0–300 kg N ha?1 year?1) and two slurry levels (0 and 20 m3 slurry ha?1 year?1) were applied. Fertilizer N was more efficient in producing net energy (NEL) in grazing‐dominated, low white clover systems (GO and MSI systems: 70 and 88 MJ NEL kg?1 N) than in white clover‐rich systems (MSII, CO and SG systems: ≤60 MJ NEL kg?1 N). While sward productivity in system MSI was similar to that in system GO, system MSII benefited from increased N2 fixation at low N rates. There were small differences in NEL concentrations of the herbage between defoliation systems. Crude protein concentration of the herbage increased with increasing N supply from fertilizer, excreta and N2 fixation. N surpluses (?63 to +369 kg N ha?1 year?1) increased with increasing grazing intensity and increasing N fertilization rate. The average response in N surplus applied was 0·81, 0·59, 0·40, 0·33 and 0·24 kg N ha?1 in systems GO, MSI, MSII, CO and SG respectively.  相似文献   

18.
The relative importance of breed versus rearing experience on the grazing behaviour and diet selection of beef cattle when grazing unimproved grassland was examined over 4 years. Suckler‐reared calves of a traditional (T) breed (North Devon) or a commercial (C) breed (Simmental × Hereford Friesian) were cross‐fostered and then reared either extensively (E) on unimproved grassland or intensively (I) on agriculturally improved fertilized grassland. As yearlings, the four groups of calves (Traditional breed + Extensive rearing (TE); Traditional breed + Intensive rearing (TI); Commercial breed + Extensive rearing (CE) and Commercial breed + Intensive rearing (CI)) grazed unimproved grassland dominated by Molinia caerulea, for 2 months, and foraging behaviour was studied in a test phase. There was a breed effect on total (bites + chews; TJM) jaw movement rate (T, 78·2 vs. C, 76·5 min?1; F prob. = 0·041) during grazing and on the proportion of bites taken from plant communities with sward height ≥6 cm (T, 0·83 vs. C, 0·76; F prob. = 0·018). Rearing experience affected TJM rate in the first year in July (E, 80·0 vs. I, 76·8 min?1; F prob. = 0·015) and August (E, 78·5 vs. I, 75·5 min?1; F prob. = 0·046). The intensively reared animals grew less well on average during the test phase than those that had previous experience of the unimproved grassland as calves with their mothers (E, 0·16 vs. I, 0·09 kg day?1; F prob. = 0·033). Our findings indicate that the rearing experience of livestock appears to be as important as the breed when designing grazing managements for nature conservation areas.  相似文献   

19.
The effects of levels of application of potassium (K) fertilizer, and its interactions with both nitrogen (N) fertilizer and the growth interval between fertilizer application and harvesting on ryegrass herbage yield and chemical composition, and the fermentation, predicted feeding value, effluent production and dry-matter (DM) recovery of silage were evaluated in a randomized block design experiment. Twenty plots in each of four replicate blocks received either 0, 60, 120, 180 or 240 kg K ha?1, each at either 120 or 168 kg N ha?1. Herbage from the plots was harvested on either 24 May or 8 June and ensiled (6 kg) unwilted, without additive treatment, in laboratory silos. Immediately after harvesting, all plots received 95 kg N ha?1 and were harvested again after a 49-day regrowth interval. From the primary growth, herbage DM yields were 6·31, 6·57, 6·74, 6·93 and 6·93 (s.e. 0·091) t ha?1, herbage K concentrations were 15·5, 16·2, 19·1, 22·4 and 26·1 (s.e. 1·06) g kg?1 DM and herbage ash concentrations were 57, 63, 71, 73 and 76 (s.e. 0·9) g kg?1 DM, and for the primary regrowth herbage DM yields were 2·56, 2·73, 2·83, 2·94 and 2·99 (s.e. 0·056) t ha?1 for the 0, 60, 120, 180 and 240 g K ha?1 treatments respectively. Otherwise, the level of K fertilizer did not alter the chemical composition of the herbage at ensiling. After a 120-day fermentation period the silos were opened and sampled. The level of K fertilization had little effect on silage fermentation and had no effect on estimated intake potential, in vitro DM digestibility (DMD), DM recovery or effluent production. Increasing N fertilizer application increased silage buffering capacity (P < 0·05) and the concentrations of crude protein (P < 0·001), ammonia N (P < 0·01) and effluent volume (P < 0·01), and decreased ethanol concentration (P < 0·05) and intake potential (P < 0·05). Except for the concentrations of lactate and butyrate, delaying the harvesting date deleteriously changed the chemical composition (P < 0·001) and decreased intake potential (P < 0·001) and DMD (P < 0·001) of the silages. It is concluded that, other than for K and ash concentration, increasing the level of K fertilizer application did not alter the chemical composition of herbage from the primary growth or the resultant silage. Also, the level of K fertilizer application did not affect predicted feeding value, DM recovery or effluent production. Herbage yield increased linearly with increased fertilizer K application. Except for acetate and ethanol concentrations, there were no level of K fertilizer application by level of N fertilizer application interactions or level of K fertilizer application by harvest date interactions on silage fermentation or predicted feeding value. Increasing N fertilizer application from 120 to 168 kg ha?1 had a more deleterious effect on silage composition and feeding value than increasing K fertilizer application from 0 to 240 kg ha?1. Delaying harvesting was the most important factor affecting herbage yield and composition, and silage composition and had the most deleterious effect on silage feeding value.  相似文献   

20.
An experiment was carried out to examine silage fermentation, effluent production and aerobic stability in unwilted grass silage, which was either ensiled without additive or with a commercially available blend of ammonium hexamethanoate, ammonium hexapropionate and octanoic acid (6 l t?1, Maxgrass, BP Chemicals Ltd., Northwich, UK) and to determine alternative approaches to obtaining the same performance in finishing beef cattle. Seventy‐two Limousin × Friesian and Charolais × Friesian steers (mean initial live weight 424 kg s.d. 28·3) were blocked into groups of nine according to live weight and previous performance and offered silage, either with or without the additive, and supplemented with 0, 1·5, 3·0 or 4·5 kg d?1 of a concentrate with a crude protein content of 150 g kg?1 DM or allocated to a pre‐experimental slaughter group to enable calculation of daily carcass gain. Daily silage intakes were recorded for 112 days. At the end of the experiment, all cattle were slaughtered and daily carcass gain, omental, mesenteric, perinephric and retroperitoneal fat depots [kidney‐knob and channel fat (KKCF)], fatness, conformation, subcutaneous fat depth over M. longissimus dorsi muscle and carcass fat, protein and bone contents were assessed. Across all levels of supplementation, cattle offered the silage with the additive showed significantly (P < 0·001) higher daily DM intakes than those offered the silage without additive. Cattle offered the silage with the additive but unsupplemented had significantly (P < 0·001) higher daily carcass gains than those offered the silage without additive and unsupplemented. The response in carcass gain was 76 and 35 g kg?1 additional concentrate for the silages with and without the additive respectively.  相似文献   

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