THE DISTRIBUTION OF CARBOHYDRATES, NITROGEN AND LIGNIN IN SOLUBLE FRACTIONS OF THE STEMS AND LEAVES OF LUCERNE HAY

The nitrogen-free extractive (or soluble carbohydrate) and total nitrogen contents of the stems and leaves of lucerne hay were separated into three fractions, soluble in (a) 90% ethanol, (b) cold water, and (c) acid + alkali of the same concentrations as used in the crude fibre determinations. Total and "soluble" lignin contents were also determined.
The soluble carbohydrates in the stems comprised a lower proportion of the simpler types (90% ethanol soluble) and a higher proportion of a more complex nature (acid + alkali soluble) than in the leaves. The differences between the 90% ethanol soluble fractions were not due to the sugars but to unidentified materials which would include oligosaccharides, acids, saponins and possibly other constituents of an unknown nature.
The lignin content of the stems was more than three times that of the leaves, but, in both parts of the plant, the amount of "soluble" lignin was small.
In the stems, "protein" nitrogen constituted a lower proportion of the total nitrogen, and was possibly of a less digestible type than that in the leaves.
These results added emphasis to the importance of preventing leaf loss during the conservation of lucerne hay, not only to prevent actual loss of material but also in order to preserve its nutritive value.     

THE EFFECT OF MECHANICAL TREATMENT ON THE RATE OF DRYING AND LOSS OF NUTRIENTS IN HAY

Trials are described in which various mechanical treatments of hay in the field were compared. Cutting the crop with a forage harvester resulted in very rapid drying of the hay, but this was accompanied by very high nutrient losses. When the crop was tedded with the harvester the hay dried more quickly than with conventional ledding, the nutrient loss being similar for these two treatments. Tedding with either a harvester or a conventional machine appeared to increase the loss of nutrients compared with less severe treatment, but this loss appears to be acceptable as tedding considerably reduces the risk of the hay being weathered.     

FORAGE CONSERVATION IN THE TROPICS*

Under arid tropical conditions the natural grazing provides less than maintenance requirements for 8–9 months of the year. Conservation of natural or sown herbage, either as hay or silage, should be discouraged because of the low nutritive value of the product, and the unfavourable weather usually prevailing during conservation. Of the forage crops, cereal/legume mixtures are the most suitable for ensilage.     

A COMPARISON OF NUTRIENT LOSSES IN BALED HAY MADE FROM FORAGE-HARVESTED, CRIMPED OR TEDDED SWARDS WITH THOSE IN BARN-DRYING

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect on nutrient loss and feeding value of making hay by different means, using a barn-drier, a forage-harvester, a crimper and conventional tedding. Both forage-harvesting and crimping of the herbage significantly increased the rate of drying, compared with tedding alone. In Exp. 2 this effect enabled the crimped and forage-harvested hays to be baled for storage 3 days earlier than the tedded hay. The use of the forage-harvester significantly reduced the yield of herbage compared with conventional mowing. Nutrient losses from cutting until storage were highest for the forage-harvested hays, the loss of dry matter between cutting and storage in the forage-harvested hays being 39·9 and 19·3%, respectively, in Expt 1 and 2 with corresponding losses in the conventionally made hays of 7·1% and 9·3%. Crimping the hay resulted in higher nutrient losses than tedding. In Expt 2 there was a loss of dry matter of 17·5% in the conventionally made hay during an 18-week storage period, compared with 3·6% in barn-dried hay, 10·8% in forage-harvested hay and 8·8% in crimped hay.
In Expt 2, in which digestibility determinations were made, conservation decreased the total digestible nutrients and starch equivalent in all treatments. The use of the barn-drier gave the most efficient conservation of total digestible nutrients, followed by the crimped, forage-harvested and conventional treatments in that order. The starch equivalent values of hays made from the same sward were 43·0 when barn-dried, 39·8 when crimped, 38·6 after forage-harvesting and 31·6 after tedding.     

Relationship of phenotypic variation in sorghum to nutritive value of crop residues

Improvements in dry matter digestibility of crop residues contribute to greater productivity of livestock consuming dual-purpose sorghums (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench). Delayed leaf senescence (stay-green), brown-midrib (bmr), leaf disease resistance, and high yield are among sorghum phenotypic traits that could enhance nutritive value of crop residues. The objective was to evaluate nutritive value and hydrocyanic acid potential (HCN-p) of leaf or stem components of crop residues of sorghum lines and hybrids representing differences in phenotypic traits. Four replications of eight or more lines and hybrids made up a randomized complete block design during 2 years in central Texas. Dry matter yield, dry weight loss after extraction in water and incubation in rumen, and fiber concentrations of leaves and stems were measured after grain harvest under field conditions. In addition, HCN-p of axillary branches and mature leaves was quantified. Sample weight loss in water extractions without incubation in rumen was negatively correlated with fiber concentrations, which were measured as the sample weights remaining after extraction in neutral (NDF) and acidic (ADF) detergent solutions. Greater concentrations of water-extractable dry matter and lower concentrations of NDF and ADF were observed for stay-green than for bmr or lines that senesced under drought. Yet, the sum of water-extractable dry matter plus ensuing weight loss during 7 days in rumen, expressed as yield ha⁻¹ of leaf and stem digestible dry matter, was not consistently greater for stay-green than drought-susceptible lines. In addition, the yield of the sum of water-extractable and 7-day rumen losses of stay-green lines was comparable to or less than the bmr line. Under conditions in which leaf senescence varied little, analyses of nutritive value indicated water-extractable dry matter was enhanced and fiber concentrations were reduced in crop residues of stay-green compared to senescent lines.     

THE USE OF BARN-DRIED HAY AND SILAGE IN FATTENING YOUNG BEEF CATTLE

A series of trials was carried out in which barn-dried hay and silage were fed to young fattening cattle with or without supplementary barley. Liveweight-gains on silage and barn-dried hay alone were too low to provide an adequate finish during winter feeding. Liveweight-gains on hay alone were always higher than those obtained on silage alone, the difference being more marked in lighter animals. There was a marked response to supplements of 3 and 4 lb (1.4 and 1.8 kg) of barley, the response being significantly greater in silage-fed cattle than in those fed on barn-dried hay. There was some evidence of growth compensation with the introduction of a barley supplement to cattle on silage diets, but there was no such response in those fed on hay. Compensatory growth was not accompanied by improved digestibility or N retention.     

PANICLE DEVELOPMENT AND PLANT VIGOUR IN DACTYLIS GLOMERATA L. IN RELATION TO DATE OF SOWING AND PLANTING

Cocksfoot sown late in summer or early in autumn to provide a seed crop the following year generally produces a disappointing yield. The experiments described were set up to study this problem. Seeds of four varieties, American, Danish and two British cocksfoots, were sown at fortnightly intervals during the spring and summer of 1956. The sowings were repeated in 1957 with the addition of Potomac, a bred variety from USA, and an ecotype from Israel.
Plants sown after mid-May showed a diminishing capacity to produce panicles the following summer. The last sowing in 1957 caused the weight of green hay per plant in 1958 to be at least 50% below that of the spring-sown plants, and panicle number to drop 60–80%. Sowing after mid-May affected panicle development in the autumn and in the following hay crop. Date of sowing had no effect on mean date of panicle emergence in the following summer. In the populations as a whole, neither the presence nor the number of panicles in the first autumn was related to productivity in the hay stand.     

Effect of various bale treatments on physical quality and chemical composition of rhodes grass (Chloris gayana) hay

The effect of harvest season (winter vs. summer), moisture content at baling and bale mass on hay physical quality and chemical composition of two varieties of Rhodes grass ( Chloris gayana ) was studied during bale storage. Three moisture levels (15–20%, 20–25%, 25–30%) and three bale masses (13 kg, 18 kg, 24 kg, at an equal volume) were tested in varieties Pioneer and Alimba - the most common cultivars in the Arabian Gulf region. Variety Alimba has a rougher texture with more stems and fewer leaves. This caused significantly higher water retention and consequently higher bale temperatures. In summer, bale temperatures of Alimba stored at 25–30% moisture content and 24 kg bale mass averaged 37.7°C compared with 28·2°C in variety Pioneer. Lowest dry-matter (DM) content was 793 g kg⁻¹ and was recorded in the winter cut of variety Alimba baled at the upper moisture level (25–30%), whereas the highest was that of variety Pioneer. Lowest crude protein content was that of variety Pioneer (61 g kg DM⁻¹). Prolonged heat build-up of some bales caused dark-brown discoloration, and, although colour variations were significant, they were not large. There was no contribution of bale mass to changes in DM content, indicating that the selected levels of bale mass in the experiment were lower than those expected to cause significant effects on hay chemical composition and nutritive value. In general, it is recommended to store Rhodes grass hay at moistures up to 30% and even higher in the summer season in the case of variety Alimba. Higher moisture contents at baling could preserve hay quality by minimizing shattering of leaves excessively dried under the prevailing hay-making conditions, especially in the variety Pioneer.     

A REVIEW OF NUTRIENT LOSSES AND EFFICIENCY OF CONSERVING HERBAGE AS SILAGE, BARN-DRIED HAY AND FIELD-CURED HAY

A review of American literature indicates that barn drying of hay and silage making are both greatly superior to the field curing of hay in preserving nutrients. This is true of total dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and ash; crude-fibre losses are greater in silage making. Energy losses run parallel with dry matter. Bam drying of hay with heat preserves a rather greater proportion of nutrients than does silage making.
Chemical composition and digestibility are mostly a function of stage of maturity of the crop at the time of cutting. Actual carbohydrate (energy) losses are greater than protein losses in all methods. The influence of method of conservation is unimportant if conservation is properly carried out, but considerable deterioration can result from bad application. Field-cured hay usually suffers most in this respect, due to weather damage.
The conservation processes reviewed have no influence per se on feeding value where each is applied under ideal conditions. Differences found in practice are usually linked to the stage of maturity or to weather damage, which explains the usually superior feeding value of silage and barn-dried hay over field-cured hay.
When the efficiency of each method is compared by determining the quantity of milk produced from equal areas of forage, conserved in the three different ways, barn-dried hay is somewhat superior to silage, but both are greatly superior to field-cured hay.     

Fructan,sucrose and related enzyme activities are preserved in timothy (Phleum pratense L.) during wilting

Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) is an important forage grass used for pasture, hay and silage in regions with cool and humid growth seasons. Harvesting conditions could reduce its nutritive value, particularly with extended wilting periods. To understand how daytime or night‐time wilting influences the nutritive value of timothy, this study investigated the metabolism of non‐structural carbohydrates, including fructan and starch, together with total soluble protein and amino acid patterns in timothy plants harvested at two maturity stages (heading and anthesis) and wilted under controlled conditions for 24 h at two temperatures (15°C, 20°C) and two light regimes (darkness, light) by simulating different wilting management practices. Correlation analysis with the whole dataset showed that soluble protein, glucose and starch contents declined in plant tissues concomitantly with water loss, while amino acid, sucrose and fructose contents increased. Transient increase in amino acid content suggests that the decrease in protein content was due to proteolysis during wilting. Sucrose and fructose contents generally increased in plant tissues harvested at anthesis and wilted in light whereas they were unaffected in plants wilted in darkness. Fructan content remained stable. Fructan exohydrolase (FEH) and soluble acid invertase (INV) activities were well preserved during the first 12 h of wilting and might facilitate the fermentation process at the beginning of ensiling by supplying fructose from fructans and hexoses from sucrose to the fermentive bacteria.     

A COMPARISON OF SILAGE AND BARN-DRIED HAY FOR BEEF PRODUCTION

Three trials were carried out to compare the feeding value of silage and barn-dried hay for fattening bullocks of approximately 8 cwt initial body weight. In each case the silage and hay were cut from the same sward at the same time. In the first trial the bullocks fed on hay gained 1·88 lb/day while those self-fed on silage gained 1·55 lb/day during a 70-day feeding period. In the second trial of 70 days, the bullocks fed on hay gained 1·96 lb/day and those fed on silage from a trough gained 2·39 lb/day. In the third trial, individually-fed bullocks housed in stalls and given the same hay and silage as used in Trial 2 gained 123 lb/day on hay and 127 lb/day on silage. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the findings of other workers.     

A study of the nutritive value of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in relation to different stages of phenological maturity in the primary growth phase in spring

This paper reports the effects of onset of phenological maturity on the nutritive value of white clover ( Trifolium repens L.). The study comprised (i) examination of an extensive data set on nutritive value and (ii) investigation of the constituents of nutritive value, in vivo feeding value, protein degradability and metabolizable protein content of white clover harvested at three stages of maturity (early-flowering, full-flowering, ripe seed stages) during the primary growth phase in spring in Australia. The data set on nutritive value showed a consistent pattern of high nutritive value during cool season months, progressive decline through spring and uniformly lower nutritive value over summer. Results from laboratory determinations, in sacco degradability studies and a digestibility trial on white clover harvested at early-flowering, full-flowering and ripe seed stages were consistent with results from the data set on nutritive value. Onset of maturity during the primary growth phase in spring was accompanied by large changes in nutritive value: neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) increased from 184 to 301 g kg⁻¹ dry matter (DM), nitrogen (N) declined from 36 to 20 g kg⁻¹ DM, in vitro digestibility declined from 0·74 to 0·65 and metabolizable protein content declined from 144 to 67 g kg⁻¹ DM from early-flowering to ripe seed stage. These nutritive value changes were accompanied by a decline of in vivo digestibility at the rate of 0·0032 d⁻¹ and an 0·2 reduction in voluntary intake.     

FACTORS AFFECTING THE VOLUNTARY INTAKE OF SILAGE AND HAY

Experiments with cows and sheep are described in which the voluntary intakes of hay and silage of differing digestibility were determined. The voluntary intake of hay increased consistently with increasing digestibility, but the relationship was not as well defined for silage. The addition of concentrates depressed the intake of hay, and this effect was more marked for hay with a high digestibility than with poorer quality hay. Concentrates appeared to depress the intake of hay by sheep more than by cows, an effect which was again more marked when the hay had a high digestibility value.     

Changes during growth in the nutritive value of components of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) under different cutting treatments in a Mediterranean region

The nutritive value of berseem clover (Trifolium alexandrinum L.) may be influenced by changes in the nutrient concentrations of morphological fractions as a consequence of cutting treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cutting treatments on the nutritive value of herbage and leaf and stem components in two Mediterranean berseem genotypes during growth in order to develop management approaches for harvesting forage with a high nutritive value. Spring growth of genotypes of Egyptian (cv. Giza 10) and Italian (cv. Sacromonte) origins was harvested in each of 2 years beginning 196 days after sowing and thereafter every 6 days (twelve harvests in total) to measure dry matter (DM) yield and nutritive value. Cutting treatments were initiated at sixth internode elongation (A) and early flowering (B) and there was an uncut control treatment (C). In vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVOMD) and crude protein (CP) concentration were determined for leaf, stem and total forage of each cultivar at each harvest. For both cultivars, in the uncut treatment (C), DM yield increased linearly to a maximum of 14 800 kg ha^?1, on average, by 250 days after planting, the same time at which stem DM accumulation peaked, whereas the nutritive value, in terms of IVOMD and CP concentration, declined with age, coinciding with a reduction in leaf:stem ratio (LSR) from 1·00 to 0·30. Plant parts differed (P < 0·01) in nutritive value with stems being of lower nutritive value than leaves, in the two cutting treatments. There were strong positive correlations between LSR and herbage IVOMD and CP concentration, in both cutting treatments, indicating that, during growth, part of the changes in IVOMD and CP concentration of berseem clover plants was due primarily to the changes in the LSR. Defoliation induced a considerable reduction in DM yield, but an increase in the LSR and a small increase in nutritive value. Plants cut at the sixth internode elongation (A) showed a small proportional decrease (0·19) in total DM yield, but higher LSR values and similar or higher IVOMD and CP concentration than initiating cutting at early flower (B). Delaying defoliation to the early flowering stage (B) increased the proportion of stems and, therefore, decreased nutritive value. Therefore, harvest management in which cuts are applied at the stage of sixth internode elongation appears to be the most favourable for obtaining relatively high yields of forage with high nutritive value in berseem clover grown in Mediterranean regions.     

Genetic shifts in smooth bromegrass under grazing: changes in nutritional value and preference for surviving vs. original genotypes

Genetic shifts in plant morphology and reproductive characters under grazing may potentially affect nutritive value and preference. This research was conducted to determine the response of smooth bromegrass ( Bromus inermis Leyss.) populations to long-term grazing. Genotypes from five populations of smooth bromegrass that survived 9 years of grazing were compared with genotypes of each population grown from original seed. Plant height was measured and biomass estimated for each genotype, before and after grazing by sheep, in order to assess preference. Genotypes were also tested for nutritive value. The selective effect of competition during establishment and maintenance under grazing was accompanied by genetic shifts in smooth bromegrass plants in these pastures. Survivors had greater plant biomass despite having a decrease in plant height of up to 5%. Preference for survivors, quantified as percentage consumption by sheep, was up to 3% units less than for original populations. The nutritive value of survivors was similar to that of original populations, except for one population, which had a lower neutral-detergent fibre among the survivors after grazing.     

THE EFFECT OF CONDITIONING ON THE RATE OF DRYING AND LOSS OF NUTRIENTS IN HAY

Treating cut herbage with a roller-crusher or a crimper resulted in an increased drying rate compared with tedding. A higher rate of drying was obtained when herbage was treated within a short period of the crop being cut, this effect being more marked with the crimper than with the tedder. Nutrient loss was higher when a crimper was used than with a roller-crusher or tedder. Applying water at an early stage in the drying process did not have a marked effect on nutrient loss, but appeared to decrease the digestibility of the crimped hay.     

GRAZING BEHAVIOUR AND WEIGHT CHANGES IN CALVES TURNED OUT TO PASTURE

Two studies are described in which the behaviour of 24 seven-month-old Friesian steer calves was observed. The first study (G1) was undertaken at the time of turnout to pasture, and the second (G2) 5 days later. The calves appeared to adapt rapidly to the change in environment, though in study G1 grazing was frequently interrupted. In study G2 the calves showed normal behaviour patterns and spent a total of 4.25 hours grazing. There was a positive correlation between age and weight at turnout and time spent grazing in study G1. However, this relationship was not apparent in G2, and there was no relationship between time spent grazing in G1 and G2. Mean weight loss upon turnout was 7.44% of live weight, in spite of the feeding of hay and barley at grass. There was no relationship between weight at turnout and subsequent weight loss. The results confirmed other experimental findings which suggest that weight loss at turnout is largely a reflection of changes in the weight of alimentary tract contents, rather than an inability to adapt to the change in environment. The calves were grazed at two intensities (‘low’ and ‘standard’) during the grazing season. Growth rate in winter and weight at turnout were negatively correlated with growth rate in the first month of the grazing season. This relationship was more apparent in the ‘low’ intensity group which received a liberal daily herbage allowance at this stage of the season. Partial correlation analysis, in which pre-grazing growth rate was held constant, indicated that weight and age had little independent influence on growth rate at grass, though there was a positive relationship between weight for age at turnout and gain during the grazing season. The importance of a target weight at turnout is discussed in relation to the 18-month beef production system. It is concluded that younger, lighter, cattle at turnout may not be at a disadvantage when adequate amounts of herbage are on offer early in the grazing season.     

THE CONSERVATION OF GRASS IN SEALED METAL AND PLASTIC CONTAINERS, WITH AND WITHOUT GROUND BARLEY MEAL

Two experiments are described in which ground harley meal was added to freshly-cut grass hefore ensiling it in small air-tight metal containers and polythene containers. The mean DM loss from the air-tight metal containers was 1 % and from the polythene containers 18.8%. The silages were all of satisfactory fermentation quality, as assessed hy pH, voladle acids, lactic-acid and Tolatile-hase content. The addition of the harley meal significantly improved the nutritive content of the ensiled material, and the resulting silage in the air-tight metal containers. Sheep were used to measure the voluntary intakes of the silages conserved in the polythene containers.     

Age of regrowth as a factor affecting the nutritive value of hay of kikuyu grass (Pennisetum clandestinum) offered to lambs

The changes in chemical composition of hay of kikuyu grass ( Pennisetum clandestinum ) harvested at 50, 70 and 90 d of regrowth, and its effect on intake, digestibility, fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in the rumen (Experiment 1) and oxygen uptake by portal-drained viscera (PDV) (Experiment 2) were evaluated. The experiments were carried out with Polwarth × Texel crossbreed lambs with a mean live weight (s.e.m.) of 35(3·0) kg housed in metabolic cages. Organic matter (OM), neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) and nitrogen (N) intake, as well as rumen ammonia-N concentration, decreased linearly with age of regrowth ( P  <   0·05). Acid-detergent fibre (ADF) and indigestible NDF intakes were similar for all treatments. Apparent digestibility of organic matter (OM), NDF and N, as well as true digestibility of OM, microbial protein synthesis in the rumen, N retention, pH of rumen fluid and sugars, amino acids and peptide concentrations in rumen fluid were similar for all treatments. Age of regrowth also did not affect the kinetics of passage of the particulate phase through the digestive tract nor oxygen uptake by PDV. Heat production by PDV represented an average of 0·039 of digestible energy (DE) intake. Increasing the age of regrowth of kikuyu grass from 50 to 90 d did not affect digestibility nor the efficiency of DE use by PDV tissues of lambs but it reduced the nutritive value of the hay due to a lower intake of OM. Intake of hay appeared to be most limited by the ADF and indigestible NDF concentrations of the hay.     

THE NUTRITIVE VALUE AND AGRONOMIC ASPECTS OF SOME FODDERS IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Digestibility data are presented on the following; Andropogon gayanus hay and bush foggage, Arachis hypogoea (groundnut) haulms, Glycine max (soya-bean) hay. Sorghum vulgare (sorghum) leaves and hay, Stizolobium sp. (velvet bean) hay, Vigna sinensis (cowpea) hay and haulms, and S. vnlgare/Stizolobium sp. mixture. The results are discussed from the agronomic aspect.