Nutritive value of two meadows and relationships with some vegetation traits

This study was designed to compare the evolution in nutritive value between two permanent grasslands that had different botanical composition, during 2 years (2003 and 2004), and to study the relationships between a set of vegetation and digestibility characteristics. Botanical composition, lamina proportions (LP), and in vivo organic matter digestibility (OMD) of grasslands were measured at three different times during the first growth cycle over 2 years: last week in May, third week in June and second week of July. Foliar traits [specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf dry matter content (LDMC)] were measured on grasses in the first period of both years. The LDMC and botanical composition values were used to calculate plant functional types (PFT) of the grasslands at each period. Relationships between OMD and SLA, LDMC, LP and forbs proportions (FP) were tested. Grassland rich in forbs, which was classified in PFT B, showed higher OMD in the first stage of maturity and lower OMD at the end of the cycle in 2004 than grassland rich in grasses, which was classified as PFT C. There were significant relationships between LDMC and OMD across the two first periods. There were also significant relationships between LP and OMD in the first period and between FP and OMD in the third period. The botanical composition of the grassland and consequently its PFT is an important factor explaining the evolution of the nutritive value of permanent grasslands during the first growth cycle.     

The effect of feeding animals ad libitum vs. at maintenance level on the in vivo digestibility of mown herbage from two permanent grasslands of different botanical composition

The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of feeding level (FL) on the digestibility of unconserved forage obtained from two permanent grasslands cut at three different dates during the first cycle of growth. Forage was offered to Texel sheep (wethers), at maintenance level and at ad libitum level. Differences in voluntary intake (VI) between grasslands were also tested. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) measured at ad libitum level and at VI was 13% higher on harvested forage from grassland rich in forbs (GRF) than grassland rich in grasses (GRG) at early herbage growth stages, but these differences were no longer found at later maturity stages. In GRF, there were no differences for OMD, at either FL at the young growth stages, but at the end of the cycle the OMD obtained at ad libitum level (0·56) was higher than that at maintenance level (0·50). However, in GRG, at an early stage of forage maturity, OMD at ad libitum level (0·67) was lower than that at maintenance level (0·70), but this difference was no longer found at the end of the growth cycle. In conclusion, the effect of FL on the digestibility of unconserved forage from permanent grasslands depends on the type of grassland. These differences are mainly explained by the different botanical composition of the grassland types.     

Effect of harvest time on yield and pre-harvest quality of semi-leafless grain peas (Pisum sativum L.) as whole-crop forage

The aim of the work was to study changes in the yield and nutritional characteristics of whole crop semi-leafless field pea over two growing seasons in the Po plain, Italy. Samples of two cultivars (Baccara and Sidney) were collected from flowering to grain maturity. The developmental stage, yield, dry matter (DM) content, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), starch, water soluble carbohydrates (WSC), gross energy (GE), organic matter digestibility (OMD) and the net energy for lactation (NE_L) were determined at each harvest. The forage characteristics were regressed on the growing degree days (GDD) with 4.4 °C as the base temperature. The DM yield increased with advancing maturity from 0.5 to 8.91 Mg ha⁻¹, while the CP decreased from 261 to 159 g kg⁻¹ DM. During the whole growth cycle the GE, OMD, NE_L and milk forage units (milk FU) were almost steady. No differences were observed between the cultivars for any of the measured parameters. At grain maturity, the crop produced over 4.0 Mg ha⁻¹ DM of grain. The CP, starch and WSC of the grain did not show any differences between the cultivars or years. The data showed that the nutritive quality of the forage of the semi-leafless grain pea harvested as a whole crop for ensiling purposes did not diminish with maturity and could help improve the self-sufficiency of dairy farms, in terms of home-grown protein forages.     

Intercropped wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.) as a whole-crop forage: effect of harvest time on forage yield and quality

Abstract Sole crops and intercrops of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and bean (Vicia faba L.), at three harvest dates, representing successive growth stages, were evaluated for biomass production of whole‐crop forage and quality characteristics of crude protein (CP), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) concentrations and ash content. These tests were carried out for two field experiments, respectively, drilled during the spring of 1997 and autumn of 1997 on Imperial College Farm, Wye, UK. Results indicated that optimum forage yield and quality were obtained from the second to third harvest dates for the spring‐drilled experiment and the second harvest for the autumn‐drilled experiment. Wheat and bean intercrops were higher in total forage dry matter (DM) yield than either wheat or bean grown as sole crops. Field bean intercropped with wheat led to increased forage quality (CP and NDF concentrations) compared with sole wheat, and higher WSC concentrations compared with sole bean. Intercrops also enhanced weed suppression compared with sole bean. It is suggested that winter wheat–bean intercrops may have considerable potential as a moderate‐yielding, relatively high‐quality, low‐input and environmentally benign forage crop with considerable potential with regard to yield and quality and warrant further study.     

Main ecological and environmental factors affecting forage yield and quality in alpine summer pastures (NW-Italy,Gran Paradiso National Park)

Summer pastures in the European Alps play a crucial role in providing high quality forage for grazing livestock and encompass a wide variety of vegetation communities. The main issue of their management is the optimal exploitation of the available forage in relation to environmental constraints, aiming at obtaining the highest forage yield and quality from each vegetation community. In this work, we monitored six different vegetation communities characterized by contrasting topographic features and species compositions throughout the grazing season for two years. We performed botanical and phenological surveys, climate-related measurements, and herbage samplings to assess forage quantity and quality (i.e., digestibility and proximate composition, estimated by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy). We analysed the influence of climatic, topographic, and vegetation variables on pasture herbage through univariate and multivariate analyses. The cover of wide-leaf grasses primarily promoted biomass production, which was in turn lowered by increasing elevation and slope. On the other hand, a minor effect on forage yield was observed for an increasing cover of sedges and rushes and mean temperatures. Climatic variables (especially water deficit) and advanced phenological stages were the main degrading factors of forage quality in terms of crude protein and digestibility, while enhancing fibre contents. At increasing cover of legumes, fibre content declined and digestibility increased consequently, while the abundance of other non-legume forbs played a significant role in lowering fibre content. Multivariate analysis highlighted the differing influence of single plant species on forage features even within the same functional species pool. However, attention should be paid to the toxicity and low palatability of some plants, especially forbs. Eutrophic vegetation communities, rich in wide-leaf grasses and legumes, could be maintained and enhanced through pastoral management to increase alpine pasture production and quality.     

Production, survival and nutritive value of the perennial legumes Dorycnium hirsutum and D. rectum subjected to different cutting heights

Dorycnium hirsutum and D. rectum are perennial legumes which may have potential for use as pastures for the control of groundwater recharge in southern Australia. Little is known about the quality of the forage of Dorycnium species for grazing livestock or how these species respond to cutting. The effect of cutting height on plant survival, production of dry matter (DM), the proportion of leaf, edible stem (approximately <5 mm diameter) and woody stem in the DM and the nutritive value of the edible components was investigated. Biomass above five cutting‐height treatments (uncut, ground level, 5–8 cm, 10–15 cm and 15–30 cm above ground level) was removed at 8‐week intervals from plots of D. hirsutum and D. rectum from September 2002 to July 2003. In both species, plants subjected to lower cutting height treatments produced less DM above the height of the cut than those cut at higher heights. DM production declined over time in all treatments. Plants cut to ground level failed to regrow after the second harvest in D. hirsutum and the fourth harvest in D. rectum. Thus, these Dorycnium species were susceptible to high severity defoliations at 8‐week intervals. Negligible inedible woody stem was present in regrowth of both species after 8 weeks but D. hirsutum regrowth had a higher proportion of leaf (0·72) than D. rectum (0·56). Plants left uncut accumulated a large proportion of inedible woody stem in the DM (0·69 in both species) by July 2003, particularly at the base of the plant. Edible DM from regrowth of D. hirsutum and D. rectum had crude protein (CP) concentrations of 120 and 150 g kg^?1 DM; dry matter digestibility (DMD) values of 0·45 and 0·58; organic matter digestibility (OMD) values of 0·50 and 0·64; neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) concentrations of 370 and 290 g kg^?1 DM; and acid‐detergent fibre (ADF) concentrations of 260 and 210 g kg^?1 DM, respectively. Medicago sativa, grown under similar conditions, had higher digestibility values (0·63 DMD and 0·66 OMD) and similar CP concentrations to D. rectum (140 g kg^?1 DM), but higher concentrations of NDF and ADF (410 and 290 g kg^?1 DM). Leaf material from both Dorycnium species had a higher nutritive value than edible stems, with DMD and OMD values of leaf of D. rectum being 0·68 and 0·74 respectively. Uncut plants had a much lower nutritive value of edible DM than the regrowth from cut treatments; older material was also of a lower nutritive value. The relatively low nutritive value of even the young regrowth of Dorycnium species suggests that forage quality is a major limitation to its use. Forage of Dorycnium species could be used during periods when other sources of forage are in short supply but infrequent grazing it is likely to produce forage of a low nutritive value.     

Prediction of legume silage digestibility from various laboratory methods

The potential of different laboratory methods to predict legume silage organic matter digestibility (OMD) in vivo was evaluated by using data from thirty‐three pure legume silages in seven experiments. The samples were analysed for crude protein concentration, cell wall composition, in vitro digestibility by the methods of Tilley and Terry [Journal of the British Grassland Society, 18 (1963) , 104–111; OMD_T&T], pepsin‐cellulase solubility (OMS) and gas production (OMD_GAS), and for indigestible neutral‐detergent fibre concentration in situ (INDF). The relationships between the results obtained by the laboratory methods and in vivo OMD, all expressed as ratios, were studied using linear univariate regression models with experiment as a random variable (mixed model). Legume silage digestibility could be estimated with acceptable accuracy by different in vitro methods, but not from the chemical composition of the samples. The highest accuracy in OMD prediction was found with OMS (RMSE 0·0113; R² = 0·965) followed by OMD_GAS (RMSE 0·0149; R² = 0·944), OMD_{T& T} (RMSE 0·0149; R² = 0·940) and INDF (RMSE 0·0168; R² = 0·925). The relationships between the in vitro methods and in vivo digestibility are not universal, and should be determined separately for each laboratory and type of forage. Part of the error in OMD prediction can be attributed to errors in in vivo OMD determination.     

Forage quality of species-rich mountain grasslands subjected to zero,PK and NPK mineral fertilization for decades

To maintain species-rich swards from which forage of a high nutritional quality can be produced, it is essential to adapt grassland fertilization strategies. In this study, we investigated how different long-term mineral fertilization treatments affect dry-matter (DM) yield, plant species composition, and nutrient and mineral concentrations of forage from mountain grasslands. During 2 years, forage was sampled from three different long-term fertilization experiments located at 930 (L), 1,190 (M) and 1,340 (H) m a.s.l. at different sites in Switzerland. At each site, three mineral fertilization treatments (0, PK and NPK) had been maintained for three to six decades, with two (L and M) or three harvests (H) per year. Yield, the botanical composition and concentrations of net energy, utilizable crude protein and different phenolic fractions were determined. Nutrient and mineral concentrations were also determined. For all three sites (L, M and H), unfertilized swards had lower annual DM yields (3.39, 5.17 and 2.73 t/ha) compared to PK (6.33, 7.17 and 4.44 t/ha) and NPK fertilized swards (7.69, 7.22 and 7.44 t/ha), respectively. Long-term fertilization had little effect on the gross nutrient and phenolic composition, but forage P and K concentration increased. The decades-long fertilization of either PK or NPK of up to 85 kg N, 80 kg P₂O₅ and 240 kg K₂O/ha reduced plant species richness only at site H. Fertilization of PK may allow to simultaneously increase forage productivity and maintain forage quality in mountain grasslands.     

Herbage dry‐matter production and forage quality of three legumes and four non‐leguminous forbs grown in single‐species stands

Agronomic data on most broad‐leaved species of grasslands are scarce. The aim of this study was to obtain novel information on herbage DM yield and forage quality for several forb species, and on species differences and seasonal patterns across harvests and in successive years. Four non‐leguminous forbs [salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor), caraway (Carum carvi), chicory (Cichorium intybus) and ribwort plantain (Plantago lanceolata)] and three leguminous forbs [yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), lucerne (Medicago sativa) and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)] and a perennial ryegrass–white clover mixture were investigated in a small‐plot cutting trial in Denmark during 2009 and 2010. Plots were harvested four times per year. On average, annual herbage yield was highest for lucerne (15·4 t DM) and grass–white clover (12·5 t DM ha^?1), and lowest for salad burnet (4·6 t DM ha^?1) and yellow sweet clover (3·9 t DM ha^?1). Ribwort plantain and lucerne had the highest concentrations of acid detergent fibre (339 and 321 g kg^?1 DM respectively) and lignin (78 and 67 g kg^?1 DM respectively); contents in other species were similar to grass–white clover (275 and 49 g kg^?1 DM respectively). No common feature was found within the functional groups of non‐leguminous forbs and leguminous forbs, other than higher crude protein contents (198–206 g kg^?1 DM) in the legumes. DM yield and fibre content were lowest in October. Digestibility declined with higher temperature and increasing fibre content. Results are discussed in terms of the potential of forbs to contribute to forage resources in farming practice.     

Nutritive value of desert wormwood (Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) silage in mixture with high‐moisture maize straw

This study aimed to determine the fermentation characteristics, nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility of desert wormwood (DW, Artemisia desertorum Spreng.) silage as the sole ingredient, or mixed with high‐moisture maize (corn) straw (HMCS). Desert wormwood and HMCS were harvested and chopped (1–2 cm) then ensiled in laboratory silos (25 cm high with an internal diameter of 7·6 cm) at a density of 550 g L^?1 at room temperature for 60 days. The proportions of DW in the DW/HMCS mixtures were 1, 0·75, 0·50, 0·25 and 0, based on fresh weight. The silages were analysed for fermentation characteristics, nutrient composition and in vitro digestibility. Desert wormwood ensiled with HMCS had lower pH and acetic acid concentration and higher lactic acid concentration as the proportion of DW decreased. As the proportion of DW decreased, the crude protein concentration and the in vitro digestibility of dry matter increased and the concentrations of neutral detergent fibre, acid detergent fibre and acid detergent lignin decreased. This study has indicated that mixing HMCS with DW can improve the fermentation quality and nutrient composition of these silage mixtures.     

Chemical composition and in vitro total gas and methane production of forage species from the Mid Rift Valley grasslands of Ethiopia

There is increasing interest in sustainable land use in the tropics to optimize animal production while also reducing methane (CH₄) emissions, but information on nutritive value and CH₄‐emission potential of tropical forage species is limited. Samples of 24 grasses and five other forages were collected during the main rainy season on randomly positioned quadrats in semi‐arid grassland in the Mid Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Samples were pooled by species, analysed for chemical composition and incubated with rumen fluid to determine total gas and CH₄‐emission potentials using a fully automated in vitro gas production apparatus. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) contents were calculated from chemical composition and gas production data. Large variability was observed among forages for all nutritional variables considered. The grasses Eleusine multiflora, Pennisetum stramineum, Dactyloctenium aegyptium, Eragrostis aspera, Cenchrus ciliaris and Eragrostis cilianensis showed relatively high OMD (68–72%) and ME values (9·1–10·2 MJ kg^?1 dry matter). Melinis repens, E. multiflora and the non‐legume forb Zaleya pentandra showed relatively low CH₄ to total gas ratios; these species may have potential for use in low CH₄‐emission forage diets. Acacia tortilis fruits had high content of crude protein and moderate ME values, and may be an ideal feed supplement for the grazing ruminant. Sodium content was below the recommended level for ruminants in all the forage species. Overall, the pasture stand during the main growing season was evaluated as having moderate nutritional quality.     

大麦茎、叶、穗对饲草产量及品质的影响

为探明大麦不同组织（茎、叶和穗）在不同刈割期对饲草产量及品质的影响,以安徽省两个主栽饲用大麦品种为材料,比较了两年度两个品种茎、叶和穗分别在齐穗期及其后14 d和28 d饲草产量及品质的差异。结果显示,不同组织、刈割期及组织×刈割期互作效应对饲草产量及品质均有显著影响(P<0.05),年度效应主要影响产量,其他互作效应因品种和性状不同而异。饲草产量随刈割期后移增加,对其贡献表现为茎﹥穗﹥叶,第2年度高于第1年度。饲草品质性状在组织间和刈割期间存在显著差异,而在年度间仅在单个品种若干性状上存在差异;粗蛋白含量表现为穗﹥叶﹥茎,且随刈割期后移下降;粗纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤木质素含量均为茎﹥叶﹥穗,且随刈割期后移前3个性状先降后升,酸性洗涤木质素含量持续上升;粗脂肪含量为叶﹥穗﹥茎,且随刈割期后移上升。综上,在株高相当时,增加穗部比例可提高大麦饲草产量和品质;刈割期后移可提升饲草产量但降低品质。基于本研究,选育大穗、多叶型品种,适期刈割,有望同步提升大麦饲草产量和品质。     

Effects of shrub encroachment on herbage production and nutritive value in semi-arid Mediterranean grasslands

There is limited information on the effects of the increase in the density of shrubs on herbage production and nutritive value of natural grasslands in the Mediterranean region, currently facing major land use changes. Herbage production of drymatter (herbaceous fractions, of plant functional groups and by species), crude protein (CP), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), acid‐detergent lignin (ADL) and hemicellulose concentrations and in vitro organic matter digestibility were determined at the time of peak of annual growth across four types of grassland vegetation each characterized by different shrub cover regimes. A sharp reduction in herbage production and a reduction in nutritive value were found as a result of the increase in shrub cover. These changes appeared to be closely related to the shift in plant functional groups detected as shrub density increased. Herbage production from grasses and legumes was found to be more sensitive to shrub cover changes than herbage production from forbs, whereas, as grassland types became denser, annual species were gradually replaced by perennials and C₄ grasses by C₃ ones. The impact of shrub encroachment on Mediterranean grasslands is discussed in relation to their use by livestock.     

Changes in nutritive value and herbage yield during extended growth intervals in grass–legume mixtures: effects of species,maturity at harvest,and relationships between productivity and components of feed quality

There is a lack of information on the effects of companion species in grass–legume mixtures on herbage yield and quality changes during prolonged growth. Such information is relevant for harvest planning and estimation of consequences for feeding value of conserved feed when harvesting is delayed. Perennial ryegrass was sown with each of four legumes: red clover, white clover, lucerne and birdsfoot trefoil, and white clover was sown with hybrid ryegrass, meadow fescue and timothy. Effects of species composition on herbage yield, contents of N, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin, ash and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) were studied in entire herbage and in component species during 2 years in a small‐plot cutting trial in Denmark. In May and August, the dynamic development of components of feed value and their interrelationships were investigated by sampling at optimum harvest date (i.e., normal practice) ± 1 week (t = ?1 to t = +1). Herbage digestibility and contents of N and ash decreased while those of fibre compounds increased during the 2 weeks from t = ?1 to t = 1 in all species. In May, contents of ADF and lignin increased at a faster rate in legumes than in grasses; in August, NDF and ADF increased most quickly in legumes. Generally, N contents and IVOMD declined at similar rates in grasses and legumes, but, within each group, differences in yield and quality development occurred among species. The relationship between weekly growth rate and change in quality parameters differed among species and functional groups, i.e., grasses and legumes. Results are discussed in the context of quantifying the impact of delaying the harvest date of grass–legume mixtures and relationships between productivity and components of feed quality.     

Legume Forage Quality

Abstract

Legume forage quality research is now concerned not only with nutritive value of forage for ruminant animals, but the impact of these nutrients on environmental quality. If we are to move to a more sustainable agriculture worldwide, more legumes must be incorporated into animal production systems. The goal of forage legume breeders is to tailor legume nutritive value to the needs of the consuming animals. A generalized priority list for legume nutritive value research includes high fiber digestibility, low anti-quality compounds, appropriate condensed tannins, reduced nonprotein nitrogen, and high sulfur amino acids. Although breeders have regularly found a wide range in forage quality within a given legume species, very few varieties with proven forage quality advantages have been released. Yield and persistence issues have dominated forage legume breeding. Improvement in forage quality often is linked to a reduction in yield and/or persistence, and also frequently results in complex genotype X environment interactions. Transgenic technology has almost limitless potential for improving legume forage quality and environmental quality, but only if the public can be convinced that transgenics are an acceptable risk. Structural and functional roles of legume plant cell walls and their relationships to forage quality are poorly understood. Research on the basic processes of forage legume growth and the relationships between growth and forage composition should result in the development of more accurate simulation models, and transgenic technology can provide us with the tools to understand these basic processes.     

播期对饲用油菜鲜草产量和品质的调控研究

为确定华北平原饲用油菜高产优质的适宜播期，选用甘蓝型油菜品种4个，设置4个播期，研究不同播期下温度对饲用油菜鲜草产量和饲用品质的调控效应。结果表明，随播期推迟，饲用油菜生育期内日均温与有效积温升高，花前生育期天数缩短但花后生育期延长，总生育期天数缩短2～7 d。饲用油菜鲜草产量随播期推迟呈降低趋势，3月28日前播种超过35 t/hm2；品种间华油杂62鲜草产量显著高于其它品种（P<0.01）。饲用油菜鲜草产量和饲用品质与纤维含量显著负相关，中性洗涤纤维含量与苗期的有效积温量极显著负相关，与营养生长和花后有效积温量显著正相关。因此，在华北平原春播饲用油菜可选用华油杂62，播期以3月8日-3月18日为最佳，鲜草产量稳定在50 t/hm2以上，具有较高的粗蛋白、淀粉、水溶性碳水化合物和总可消化养分含量，可实现华北平原饲用油菜的高产优质生产。     

Open pasture,silvopasture and sward herbage maturity effects on nutritive value and fermentation characteristics of cool‐season pasture

In Appalachian USA, silvopasture offers promise of increased farm productivity. A synchronized, temporal understanding of open pasture (OP) and silvopasture (SP) nutritive characteristics is essential for grazing system development. We examined pasture‐type nutritive‐value relationships when herbage was harvested based on morphological maturity rather than calendar date. Neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre (ADF and NDF) content were greater in silvopasture, while organic matter (OM) was lower (P < 0·05). Digestibility of SP herbage dry matter (DM) and OM tended (P = 0·10) to be lower (418 vs. 471 and 437 vs. 491 g kg^?1 respectively). Neutral detergent fibre digestibility was greater (P < 0·05) for OP than SP forage (538 vs. 480 g kg^?1), and ADF tended to be greater (P = 0·10; 551 vs. 501). Open‐pasture forage fermentation effluent exhibited slightly higher microbial richness and Shannon diversity than SP. However, overall community composition of both bacteria and archaea did not differ between pasture types or sampling times. Pasture types show proximate analyses differences generally favourable to OP, although both have similar overall nutritive value. In addition, the SP sward exhibited a 4‐ to 6‐days delay in reaching equivalent maturity. Conversion of farm woodlots to SP would increase overall herbage production and improve pasture management flexibility.     

播期对青贮大麦产量和青贮品质的影响

为探究新疆北部地区播期对青贮大麦产量、青贮原料品质和青贮品质的影响,以3个大麦品种(系)(垦啤麦13、P13-3和甘啤4号)为材料,分别于3月18日、4月2日、4月17日播种,对其青贮农艺性状、干草产量、青贮原料营养成分和青贮品质进行分析。结果表明,随着播期的推迟,青贮大麦生育期大幅度缩短,4月17日播种时生育期较3月18日缩短22~23 d。晚播会显著降低大麦干草产量,晚播(4月17日)时3个品种(系)干草产量比早播(3月18日)降低15.2%~24.2%,其中垦啤麦13降幅最大。推迟播种使垦啤麦13和甘啤4号茎、穗的干物质分配比例下降,叶的干物质分配比例上升。晚播使P13-3和甘啤4号洗涤纤维含量(中性和酸性)和粗脂肪含量分别显著上升和下降,显著降低P13-3的粗蛋白含量,提高甘啤4号可溶性碳水化合物含量。播期对青贮品质影响因品种(系)而异,晚播降低了甘啤4号青贮的pH值、氨态氮含量,提高乳酸含量,对其他品种(系)无显著性影响。总体来看,新疆青贮大麦在外界条件允许的条件下,应适当早播。     

The effect of harvest date and inoculation on the yield, fermentation characteristics and feeding value of forage pea and field bean silages

Two experiments describe the ensiling potential of whole‐crop forage peas (Pisum sativum) and field beans (Vicia faba). In Experiment 1, forage peas (cv. Magnus) and field beans (cv. Mayo) were harvested at 10, 12 and 14 weeks after sowing, and ensiled in 10 kg mini‐silos either untreated or treated with an inoculant (Lactobacillus plantarum). In terms of yield and ensiling potential, the optimum growth stage for harvesting forage peas occurred at 12 weeks of growth. In contrast, delaying the harvest of field beans until 14 weeks gave the highest yields of dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP). Changes in crop maturity had little effect on the chemical composition of the fresh forages, but between‐harvest date differences were observed in the DM, ammonia‐N, CP, water‐soluble carbohydrates (WSC), acid‐detergent fibre (ADF), neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF), lactic acid and volatile fatty acids (VFA) concentrations and pH of the corresponding silages. Fermentation was improved by applying an inoculant. In Experiment 2, forage peas and field beans were harvested at 14 weeks after sowing and ensiled as round‐bale silage, either untreated or treated with an inoculant. The yields of the crops were similar, and the only difference in the chemical composition of the wilted forages was a higher CP concentration in the field beans. However, after the ensiling process was complete, the forage pea silages were found to have significantly higher DM, WSC, starch and butyric acid concentrations compared with the field bean silages, and lower ammonia‐N, CP, ADF, acetic acid and lactic acid concentrations. Inoculation was found to increase the lactic acid concentration and reduce the pH and ammonia‐N and acetic acid concentrations of the silages. Each of the silages produced in Experiment 2 was offered to six Suffolk crossbred wether lambs, aged 10 months. Voluntary DM intakes were similar on all treatments, despite the apparent digestibility of the forage pea silages being significantly higher than that of the field bean silages. Nitrogen retention was higher for lambs offered forage pea silage. Application of an inoculant was found to have a negative effect on the amount of N retained, indicating the necessity for more detailed investigations into proteolytic activity within these crops during the fermentation process.