Production of irrigated Trifolium repens L. under a cutting regime in the subtropical region of Gauteng,South Africa

Abstract

The productivity of Trifolium repens L. cv. Ladino, under irrigation in the subtropical region of Gauteng, South Africa, is unknown. The performance of T. repens was determined over five years (1981/1982 to 1985/1986), at two defoliation frequencies, four levels of nitrogen (0, 400, 800 and 1 600 kg N ha^?1 ‐ total applied over five years), and either the removal or recycling of harvested material. Frequent, compared to infrequent defoliation, resulted in higher dry matter (DM) yields from the second year onwards. Dry matter yields were positively affected by the recycling of material, compared to no recycling. A mean DM yield of 191 ha^?1 in the first year and 12 t ha^?1 in the final year, was obtained. The highest DM yields occurred during October for all years and lowest DM yields from January to March. The first and final year showed similar peaks (late October) and troughs (March till April). Crude protein (CP) content of the herbage was influenced more by frequency of defoliation than recycling of material, where the highest CP content in any year was obtained from frequent defoliation. Nitrogen fertiliser applied up to a total of 1 600 kg N ha^?1 over five years had no effect on either DM yield or crude protein content. This study has shown that T. repens could be a productive pasture for at least five years in the subtropical region of Gauteng, South Africa. Productivity and quality of T. repens were enhanced by a defoliation interval of less than five weeks and when soil high fertility was maintained by recycled plant material.     

Intake of Salt Cedar by Two Different Breeds of Sheep

Salt cedar (Tamarix spp.) readily invades and dominates riparian areas and lake basins throughout the western United States. Traditional control efforts (chemical and mechanical control) are expensive and provide limited long-term control. The salt cedar leaf beetle (Diorhabda elongata) provides a method of biological control through reduction in cover. However, population establishment of leaf beetles in some locations is often difficult because of environmental conditions. In previous research, goats readily consumed salt cedar, offering an alternative method of reducing salt cedar cover. For this study, we determined if sheep would consume salt cedar and consume a similar amount as goats. Twelve Rambouillet and 12 Suffolks lambs were fed salt cedar once daily (Trial 1) and three times daily (Trial 2). Intake of salt cedar by sheep was compared between breeds and with intake of salt cedar by goats (n = 10). Salt cedar was fed once a day in Trial 1 for 30 min over 15 d. Intake was recorded daily for individual animals. In Trial 2, salt cedar was offered three times daily for 13 d with intake recorded. There were no differences (P > 0.05) between breeds of sheep. In addition, sheep consumed more salt cedar than goats except on the last day of the study. When salt cedar was offered three times daily, both breeds of sheep increased intake and gained weight over the 13 d of feeding in Trial 2. By the end of the study, intake appeared to still be increasing. Collectively, these results illustrate that both Rambouillet and Suffolk sheep will consume a similar amount of salt cedar as goats and will provide another species of livestock that can be potentially used to reduce salt cedar cover.     

草坪草屑的加工与利用

我国每年修剪草坪产生大量的草坪草屑,对草坪草屑的加工利用,可以对我国能源、饲料、肥料及蛋白资源的短缺起到一定的缓解作用,因此如何对草坪草屑进行合理利用已成为一项重要的研究课题。本文综述了草坪草屑能源化、饲料化、肥料化和深加工4种利用方式,详细介绍了草坪草屑在发酵生产能源、饲喂家畜、堆肥还坪以及加工叶蛋白等方面的研究进展,指出禾本科草坪草屑和豆科草坪草屑应采用不同的处理方式,对各加工方式的投入和产出也应进行进一步的量化核算,同时总结并展望了草坪草屑利用方式的发展前景。     

Analyses of factors affecting dry matter intake of lactating dairy cows

An experiment was conducted to analyze feed, climate and animal factors affecting dry matter intake (DMI) in lactating dairy cows. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows, with parity from 1 to 6, were assigned to a feeding trial for 2 years, comprising 31 lactations. The animals were fed Italian ryegrass silage, oat hay, alfalfa hay, beet pulp and three types of concentrate. The data, pooled and classified by stage of lactation, season of lactation and parity were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression to determine the nature and extent of factors affecting DMI. A total of 45 prediction equations for DMI were derived. Energy‐corrected milk yield or milk yield was selected as the primary factor of DMI in all the equations in which the ratio of contribution (R²) varied from 0.26 to 0.67. The dietary concentration of organic cell wall, crude fiber, crude protein, organic b fraction, forage to concentrate ratio, average ambient temperature and temperature–humidity index were selected as the secondary factors affecting DMI for pooled data, late lactation (251–350 days of lactation), summer (June–August), spring (March–May), ≥4th lactation, autumn (September–November) and 3rd lactation, respectively, and improved R² up to 0.77. Except for an impact of bodyweight in several equations, feed and climatic factors significantly improved prediction equations effectively for data classified in different ways. To estimate DMI accurately in lactating dairy cows, feed and climatic factors should be considered for specific conditions.     

Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions

Genetic parameters of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated on the first generation data of a selection experiment aimed at improving piglet survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 5293 piglets for survival at birth, at day one after birth and during the entire nursing period, as well as individual birth weight and litter size, were recorded in an outdoor production system. Genetic effects of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included as fixed effects selection group, parity, gender, fostering, gestation length and month of farrowing and, alternatively, an adjustment for litter size. Direct genetic effects (i.e. the piglet's genetic potential) for piglet survival and birth weight were estimated separately, whereas maternal genetic and environmental effects could only be estimated for the given data structure in a combined litter effect. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth, at first day after birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.08, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.20, respectively. Genetic correlations among survival traits were in the range of 0.29 to 0.40 and indicate that these traits were mainly attributable to different genetic effects. Genetic correlations between direct effects of survival traits and birth weight ranged between 0.18 and 0.23 and were reduced when weights of stillborn piglets were omitted in the analysis or the traits were adjusted for litter size. The magnitudes of direct genetic effects of survival traits are substantially higher than estimates in the literature, which may indicate that these traits have a higher genetic influence under outdoor conditions. The use of birth weight in the multiple trait estimation provided important information for the estimation of survival traits due to its favourable genetic correlations with survival, its high heritability and its high information content as a continuously measured trait.     

不同纤维原料对肉鸡组织器官发育及胃肠道pH的影响

文章旨在研究不同纤维原料对肉鸡组织器官发育及胃肠道pH的影响。试验选择初始体重为(41.25±1.58)g的1日龄肉仔鸡320只,随机分成4组,每组4个重复,每个重复20只,试验共进行8 d。试验共设计4种日粮,对照组饲喂低纤维水平日粮(中性洗涤纤维和酸性洗涤纤维含量分别是37和16 g/kg),其他3组分别在对照组日粮中添加30 g/kg纤维素、甜菜粕和燕麦皮(添加量等量替代海泡石)。甜菜粕组肉鸡胃肠道相对重量显著高于对照组和纤维素组(P <0.05),而燕麦皮组显著高于对照组和纤维素组(P <0.05)。燕麦皮组肉鸡肌胃相对重量显著高于甜菜粕组(P <0.05),而燕麦皮和甜菜粕组显著高于对照组和纤维素组(P <0.05)。与对照组相比,甜菜粕较对照组显著提高了肌胃内容物相对重量(P <0.05)。与纤维素和燕麦皮组相比,甜菜粕组显著提高了嗉囊pH(P <0.05),降低了腺胃pH(P <0.05)。甜菜粕和燕麦皮组肌胃pH显著低于纤维素和对照组(P <0.05)。甜菜粕组空肠、梅克尔憩室和回肠pH显著高于对照组和燕麦皮组(P <0.05),而纤维素组PH最低(P <0.05)。燕麦皮和纤维素组结肠pH显著低于对照组(P <0.05)。日粮添加甜菜粕和燕麦皮可以提高肉鸡肌胃活力,降低胃肠道前段的pH,但对十二指肠pH无显著影响。燕麦皮对内容物pH和肌胃重量的影响与其具有较高的粒度平均直径有关,甜菜粕的作用主要与其具有较高的系水力和膨胀度有关。     

桑树喷施磷酸二氢钾替代春季摘芯效果试验

通过试验得出，春期桑园喷施磷酸二氢钾不仅可以提高桑叶产量和实力利用率，还可以改善桑叶叶质。较春叶摘芯起到更好的效果。本文还提出了该药剂的实用喷施方法。     

山西不同居群白羊草的营养成分及瘤胃降解规律

为研究山西不同居群白羊草抽穗期的营养成分含量及干物质(DM)和粗蛋白质(CP)在绵羊瘤胃中的降解规律,以安装永久性瘘管的杜泊与本地羊杂交一代肉用绵公羊15只为试验动物,采用尼龙袋法对不同居群白羊草抽穗期的DM和CP的降解率及降解参数进行测定。结果表明,居群对白羊草的常规营养成分含量有较大的影响。其中,太谷居群具有最高的粗蛋白质(CP)含量和最低的中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)含量,其次是原平和沁源居群。不同居群白羊草的DM和CP的降解特性不同,其中,太谷和原平居群72 h的DM降解率最高,显著高于襄汾居群(P<0.05),太谷居群的DM有效降解率最高,达到46.39%,其次是原平和沁源居群;太谷和原平居群72 h同样有最高的CP降解率,显著高于降解率最低的芮城居群(P<0.05)。太谷居群的CP有效降解率最高,其次是方山和阳高居群,三者差异不显著(P>0.05)。由此可见,太谷居群DM和CP降解率最高,优于其他居群。     

刈割强度对伊犁绢蒿叶功能性状及构件的影响

以新疆荒漠草地典型植物种伊犁绢蒿(Seriphidiumt ransiliense)为研究对象,通过生长季内多次采样方法(每30d采样一次),比较不同刈割强度比叶面积、叶干物质含量的变化及相互关系,以及对茎叶比和地下生物量变化的影响,以揭示伊犁绢蒿叶片对刈割胁迫的最佳响应机制,为建立模型估算单位面积生物生产力提供理论依据,并试图得出一个既可合理利用又利于种群更新的刈割强度阈值。结果表明,比叶面积和叶干物质含量在刈割后初期各刈割强度间存在显著性差异(P<0.05),个别达极显著差异(P<0.01),恢复一段时间后,各刈割强度间差异不显著;适度的刈割强度可增大伊犁绢蒿SLA与LDMC之间的相关性;除对照(CK)外,C2处理处于较高水平,说明适度刈割有助于伊犁绢蒿生殖枝的产生及生长,C2这种刈割强度在实际生产利用上占绝对优势;伊犁绢蒿根系干重随着刈割强度增大而增加。