Effect of cereal-based concentrates on productivity of Holstein–Friesian cows grazing short-rotation ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or kikuyu (Pennesitum clandestinum) pastures

In this study, the effect of increasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet, on efficiency of feed utilisation, was determined when Holstein–Friesian cows grazed short-rotation ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) or kikuyu (Pennisetum clandestinum) pastures. The concentrates were energy-dense dairy pellets fed twice-a-day at milking and the roughage component was lucerne hay and the pasture.When cows grazed ryegrass, there was no effect on animal performance as the proportion of concentrate in the diet increased from 0.23 to 0.35 (4.75 to 7.50 kg concentrate/cow/day). The substitution rate of concentrates for pasture for the first 1.57 kg concentrate/cow/day fed was 0.58 but rose to 1.18 for the next 1.28 kg concentrate/cow/day.When cows grazed kikuyu, there was also no effect of increasing the proportion of concentrate in the diet on total dry matter intake (DMI) or milk production. However, there was a substantial increase in the in vivo digestibility of whole diet, pasture and acid detergent fibre (ADF) was observed when the proportion of concentrate in the diet increased from 0.08 to 0.25. However, there was a marked decline in pasture digestibility (72% to 64%), and more so in ADF digestibility (61.3% to 48.4%), as the proportion of concentrate in the diet increased further to 0.29 (5.52 kg/cow/day). The intake of kikuyu, when determined by difference between pre- and post-grazing pasture mass, was substantially underestimated compared to the use of the n-alkane technique, and this discrepancy increased as the pasture on offer increased.On both pasture types, the neutral detergent fibre intake, as a % of bodyweight varying from 1.6% to 2.2% for kikuyu and 1.5% to 1.6% for ryegrass was far above the values claimed of 1.2% to restrict intake.The results of this study highlight the limits to the amount of concentrate that can be fed on a typical Australian dairy farm where concentrates can only be fed twice-a-day at milking. The results also provide a more appropriate benchmark for fibre limitation in the ration when cows graze pasture, particularly poorer quality tropical grasses, and this value is well above that found in more intense feeding situations.     

Milk production, milk fatty acid composition and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content in dairy ewes raised on feedlot or grazing pasture

To evaluate milk production and milk fatty acid (FA) composition and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) content, 75 Sicilo-Sarde ewes were used on three dietary treatments during 89 days. Two groups were conducted on rotational grazing in separate pastures of green barley grass (GB group) or perennial ryegrass (RG group) and receiving daily 300 g of concentrate/ewe. A third group was conducted in feedlot (FL group) on oat hay and silage and receiving 500 g of the same concentrate per ewe per day. Milk production did not differ among GB and RG pasture treatments (617 ml/day) but it was higher (p < 0.01) than FL one (363 ml/day). Milk fat and protein content were higher for ewes in FL than for ewes raised on both pasture treatments (88.8 and 56.7 vs. 74.5 and 54 g/kg for fat and protein, respectively). However, fat and protein yields were higher for pasture groups than FL one. The palmitic, oleic, miristic, stearic, and caprinic acids were dominant for all regimens. Short-chain FA (C4:0–C10:0) did not differ among all treatments. The medium chain FA content was significantly higher in milk fat from FL group. Conversely, the long chain ones increased for grazing groups. Milk from pasture groups had a higher C18:3 proportion than that from FL sheep (4.5 vs. 2.7 g/1000 g). The CLA content was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for grazing groups than for FL one (7.3 and 10.3 for GB and RG, respectively, vs. 2.4 g/1000 g for FL). Pasture-based diets increased the concentrations of long-chain unsaturated FA and desirable FA in milk fat.     

Effects of body condition score at calving and feeding various types of concentrate supplements to grazing dairy cows on early lactation performance

The objective of the experiment reported here was to establish the effect of canola meal supplements of different protein degradability on the performance of grazing dairy cows with different body condition scores (BCS) in early lactation, and to compare this with feeding a cereal grain supplement instead. The experiment included a total of 72 cows in six treatments in a 2 ^* 3 factorial design, incorporating two BCS at calving (4.1 and 5.6 units on an 8-point scale), and three early lactation pelleted supplements. The three pelleted supplements were 100% wheat (wheat supplement), 50% wheat and 50% untreated mechanically extracted canola meal (a rumen degradable protein supplement), and 50% wheat and 50% canola meal that had been subjected to additional heat and pressure (a rumen undegradable protein supplement). It was hypothesised that fat cows would perform best with the treated canola meal supplement, which provided most rumen undegradable protein, whereas the type of protein would not be important for thin cows, and neither would the type of supplemental energy. Cows grazed pasture after calving at a daily pasture allowance of 35–40 kg DM/cow and were offered 6 kg concentrates each day. Cows were fed these diets for 92 days on average, from calving until three weeks into the mating period. Both canola meal-based supplements resulted in higher (P < 0.05) daily milk production than the wheat supplement (33.3 and 34.0 v. 30.5 kg/cow) in both thin and fat cows. Body condition score at calving positively (P < 0.05) affected average milk yield (31.6 v. 33.7 kg/cow), however, there was a time × BCS × supplement interaction whereby the fatter cows benefited from the use of either of the canola meal supplements for a longer period than did the thin cows. Average milk fat concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) where the canola meal supplements were fed (39.3 and 39.6 v. 35.6 g/kg), and in fat cows relative to thin cows (40.0 v. 36.3 g/kg). Serum urea concentrations were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in cows fed wheat than in those fed either of the canola meal supplements (3.1 v. 4.3 and 4.2 mmol/L). Serum β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were lowest (P < 0.05) where wheat pellets were fed, and highest (P < 0.05) where treated canola meal pellets were fed, and plasma glucose concentrations were highest with wheat and lowest with the treated canola meal pellets. Thus, the hypothesis was not supported by the results of this experiment.     

放牧强度对青海海北高寒矮嵩草草甸碳交换的影响

以禁牧、轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧4种不同放牧强度的高寒矮嵩草草甸为研究对象,分别于2014年和2015年植物生长季5～9月,使用LI-6400便携式光合仪和同化箱测定生态系统净CO_2交换(NEE)和生态系统呼吸(ER),并利用土壤温湿度自动记录仪测定土壤10cm处的温度和体积含水率,以研究放牧强度对青海海北高寒矮嵩草草甸碳交换的影响。结果表明:生长季5～9月,试验地10cm土壤温度的变化范围在7.21～13.23℃,随放牧强度增大而增大;体积含水率在19.68%～32.33%间波动,随放牧强度增大而减小。高寒草甸NEE在生长季表现出明显的"V"型变化,5月NEE最大,为1.43μmolCO_2/m^2·s,此时草地仍处于碳排放状态,7月最小(碳吸收速率最大),为-14.32μmolCO_2/m^2·s,吸收强度表现出随放牧强度增大而增大的趋势;ER呈倒"V"型变化规律,7月最大,为12.15μmolCO_2/m^2·s,放牧强度仅对7月的ER产生影响,其余月份4个样地差异均不显著。相关分析表明,NEE与土壤温度和绿体生物量极显著负相关,相关系数分别为-0.910和-0.559,与土壤湿度显著正相关,相关系数为0.559;ER与土壤温度和绿体生物量显著正相关,相关系数分别为0.824和0.453,与土壤有机碳含量极显著负相关,相关系数为-0.605,与土壤湿度、枯体生物量和全氮含量相关不显著。     

草地灌丛化成因及其对生态系统的影响研究进展

由于气候变化和人类活动的影响,草地生态系统正经历着剧烈变化,全球草地广泛发生了原生灌木或乔木的密度、盖度和生物量增加的现象。从草地灌丛化的特征及分布、形成机制和对草地生态系统的影响等三方面进行了阐述。放牧、气候变化等诸多因素驱动了草地灌丛化的发生,草地灌丛化过程不但改变了草地生态系统的生物多样性和外貌,而且改变了其结构和功能。灌丛营造了小气候环境,改变了种间关系,调节了土壤营养和物质循环。未来应结合遥感技术对灌丛化发生的面积进行估算,确定灌丛化驱动因素,并准确评价灌丛化草地的结构、功能和服务。     

中国北方放牧绵羊硒的营养状况和季节变化

通过对我国４省区１５个牧场３００只放牧绵羊血浆和粪硒含量的采集和分析发现，在全年的部分时间，甘肃省的各个牧场和新疆的巩乃斯羊场均存在着硒的供给不足。此种现象在夏季和秋季表现最为明显，而此时动物和牧草生长最快。此时若不给予适量的硒，很容易使动物产生硒缺乏。对羔羊尤其需要引起注意，即使在夏季草场放牧时，也需给羔羊补硒     

草食动物与草地植物多样性的互作关系研究进展

动物-植物互作关系一直是草地生态学研究的核心问题之一。在草地放牧系统中的动植物界面上,生物多样性的作用突出而敏感,因此,对动物与植物多样性的互作关系探讨,有益于深刻阐释放牧系统的稳定性与持久性机制。本文综述了有关草食动物对草地植物多样性的作用结果、影响因素、作用机制,以及植物多样性对草食动物生产性能、多度和多样性影响的研究现状,并就今后的研究方向提出几点建议:扩展动物多样性及不同动物组合对植物多样性的作用机制研究;加强有关植物多样性变化对草食动物、特别是大型草食性动物的反馈作用过程研究;加强对动物采食行为的深入理解,尤其是动物采食对植物多样性响应机制的认识;加强草食动物与植物多样性之间的动态互作关系研究,以及这种互作关系变化对草地生态系统过程及功能的影响研究。     

放牧强度对荒漠草原地区土壤有机碳及全氮含量的影响

根据植被种类组成、植被盖度以及枯枝落叶的积累量在内蒙古四子王旗的短花针茅草原样地设4个退化梯度,分别为对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧,研究了不同放牧强度对土壤有机碳和全氮含量的影响.结果表明:2007年土壤有机碳和全氮含量分别介于25.32～27.02g/kg、1.40～1.47g/kg之间,2008年分别介于25.22～27.20g/kg、1.55～1.62g/kg之间,2009年分别介于25.44～27.51g/kg、1.64～1.71g/kg之间;土壤表层(0～20cm)的有机碳和全氮含量随着放牧强度的增大而逐渐降低,重度放牧区显著低于不放牧区、轻度放牧区和中度放牧区;土壤C/N比逐年降低,不同放牧区间差异不显著.     

不同放牧强度下羊草草甸草原群落特征及多样性分析

研究放牧强度对群落植物多样性的影响对草原合理利用维持其群落稳定具有重要意义。通过不同放牧强度的比较试验,研究不同放牧强度下内蒙古呼伦贝尔温带草甸草原群落物种重要值的变化,并比较生产力和α 多样性指数的变化,分析生产力与多样性之间的关系,为制定合理的放牧率提供理论依据。结果表明:群落在中度放牧强度条件下能够维持较高的多样性;随着放牧强度的增加,伴生种二裂委陵菜(Potentilla bifuica)成为次优势种;如果持续过度放牧,羊草(Leymus chinensis(Trin.)Tzvel.)可能被二裂委陵菜和苔草(Carex siderosticta Hance)等杂类草代替,草场退化。     

母猪繁殖障碍治疗效果观察

利用西药冲洗子宫或子宫灌注、益母生化散与催情散拌料内服组成的“三联疗法”治疗母猪繁殖障碍,以激素疗法为对照组,评价“三联疗法”的治疗效果。结果表明,“三联疗法”的治愈率90．42％,疗程2 d～7 d,与对照组相比差异极显著（P ＜0．01）。“三联疗法”对母猪繁殖障碍具有较好的疗效,可以在临床上推广应用。