Forage Yield and Quality of Dryland Grasses and Legumes

White, Larry M.; Wight, J.R.

doi:10.2307/3899144

Cited by 31 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Studies of anthropogenic grasslands show such a relationship does exist. White et al conducted a study of grass and leguminous forage, which indicated forage CP content decreased by 0.80%-1.25% and digestible dry matter also decreased gradually with the increase of forage quantity by 1000 kg/ha [50]. Such trends also exist for both cool-and warm-season forage types [32].…”

Section: Relationship Between Forage Quality and Quantitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Large scale patterns of forage yield and quality across Chinese grasslands

Shi

et al. 2012

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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Understanding the patterns of forage quantity and quality and investigating the factors influencing these patterns are essential for the development of animal husbandry. However, there is very little field evidence focused on these issues at a large spatial scale. In the current study, we analyzed forage quantity and quality at 177 sites distributed in all the major grassland types across China, and explored the relationship between forage quantity and quality based on consistent sampling protocols. We also investigated potential factors influencing forage quality patterns across China. Our study indicates the Tibetan grasslands had both higher quantity and quality forage than the Inner Mongolian grasslands, and alpine meadow had the best quantity and quality forage because of the meadow's high productivity and the crude protein and nitrogen free extract content of the meadow forage. For the main vegetation formations, Kobresia tibetica meadows and Achnatherum splendens steppes had the highest quantity, while Kobresia pygmaea meadows and Kobresia humilis meadows had the best quality. We also found that although environmental factors, such as temperature and soil fertility, could affect physiological processes and so influence forage quality, the large scale patterns of change were mainly a result of the differences in vegetation types. Finally, we reported a negative relationship between forage quantity and quality: higher forage quantity means more crude fiber but less ether extract and crude protein. These findings improve our understanding on the spatial patterns of forage quantity and quality, and provide solid evidence related to the future development of animal husbandry.

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Section: Relationship Between Forage Quality and Quantitymentioning

confidence: 98%

Large scale patterns of forage yield and quality across Chinese grasslands

Shi

et al. 2012

Chin. Sci. Bull.

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“…Berg and Hill (1989) reported similar trends occurring with orchardgrass. The nutritive value of grasses always appears inferior to alfalfa throughout the season (White and Wight 1984;Beauchemin 1991;Popp et al 1997a). The quality of grazed herbage or harvested forage can be influenced by variations in the botanical composition and season of use (Table 1).…”

Section: Forage Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This was because alfalfa improved nutrient quality and herbage availability and utilization of the pasture did not exceed 70% (Edlefsen et al 1960;Popp 1995;Popp et al 1997a). Herbage yield has been negatively correlated with herbage quality (White and Wight 1984;White 1986), but this negative relationship in pastures can be mitigated by using grazing management to control herbage availability and maturity and by the introduction of legumes such as alfalfa (Popp et al 1997a).…”

Section: Forage Qualitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhancing pasture productivity with alfalfa: A review

Popp¹,

McCaughey²,

Cohen³

et al. 2000

Can. J. Plant Sci.

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, W. 2000. Enhancing pasture productivity with alfalfa: A review. Can. J. Plant Sci. 80: 513-519. Alfalfa has been recognized for its superior yield and quality in seeded pastures. However, when grazing immature alfalfa there is a risk of animal losses due to frothy bloat in some ruminant livestock. Inclusion of at least 50% grass in the pasture mixture is commonly recommended to reduce the risk of bloat. Two decades of plant breeding have resulted in the release of AC Grazeland, an alfalfa cultivar that reduces the incidence of bloat. Other bloat control agents such as pluronic detergents and ionophores can also be of value. Development of grazing-tolerant alfalfa varieties is solving some of the problems associated with lack of persistence of alfalfa in mixed stands; however, they are not bloat-safe. Animal productivity commonly increases when alfalfa is included in pasture mixtures. Improvements in cattle rate of gain are observed when alfalfa contributes as little as 35% to the sward. Grazing management is the principal method for controlling pasture yield and quality as well as animal performance and bloat incidence. When grazing management is used to optimize pasture production and nutrient intake, yearling steers can gain as much as 1.5 kg head -1 d -1 and liveweight production ranging from 107 kg ha -1 (on dryland) to 1946 kg ha -1 (under irrigation) can be expected. Limiting utilization of alfalfa-based pasture to ≤70% may be more important for maximizing gain per head than managing herbage quality. La luzerne est reconnue pour son rendement éléve, tant en quantité qu'en qualité, dans les pâturages de semis. Toutefois quand on fait pâturer de la luzerne trop jeune, on court le risque de pertes d'animaux dues au météorisme chez certaines espèces de ruminants, c'est pourquoi on conseille généralement d'inclure au moins 50 % de graminées dans les mélanges à pâturage. Deux décennies d'amélioration génétique ont abouti à la mise au commerce de AC Grazeland, un cultivar de luzerne moins météorisant. Des substances antimétéorisme comme les détergents pluroniques et les ionophores, peuvent avoir une certaine efficacité. La sélection de variétés de luzerne tolérantes à la pâture règle quelques-uns des problèmes liés au manque de longévité de la luzerne en peuplement mixte, mais elle n'apporte aucune solution au problème du météorisme. La productivité animale augmente généralement lorsque la luzerne est incluse dans les associations à pâturage. Une proportion d'aussi peu que 35 % de luzerne dans la prairie provoque des améliorations du taux de gain des bestiaux. La conduite du pâturage demeure le principal moyen de manipuler le rendement et la qualité de l'herbe, de même que les performances zootechniques et les risques de météorisme. Lorsque la conduite du pâturage est utilisée pour optimiser la production d'herbe et l'absorption d' éléments nutritifs, des bouvillons d'un an peuvent prendre jusqu'à 1,5 kg par jour et par animal avec une production en vif allant de 107 kg ha -1 en culture sèche et à 1 946 kg ha -...

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“…Pasture yield may be affected by multiple factors such as grazing pressure, grazing systems, fertilizers, forage species and environmental conditions (White and Wight 1984;Ralphs et al 1990).…”

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confidence: 99%

Grazing system and stocking rate effects on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of alfalfa-grass pastures

Popp¹,

McCaughey²,

Cohen³

1997

Can. J. Anim. Sci.

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. 1997. Effect of grazing system and stocking rate on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of alfalfa-grass pastures. Can J. Anim. Sci. 77: 669-676. A 4-yr experiment was conducted (1991 to 1994) near Brandon, MB, to determine the effects of grazing system (continuous and rotational) and stocking rate [light (1.1 steers ha -1 ); heavy (2.2 steers ha -1 )] on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of an alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; approximately 70%), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem & Schult.; 25%) and Russian wild ryegrass [Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski; 5%] pasture. Grazing season length was shorter (P < 0.05) for cattle in continuously compared with rotationally stocked pastures in 1991, while in 1993 and 1994 it was shortest (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked continuously grazed pastures. Carrying capacity (steer days ha -1 ) was greater (P < 0.05) in heavily stocked rotationally grazed pastures compared with other treatments in 1991, 1993 and 1994 . In 1992, it was greater (P < 0.05) in heavy than light stocking rate treatments for both rotationally and continuously grazed pastures. Cattle usually gained more (P < 0.05) per day (kg d -1 ) and during the season (kg hd -1 ) at light than at heavy stocking rates, while total liveweight production (kg ha -1 ) was greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Forage production and disappearance did not differ (P > 0.05) within grazing systems and stocking rates from 1991 to 1993, but in 1994, production and disappearance were greater (P < 0.05) at heavy than at light stocking rates. Mean seasonal herbage mass available and carry-over were greater (P < 0.05) in lightly stocked pastures than heavily stocked pastures from 1991 to 1994. After the first year of grazing, the proportion of alfalfa increased (P < 0.05), while grasses declined (P < 0.05) within all grazing treatments. In subsequent years, a trend was observed, where alfalfa declined and grasses increased in all pastures, except those stocked heavily and grazed continuously, which by 1994 had the greatest (P < 0.05) percentage of alfalfa. As years progressed, increases (P < 0.05) in basal cover concurrent with declines in bare ground were recorded on all grazing treatments, while litter cover often did not differ (P > 0.05) within either grazing system or stocking rate, except in 1992, when basal cover was lowest (P < 0.05), while litter cover was greatest (P < 0.05) on lightly stocked continuously grazed pastures compared with other treatments. Stocking rates were a key factor to optimizing individual animal performance and/or gain per hectare on alfalfa grass pastures, however differences in the effect of continuous and rotational stocking on pasture productivity were minimal. . L'objet était d'établir les effets du système pastoral (pâturage continu ou tournant), du taux de chargement (léger 1,1 ou lourd 2,2 bouvillons par hectare) sur la productivité, sur la composition floristique et sur le recouvrement...

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Forage Yield and Quality of Dryland Grasses and Legumes

Cited by 31 publications

References 5 publications

Large scale patterns of forage yield and quality across Chinese grasslands

Large scale patterns of forage yield and quality across Chinese grasslands

Enhancing pasture productivity with alfalfa: A review

Grazing system and stocking rate effects on the productivity, botanical composition and soil surface characteristics of alfalfa-grass pastures

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