Genetic variation in the feeding value of alfalfa genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows

Émile, J. C.; Mauries, M.; Allard, G.; Guy, Pierre

doi:10.1051/agro:19970205

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 11 publications

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“…Lucerne (alias alfalfa, Medicago sativa L.) forage is renowned for its high nutritive value. Nonetheless, improved forage quality is increasingly important as a breeding goal, to match the requirements of genetically improved, increasingly high‐performing dairy and beef cattle (Annicchiarico, Barrett, Brummer, Julier, & Marshall, ; Émile, Mauries, Allard, & Guy, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Pecetti

Annicchiarico

Scotti

et al. 2016

Grass and Forage Science

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Breeding for enhanced quality in lucerne (Medicago sativa) frequently involves selection for higher leaf‐to‐stem ratio, multifoliolate leaves or short‐internode stems. Three populations selected for such alternative morphologies and a reference cultivar were evaluated for forage yield, leaf‐to‐stem ratio and protein and fibre concentrations in leaves, stems and whole plants. Four managed environments were obtained by combining two stress levels (moderate or nil) with two sowing times. The population selected for high leaf‐to‐stem ratio, as well as the short‐internode population, had highest leaf‐to‐stem ratio (1.27) across six harvests in two non‐stress environments. The latter population had higher stem protein (12.9%) and lower stem neutral‐detergent fibre (NDF) concentration (58.7%) than other populations. The multifoliolate population had intermediate quality, showing low expression of the multifoliolate trait (14.0% across four environments), particularly under stress (10.5%). The autumn‐sown, fully irrigated environment had, on average, highest dry‐matter yield (4.19 t ha−1) and lowest leaf‐to‐stem ratio (0.74). Drought‐stressed environments had lower plant NDF (−12.3% on average) and leaf protein (−9.7%), and higher stem protein (+8.6%) than fully irrigated environments. The results suggested that environmental effects might have greater impact on quality than genetic effects, even for a population set including material selected for quality‐driven morphology.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Pecetti

Annicchiarico

Scotti

et al. 2016

Grass and Forage Science

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Phenotypic variation for in sacco dry matter and fibre degradation kinetics in lucerne

Julier¹,

Émile²,

Lila³

et al. 2001

Aust. J. Agric. Res.

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Energy content is an important criterion for evaluation in lucerne breeding. The in sacco method was used to investigate the phenotypic variation in the kinetics of degradation of dry matter and fibre for 15 lucerne cultivars grown in one location, and to compare these kinetic parameters with laboratory analyses of dry matter solubility, fibre content (NDF, neutral detergent fibre), and fibre solubility. Bags containing forage samples were incubated for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h in 3 fistulated Holstein cows. Dry matter and NDF degradation curves were modelled with a sigmoid curve with 3 parameters. Phenotypic variations were observed for dry matter and NDF disappearance at each time interval, and for the parameters of the degradation kinetics. For both dry matter and NDF, the totally degraded fraction was correlated with the solubility measured by wet chemistry, but the rate of degradation of the slowly degraded fraction was not correlated with chemical analyses. The effect of the variations in the parameters of dry matter and fibre degradation on ruminant performance needs to be studied further.

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Strategies of plant breeding for improved rumen function

Kingston‐Smith

Thomas

2003

Annals of Applied Biology

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Kingston-Smith, A. H., Thomas, H. M. (2003). Strategies of plant breeding for improved rumen function. ? Annals of Applied Biology, 142, (1), 13-24. Sponsorship: BBSRC; DEFRAIn general, breeding programmes directed at the improvement of forage have concentrated on easily measurable phenotypes such as yield, digestibility, resistance to lodging, etc. Selection programmes have improved forage production but historically have addressed relatively few quality considerations. In addition, selection for quality has been limited by availability of suitable analytical techniques. With the current emphasis on quality rather than quantity and the desire by the public for greater understanding about where their food comes from, quality considerations should be a greater target in future breeding programmes. This review briefly covers previous improvements in quality of grazed and silage forages and considers how new technologies might be employed to realise targets for future improvements. In particular we address the concept that interactions between rumen micro-organisms and ingested plant material in the rumen are not static but are in fact dynamic. This has implications for post-ingestion biology and feed utilisation.Peer reviewe

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Genetic variation in the feeding value of alfalfa genotypes evaluated from experiments with dairy cows

Cited by 4 publications

References 11 publications

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Effects of plant architecture and drought stress level on lucerne forage quality

Phenotypic variation for in sacco dry matter and fibre degradation kinetics in lucerne

Strategies of plant breeding for improved rumen function

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