High‐cut harvesting of maize stover and genotype choice can provide improved feed for ruminants and stubble for conservation agriculture

Dejene, Mesfin; Dixon, R. M.; Walsh, Kerry B.; McNeill, David; Seyoum, Solomon; Duncan, Alan J.

doi:10.1002/agj2.20874

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 78 publications

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“…High ADIN/TN ratios are also likely to occur in C 4 crop residues (e.g. maize, sorghum and millet stovers), which are important feedstuffs in many African crop-livestock systems (Duncan et al 2013(Duncan et al , 2016Dejene et al 2022). Senesced tropical pastures or crop residues are usually deficient in TN for ruminants (Winks et al 1979;Hennessy and Williamson 1990;Kennedy et al 1992;Coates and Dixon 2008;Dixon and Coates 2010).…”

Section: Importance Of Indigestible N In Forages For Ruminant Product...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Availability to ruminants of nitrogen in senesced C

Dixon

Mayer²

2022

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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Context. Nutritional standards usually assume that ~10% of the total nitrogen (TN) in forages is indigestible and hence not available to the ruminant. Senesced tropical C 4 grasses often contain TN concentrations that are marginal or deficient to meet the nutrient requirements of ruminants, and low TN availability will exacerbate N deficiencies. Aim. The aim of the study was to estimate the availability (i.e. digestibility) to ruminants of TN in mature and senesced C 4 grasses, using data derived from previous experiments and published data. Methods. In Dataset 1, forages grown in subtropical or tropical environments, including C 4 (n = 143) and C 3 (n = 15) grasses, were analysed for parameters including TN, acid detergent fibre (ADF), and N insoluble in ADF solution (ADIN). ADIN was used as a measure of unavailable TN. The Dataset 2 analysis included published measurements of TN and ADIN in C 4 (n = 187) and C 3 (n = 45) grasses. Key results. In Dataset 1, TN averaged 9.7 and ADIN 1.45 g N/kg diet DM in C 4 grasses. ADIN concentration could be predicted from TN and ADF concentrations by multiple regression (R 2 = 0.50; P < 0.001). The ratio ADIN/TN averaged 170 g/kg and increased exponentially with increasing ADF concentration (R 2 = 0.43; P < 0.001). Also, ADIN/TN was inversely related to TN concentration and DM digestibility. In C 4 grasses containing >400 and >500 g ADF/kg DM, ADIN/TN averaged 190 and 230 g/kg, respectively, and in those containing <10 g TN/kg DM, ADIN/TN averaged 194 g/kg. In these low-quality C 4 grasses only ~80%, and as little as ~50%, of TN was available to ruminants. Dataset 2 produced similar results, although C 4 grass forages were generally of higher quality, most having been harvested during vegetative growth. ADIN/ TN was much lower in C 3 grasses (89 g/kg). Conclusions. In senesced, low-quality C 4 grasses containing >400 g ADF, <10 g TN or <530 g digestible DM/kg, the proportion of TN available to ruminants is substantially lower than that assumed for forages in general. Implications. Low availability of TN in many senesced C 4 grasses needs to be considered when evaluating the adequacy of dietary TN for ruminants grazing senesced tropical grass pastures.

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Section: Importance Of Indigestible N In Forages For Ruminant Product...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Availability to ruminants of nitrogen in senesced C

Dixon

Mayer²

2022

Anim. Prod. Sci.

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Fodder development in sub‐Saharan Africa: An introduction

et al. 2021

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Livestock systems play a key role in the sustainability and livelihood of sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). The human population in SSA is rapidly increasing, resulting in steady growth in the demand for animal‐sourced foods (ASF). Most current agricultural production practices in SSA coupled with poor management, health challenges and indigenous breeds, result in low crop and livestock productivity and often do not meet local demands. To improve productivity, locally adapted technologies and management practices need to be widely adopted. This special issue is a collection of contributions addressing major aspects of crop and livestock systems in SSA. Key topics addressed include the present status of feedstuff availability in SSA, improved fodder production and utilization practices, new cultivars, soil management, forage conservation, use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) tools to measure forage nutritive value, and social and economic aspects of crop‐livestock systems. The overarching goal of this special issue is to provide insightful information that can be used for the future development and implementation of efficient and sustainable integrated systems. SSA will have a key role in feeding itself and the world in the future, and livestock systems and cropping practices are crucial components of this process.

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Feed Gaps Among Cattle Keepers in Semiarid and Arid Southern African Regions: A Case Study in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

Lamega,

Klinck,

Komainda

et al. 2024

Ecological Studies

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Rural livestock farmers in the semiarid and arid areas of Southern Africa face large uncertainties due to a high intraseasonal and year-to-year variability in rainfall patterns which affect forage resources. Creating resilient communal livestock farming systems will require the understanding of feed gaps as perceived by livestock farmers as well as an assessment of available feed resources. In this chapter, we estimated the annual feed balance (i.e., forage supply minus forage demand) based on statistical data and described the perception of feed gaps across 122 livestock farmers in Limpopo province, South Africa. In addition, we analyzed available feed and soil resources during the dry season across land use types. We found a negative feed balance, an indication of feed gaps for livestock farms, mainly during the winter and spring seasons. Farmers perceived a combination of factors such as drought, infrastructure, capital, and access to land as the major causes of feed gaps. Furthermore, our analyses of feed and soil resources point to low crude protein (e.g., ~5% in rangeland biomass) and poor soil nutrient contents (e.g., %N < 0.1). To support rural policies and improve the performance of communal livestock systems, there is a need to combine the most appropriate site-specific options in optimizing the feed supply.

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High‐cut harvesting of maize stover and genotype choice can provide improved feed for ruminants and stubble for conservation agriculture

Cited by 5 publications

References 78 publications

Availability to ruminants of nitrogen in senesced C

Availability to ruminants of nitrogen in senesced C

Fodder development in sub‐Saharan Africa: An introduction

Feed Gaps Among Cattle Keepers in Semiarid and Arid Southern African Regions: A Case Study in the Limpopo Province, South Africa

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