Nutritive Value of Desmanthus Associated With Kleingrass During the Establishment Year

Abstract

Seasonal variation in production and quality of warm-season grasses is a limitation for livestock productivity. The use of high quality forage legumes to aid in overcoming this problem can be a management alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrient content of kleingrass (Panicum coloratum L.)-bundleflower (Desmanthus sp.) mixtures during the establishment year. Plots were drilled at a 0.15 m row-spacing with kleingrass sown either alone or in association with Illinois bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis [Michx.] MacM.) or desmanthus (Desmanthus pubescens [L.] Willd), which was previously identified as Desmanthus virgatus. Spacings of 0.30, 0.60, and 0.90 m between rows of bundleflower were used. Plots were planted in April and nutritive value was determined on samples harvested at 60, 90, and 120 days after planting. Age reduced kleingrass crude protein (CP) and increased fiber concentration. The CP concentration of desmanthus leaves was greater than that of Illinois bundleflower; however, the CP on a whole-plant basis was greater in Illinois bundleflower. Associations had greater CP yield than did the kleingrass monoculture. The tannin content was higher in desmanthus than in Illinois bundleflower. In both legumes the leaves had the greatest tannin concentrations, with a mean of 2.1% and 1.69% in desmanthus and Illinois bundleflower, respectively. With the exception of calcium (Ca), mineral content declined with increased age in both legumes and the grass. Levels of potassium, sodium, copper, and manganese were greater in kleingrass than in the legumes, while the legumes had greater concentrations of Ca and magnesium (Mg). Phosphorus and zinc concentrations were similar for kleingrass and legumes. The legumes did not affect the nutrient content of kleingrass when established in association, and the high CP of both legumes and their high levels of Ca and Mg suggest that animals grazing kleingrass-desmanthus associations may benefit nutritionally. Resumen La variació n estacional de la producció n y calidad de los forrajes de verano se reconoce como uno de los factores que limitan la productividad de la las explotaciones ganaderas. El uso de leguminosas de alta calidad de forraje puede ser una alternativa de solució n a este problema. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar el contenido de nutrientes de las asociaciones del zacate klein (Panicum coloratum L.) con dos especies de Desmanthus durante el periodo de establecimiento. El trabajo se realizó cerca de College Station, Texas, por un periodo de dos añ os. Se prepararon parcelas para sembrar con una distancia entre surcos de 0.15 m, sembrando el pasto klein solo o en asociació n con Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx) MacM. ó D. Pubescens (L) Willd, este ultimo previamente identificado como Desmanthus virgatus. La distancia entre surcos establecidos con las leguminosas fue de 0.30, 0.60, y 0.90 m. Las parcelas se sembraron en Abril de cada añ o, y el contenido de nutrientes se evaluó tomando muestras a los 60, 90, y 120 días después de la...

Diet and Genetics Influence Beef Cattle Performance and Meat Quality Characteristics

“…Two varieties of Desmanthus, D. virgatus and D. leptophyllus, were found in old trial sites after 25 years of establishment on black cracking clay soil surviving droughts, floods, frost and commercial grazing [93]. Desmanthus is highly nutritious with at least 14% CP in whole plant and 22% in leaves [39,94]. Desmanthus is, therefore, a good legume choice for the clay soils of northern Australia [95,96].…”

In vitro assessment of ruminal fermentation, digestibility and methane production of three species of Desmanthus for application in northern Australian grazing systems

“…Compared with Leucaena leucocephala, Kanani et al (2006) showed reduced animal preference of D. bicornutus resulting in low liveweight gain. Although both species contain common secondary metabolites such as condensed tannins (CT; Gonzalez-V. et al 2005;Tan et al 2011) that mitigate pastoral CH 4 emissions in large (Grainger et al 2009) and small ruminant systems (Ramírez-Restrepo et al 2010), the toxic alkaloid mimosine is not present in Desmanthus spp. (Cook et al 2005).…”

Genetic diversity of Desmanthus sp accessions using ISSR markers and morphological traits

“…Although some studies have evaluated the response of Desmanthus species to the cut (Trujillo et al, 1996;Gonzalez-V et al, 2005;Diniz Neto et al, 2013), the cultivation of this plant in Northeast Brazil is non-existent. In the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Desmanthus sp occurs in different soil types, as well as different environmental characteristics (Queiroz, 2012).…”