Some aspects of the utilization of tropical forages. I. Green elephant grass at various stages of growth

Butterworth, M. H.

doi:10.1017/s0021859600083970

Cited by 14 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…As far as I am aware no critical comparisons have been made between sheep and cattle, or between different sizes of sheep, grazing or eating sub-tropical herbage. However, where herbage has been offered ad lib., sheep have shown a considerable ability to select the higher quality fraction (5). Whilst in Rhodesia I observed sheep in June eating green shoots growing from the stems of mature dry herbage.…”

Section: S0 Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Problems of Livestock Production From Semi‐arid Grasslands in the Tropics*

Topps

1969

Grass and Forage Science

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Herbage of very low quality forms the main diet of ruminants on the semi‐arid grasslands in the tropics for several months of the year. The grasses available have a high content of dry matter and crude fibre, a low digestibility and a very low crudeprotein content. Ruminants are unable to eat enough herbage to supply the nutrients required for their body functions and it is this inadequacy which is the major factor limiting animal production from semi‐arid grasslands in the tropics.

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Section: S0 Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritional Problems of Livestock Production From Semi‐arid Grasslands in the Tropics*

Topps

1969

Grass and Forage Science

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“…Several studies have documented the decline of forage quality with age for grasses and legumes (Butterworth 1965, Johnson and Pezo 1975, and Wilson and 't Mannetje 1978. The amount of live leaf or stem which is transferred to dead varies as a function of the severity of the freeze.…”

Section: Model Functionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A forage dynamics model for use in range or pasture environments

Blackburn

Kothmann

1989

Grass and Forage Science

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A deterministic model that simulates forage dynamics is described and validation results presented. The model simulates different species of grasses and forbs for a production year and provides the necessary input for a diet selection model. The model does not simulate growth, but does simulate the accumulation of live leaf and stem, the senescence of live biomass, and its transfer to dead mass using growth rates for leaf and stem of each species, which are specified for the model. Using such an approach specific types of years can be simulated. Plant components in the model include live leaf and stem, dead leaf and stem, and old dead leaf and stem which were produced during the previous growing season. These plant components were chosen because of their importance in the diet selection process and their differences in forage quality. Plant species which the model was validated against were Cynodon dactylon, Avena sativa. Schizachyrium scoparium and Paspalum plicatulum. Validation results indicated that with adjustment to input growth rates, live biomass could be adequately simulated. Deviations between measured and simulated dead components were observed for S. scopariumand P. plicatulum.High values observed for dead stem early in the trial resulted from lack of separation of dead and old dead stem material in the field sampling. Variations in dead forage throughout the season were caused by unexplained sources of variation. This indicated a need for field research to better quantify the dynamics of dead biomass. The model meets its goal of simulating biomass dynamics and forage quality of plant parts and it provides a suitable forage base to interface with diet selection and animal simulation models.

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“…Since the forage quality in napiergrass is easily deteriorated if the cutting interval is extended (Ishii et al . 1994), advisable cutting managements for the interval and height were precisely determined (Oyenuga 1959; Butterworth 1965; Yasue et al . 1976; Ferraris and Sinclair 1979; Ghobrial et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1997; Sunusi et al . 1997) through the change in leaf blade percentage (Ishii 1991), crude protein content and digestibility (Oyenuga 1959; Butterworth 1965; Mislevy et al . 1989; Tanaka et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dry matter production and in vitro dry matter digestibility of tillers among napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) varieties

Ishii

Yamaguchi²,

Idota

2005

Grassland Science

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Dry matter production and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of tillers in napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) were compared in twice‐cut field‐grown plants among three varieties with variable plant types, that is, Wruk wona of the tiller weight type, Taiwan A146 of the tiller number type and Merkeron of the intermediate type. The effect of the late July and the early September first cutting dates was also compared. Changes in the length and dry matter weight (DMW) of each tiller were investigated every month with some canopy structural characteristics and the IVDMD of the leaf blade (LB) and stem with leaf sheath (ST) of the harvested sample were determined at both the first cutting and the second cutting in early November. Annual total of herbage dry matter yield (HDMY) and in vitro digestible dry matter yield were the highest in Wruk wona, followed by Taiwan A146 and Merkeron in both cutting dates and the effect of the first cutting date on HDMY was dependent on plant type. The first cutting for the tiller weight type of Wruk wona should be favorable in early September due to the highest first‐cut HDMY, derived from the vigorous growth in each tiller. For the tiller number type of Taiwan A146, cutting was favorable in late July, due to the highest second‐cut HDMY by the largest number of regrown tiller. The DM production at the first and second cuttings positively correlated with leaf area development, mediated by the emerged individual leaf area on the tillers at the first cutting and by the tiller number on which several leaves attached at the second cutting. The IVDMD tended to be negatively related with DMW in both LB and ST of each tiller in each variety and this tendency reduced the varietal difference in IVDDMY, compared with that in HDMY.

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Some aspects of the utilization of tropical forages. I. Green elephant grass at various stages of growth

Cited by 14 publications

References 21 publications

Nutritional Problems of Livestock Production From Semi‐arid Grasslands in the Tropics*

Nutritional Problems of Livestock Production From Semi‐arid Grasslands in the Tropics*

A forage dynamics model for use in range or pasture environments

Dry matter production and in vitro dry matter digestibility of tillers among napiergrass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) varieties

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