Variation of digestibility and intake by sheep of lucerne (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) hays cut at sunrise or sunset

Andueza, Donato; Delgado, I.; Muñoz, Fernando

doi:10.1017/s0021859611000542

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…In general, high AUC for CP fraction A suggests that, in terms of ruminant nutrition, the feeding of such forage legumes may lead to inefficient N utilization because CP fraction A is rapidly available in the rumen. One simple strategy for improving the N-use efficiency by ruminants can be to increase the contents of soluble carbohydrates in forages, such as delaying the cutting time from the morning to the evening, particularly during the autumn growth period, as confirmed for alfalfa hay by Andueza et al (2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in crude protein fractions of forage legumes during the spring growth and summer regrowth period

et al. 2012

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Only a few previous studies have analysed the crude protein (CP) fractions of the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System during the growth period of forage legumes. The objective of the present study was to investigate the changes in CP fractions during the spring growth and summer-autumn regrowth period of five forage legume species (alfalfa (also known as lucerne, Medicago sativa L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M.B.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) and white clover (Trifolium repens L.)) grown in binary mixtures with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and also in pure stands (two red clover cultivars). Additionally, the specific polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity was measured photometrically in the leaves of pure red clover swards. In both pure and mixed cropping, CP fraction A increased with advancing maturity, except for the legumes from mixed cropping in the summer-autumn growth period 2004 and 2005. The variation of CP fraction A was mostly positively related to the N yield and the amount of dinitrogen fixation. Although CP fraction A of pure red clover was negatively correlated with the specific PPO activity in the spring growth period, the specific PPO activity was less relevant for the variation of CP fraction A with respect to the whole growing season. CP fraction B generally made up the largest proportion of the CP. Pure red clover stands showed reducing amounts of CP fraction C during the growth period, whereas in legumes grown with ryegrass an increase was usually observed. Despite these differences, there was generally an increase of CP fraction C when the content of nonstructural carbohydrates decreased. Red clover and birdsfoot trefoil herbage contained the highest proportions of CP fraction C in the CP, regardless of growth period and year. In conclusion, red clover and birdsfoot trefoil had a more favourable CP composition for ruminant nutrition compared to the other legume species, and in red clover this could not be clearly attributed to the specific PPO activity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One simple strategy for improving the N-use efficiency by ruminants can be to increase the contents of soluble carbohydrates in forages, such as delaying the cutting time from the morning to the evening, particularly during the autumn growth period, as confirmed for alfalfa hay by Andueza et al . (2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in crude protein fractions of forage legumes during the spring growth and summer regrowth period

et al. 2012

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Diurnal grazing pattern: its physiological basis and strategic management

Gregorini¹

2012

Anim. Prod. Sci.

158

136

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Within a day, grazing decisions such as ‘when’ to begin, ‘which’ frequency and ‘how’ to distribute grazing events determine ruminants’ diurnal grazing pattern. Ruminants can have between three and five daily grazing events. The major grazing events occur in the early morning and late afternoon/early evening; the later grazing event is the longest and most significant in terms of herbage intake. This review first attempts to answer ‘why does this happen?’ and then to examine evidence for managing this pattern to improve animal production. Due to photosynthesis and transpiration during the day, herbage accumulates DM, sugars and essential fatty acids, which dilute fibre and protein contents and facilitate herbage particle breakdown during ingestion. Diurnal fluctuations in light intensity stimulate circadian release of neuropetides and hormones, providing the cue to start grazing and modulating ingestive-digestive behaviours that interact with the diurnal fluctuation in herbage feeding value. Grazing decisions depend on grazing environments, the current state of the animal, and on past and anticipated states of the animal. The dusk grazing event seems to be an adaptative feeding strategy to maximise daily energy acquisition, providing a steady release of nutrients over night. Hunger deceives ruminants and makes them graze at dawn, when herbage presents the lowest feeding value. Hunger, however, can be used to concentrate and intensify grazing events. Strategic management of these interactions emerges as the tool to alter the frequency, intensity and temporal distribution of diurnal grazing events, and thereby to increase and modulate nutrient supply to and productivity of grazing ruminants.

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Variation of digestibility and intake by sheep of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) hays cut at sunrise or sunset

Cited by 2 publications

References 24 publications

Changes in crude protein fractions of forage legumes during the spring growth and summer regrowth period

Changes in crude protein fractions of forage legumes during the spring growth and summer regrowth period

Diurnal grazing pattern: its physiological basis and strategic management

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