Alfalfa Grazing Research Articles

Rumen fermentation and histology in light lambs as affected by forage supply and lactation length

This study determined whether the rumen fermentation and histology traits may reflect the feeding strategy in light lambs (22–24kg). Thirty-two single Rasa Aragonesa lambs were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2×2 factorial design. The factors were the inclusion of forage in the diet (alfalfa grazing vs. concentrate-fed indoors) and lactation length (weaning at 13kg vs. suckling until slaughter). A multivariate canonical analysis discriminated individuals among feeding strategies. The main function differentiated weaned concentrate-fed lambs from the rest according to dorsal sac papillae height, ventral sac muscular layer thickness and the proportion of rumen valerate. The second function differentiated suckling concentrate-fed lambs from the rest according to plasma urea levels. Lactation length played an important role on rumen histology and protein utilization, especially in concentrate-fed lambs. Alfalfa grazing light lambs had similar rumen morphometric measures and fermentation characteristics, regardless of milk access.

Desempenho de vacas leiteiras em pastagem de alfafa suplementada com silagem de milho e concentrado e viabilidade econômica do sistema

Avaliou-se o efeito da substituição parcial de silagem de milho por pastagem de alfafa no desempenho de vacas leiteiras e na viabilidade econômica do sistema. Utilizaram-se 24 vacas da raça Holandesa, em estádio médio de lactação, em delineamento em blocos ao acaso. Os tratamentos foram: dieta à base de silagem de milho em confinamento, silagem de milho substituída parcialmente por pastejo restrito (PR) e pastejo irrestrito (PI) de alfafa. O sistema de pastejo foi rotacionado, e a quantidade de concentrado igual em todos os tratamentos. A massa de forragem foi de 2.338 e de 1.878kg de MS/ha, e a oferta de 1,8 e 4,2kg de MS/100kg de peso vivo, nos tratamentos PR e PI, respectivamente. A produção de leite não diferiu entre os tratamentos, cujas médias foram de 25,9; 25,8 e 25,2 litros por vaca por dia no confinamento, no PR e no PI, respectivamente. A produção diária de leite por área foi de 59,3L/ha no PR e de 63,0L/ha no PI, enquanto no confinamento foi de 45,7L/ha. A substituição parcial de silagem de milho por alfafa em pastejo não limitou o desempenho produtivo dos animais e mostrou-se economicamente vantajosa em relação ao confinamento.

Do alfalfa grazing and lactation length affect the digestive tract fill of light lambs?

This experiment tested the hypothesis that alfalfa-raised light lambs suckling their mothers until slaughter (22–24 kg) and having concentrate ad libitum may consume forage to achieve a similar performance to their weaned concentrate-fed counterparts. Thirty-two single Rasa Aragonesa lambs were assigned to one of four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design. The factors were the inclusion of forage in the diet (alfalfa grazing vs. concentrate-fed indoors) and lactation length (weaning at a target body-weight (BW) of 13 kg vs. suckling until slaughter). After slaughter, the digestive contents of each gastrointestinal compartment were weighed individually and the pH of the rumen and caecum contents was recorded. Samples of the reticulo-rumen, caecum and colon-rectum contents were collected for neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF) and lignin analysis. The empty BW was not affected by forage inclusion or suckling ( P > 0.05). The fresh reticulo-rumen and whole digestive tract contents (liquids + solids) were greater in weaned alfalfa-fed than in suckling alfalfa-fed lambs ( P < 0.05), but they were similar in concentrate-fed lambs ( P > 0.05). On a dry matter (DM) basis, these digestive contents did not differ between alfalfa and concentrate-fed lambs ( P > 0.05), but they were greater in weaned than in suckling lambs ( P < 0.01). Weaned alfalfa-fed lambs had greater ruminal and caecal pH values than the rest of treatments ( P < 0.05). The reticulo-rumen NDF content was greater in weaned alfalfa-fed than in suckling alfalfa-fed lambs ( P < 0.05), while it was similar in concentrate-fed lambs ( P > 0.05). The lowest reticulo-rumen ADF and lignin contents were observed in both groups of concentrate-fed lambs ( P < 0.05). The caecum and colon-rectum NDF contents did not differ among treatments ( P > 0.05). The caecum and colon-rectum ADF contents were greater in alfalfa-fed than in concentrate-fed lambs ( P < 0.05). According to digesta composition, weaned lambs raised on alfalfa consumed more forage than suckling lambs on these swards. Lactation length rather than forage supply was a major effect on the digestive tract fill capacity of light lambs.

Performance and dietary preferences of white-tailed deer grazing chicory, birdsfoot trefoil or alfalfa in north central Alberta.

Little information exists on the performance of deer on alternative forage species in northern temperate environments during summer and fall, the period of inherent maximum growth in deer. In performance and choice experiments, we compared live weight gain (g/kg(0.75)/day), absolute [kg/ha dry matter (DM)] and relative (% DM) herbage utilization, relative preference index (RPI) as well as plant community visitation of white-tailed deer grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) or chicory (Cichorium intybus) in north central Alberta, Canada. Herbage phytomass and quality was also measured on the grazed pastures. Alfalfa had higher dry matter yields and crude protein concentrations than chicory and trefoil. Chicory had lower neutral detergent fiber concentrations than the other forages. Tannin concentrations were greatest in birds foot trefoil (nearly 55 g/kg DM), well above those in the other forages (<5 g/kg DM). Live weight gain was similar among deer feeding within the paddocks seeded to birds foot trefoil and chicory, and more than two times higher (p < 0.05) than deer feeding in paddocks seeded to alfalfa. Deer spent more grazing time (about 40%) on chicory pastures than on alfalfa and birds foot trefoil pastures. RPI values were greatest for birds foot trefoil at 2.11, intermediate for chicory at 1.40, and lowest for alfalfa at <0.60. Absolute herbage utilization remained similar (p > 0.05) among the three forage species. In contrast, relative herbage utilization was greater from birds foot trefoil (52% DM) than chicory (40% DM) or alfalfa (25% DM). These results suggest that the use of alfalfa with other alternative forages may prove beneficial to deer production, rather than using alfalfa pasture alone.

Influence of corn silage supplementation before alfalfa grazing on ruminal environment in relation to the occurrence of frothy bloat in cattle

Changes in the ruminal environment of cattle supplemented with corn silage (CS) before alfalfa grazing, in relation to the occurrence of frothy bloat, were evaluated. Six ruminally fistulated heifers were used in a crossover design experiment for in situ determinations and as a source of rumen fluid for in vitro measurements. Alfalfa pasture was grazed at the vegetative stage in a rotational grazing system. Treatments were—C: no supplement; CS: 0.5 kg of CS dry matter/100 kg body weight. CS supplementation reduced (P<0.05) the frequency and severity of frothy bloat. From the sixth hour until the end of the incubation at 12 h, in vitro microbial gas production using alfalfa leaflets as substrate was lower in rumen fluids from CS supplemented heifers. Bacterial mass in the liquid phase of ruminal contents, and in situ microbial colonization of particles entering the rumen did not differ. Only at 4 h post-grazing was proteolysis reduced (P<0.05) for both treatments. The anti-bloat mechanisms of CS were not completely identified, however we confirmed that CS supplementation before alfalfa grazing is a reliable management practice to reduce frothy bloat.

Practical Measures for Reducing Risk of Alfalfa Bloat in Cattle

Frothy bloat in cattle is a serious problem and is difficult to manage under field conditions as it progresses rapidly from early signs of distension to acute distress. Scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada centres in Western Canada are committed to the development of bloat-free alfalfa grazing systems, which may require feed additives or supplements. As well, a new cultivar of alfalfa (AC Grazeland), selected for a low initial rate of digestion, will soon be available. In grazing trials the cultivar reduced the incidence of bloat by an average of 56% compared with the control cultivar (Beaver). Commonly accepted mineral mixes for the prevention of bloat were tested and found ineffective but we have confirmed that poloxalene (Bloatguard) is 100% effective if it is given intraruminally at the prescribed dose. However, under practical conditions, poloxalene can only be offered free choice and protection from bloat cannot be guaranteed. We have also shown that the water soluble polymer, Blocare 4511, when used in the water supply is 100% effective in bloat prevention. This product is not yet registered in North America. Other strategies for bloat prevention will be discussed, including the selection of growth stages and grazing schedules, and the reduction of risk by wilting alfalfa or combining it with tannin-containing forages. DOI:10.2458/azu_jrm_v54i4_majak

Practical measures for reducing risk of alfalfa bloat in cattle

Frothy bloat in cattle is a serious problem and is difficult to manage under field conditions as it progresses rapidly from early signs of distension to acute distress. Scientists at Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada centres in Western Canada are committed to the development of bloat-free alfalfa grazing systems, which may require feed additives or supplements. As well, a new cultivar of alfalfa (AC Grazeland), selected for a low initial rate of digestion, will soon be available. In grazing trials the cultivar reduced the incidence of bloat by an average of 56% compared with the control cultivar (Beaver). Commonly accepted mineral mixes for the prevention of bloat were tested and found ineffective but we have confirmed that poloxalene (Bloatguard®) is 100% effective if it is given intraruminally at the prescribed dose. However, under practical conditions, poloxalene can only be offered free choice and protection from bloat cannot be guaranteed. We have also shown that the water soluble polymer, Blocare® 4511, when used in the water supply is 100% effective in bloat prevention. This product is not yet registered in North America. Other strategies for bloat prevention will be discussed, including the selection of growth stages and grazing schedules, and the reduction of risk by wilting alfalfa or combining it with tannin-containing forages.

Bloat in cattle grazing alfalfa cultivars selected for a low initial rate of digestion: A review

The occurrence of frothy bloat limits the practice of alfalfa grazing in spite of the availability of strains bred specifically for pasture. Bloat is a chronic condition, endemic to cattle. Prophylactics and management techniques are available to reduce its incidence but they are expensive, difficult to administer, conflict with traditional grazing management regimens and do not eliminate bloat in all circumstances. A program to breed and evaluate a bloat-reduced strain of alfalfa was initiated in 1980 to overcome some of these limitations. A review of the results of grazing and feeding trials using alfalfas with low initial rates of digestion (LIRD) shows that this new strain reduces the incidence and severity of frothy bloat on pasture. Their effectiveness in controlling bloat was related to feeding or grazing management practices, the maturity of the plants and the season of use. Graziers may reduce the risk of occasional livestock losses from bloat by using LIRD cultivars, like AC Grazeland, or managing species/cultivar mixtures in ways that reduce the initial rate of digestion. Other bloat preventive strategies, including co-seeding with bloat-free legumes and using bloat-controlling prophylactics in combination with a LIRD alfalfa, are being investigated. Key words: Bloat, alfalfa, lucerne, legume, low initial rates of digestion, cattle, grazing

Body weight and tissue gain in lambs fed an all-concentrate diet and implanted with trenbolone acetate or grazed on alfalfa.

Targhee x Hampshire lambs (average BW 23 +/- 1 kg) were used in two experiments to determine the effects of finishing on concentrate with an anabolic implant or forage grazing after concentrate feeding on growth, organ and viscera weights, and carcass tissue accretion. In Exp. 1 and 2 lambs were penned by sex and assigned for slaughter at initial (23 kg), intermediate (37 kg), or end BW (ewes, 47.7; wethers 50.4 kg). From 23 to 37 kg BW, lambs were fed all-concentrate diets in drylot (DL) or grazed on alfalfa (ALF). Experiment 1 was a 2 x 2 factorial with 28 lambs; factors were wether vs ewe lambs and unimplanted vs DL implanted with trenbolone acetate-estradiol benzoate. There were no differences in organ and viscera weights due to implant status. However, ADG (P < .03) and lean gain (P < .02) were greater for implanted than for unimplanted wethers (507 vs 357 g and 1,314 vs 656 g, respectively). Ewes did not respond to the implant. Fat accretion was not affected by implantation. Experiment 2 was a 2 x 3 factorial with 42 lambs; factors were wether vs ewe lambs and drylot during growing and finishing phases (DL-DL) vs drylot during growing and alfalfa grazing during finishing (DL-ALF) vs alfalfa grazing during growing and finishing phases (ALF-ALF). In Exp. 2, ADG of DL-DL lambs was greater (P < .01) than ADG of DL-ALF or ALF-ALF lambs. Lambs on ALF-ALF had smaller (P < .05) livers and rumen/reticulum weights but heavier (P < .04) kidney, omasum, small and large intestine, and cecum weights than those on DL. In Exp. 2, DL-ALF and ALF-ALF lambs had overall hindsaddle lean gain equal to those on DL-DL with less mesenteric fat and 100 g less separable fat. Finishing lambs on alfalfa reduced fat accretion without decreasing lean accretion, whereas trenbolone acetate implants for lambs fed concentrate increased BW gain and lean accretion without affecting fat accretion.

Supplementation of midgestation swine grazing alfalfa

AbstractFor four years (1991–1994), gestating gilts rotationally grazing alfalfa were compared to gilts in a dry lot fed 1,800 g/d of a corn-soy diet (control). The dietary supplementation treatments for the grazing gilts were 1,260 g, 720 g, and 180 g of ground corn (70, 40, and 10% of the gilts' energy needs) plus 45 g of monosodium phosphate and 9 g of salt (sodium chloride) per day. All gilts were fed individually. In 1991 and 1992, the gilts were fed daily. In 1993 and 1994, the gilts were fed their weekly feed ration in three equal feedings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Alfalfa paddocks were grazed for one week with a stocking rate of 62 gilts/ha/wk. All gilts had rings in their noses to minimize rooting. For the 42-d mid-gestation trial, the weight gain of the control gilts did not differ from the gain of the grazing gilts daily fed 720 g corn (40%) (P&lt;.05). The interval feeding reduced gains compared to the daily feeding. Gilts daily fed 1,260 g corn/d (70%) gained more than the other grazing treatments (P&lt;.05). The gilts daily fed 180 g corn/d (10%) gained less than all other treatments (P&lt;.05) and had the greatest backfat loss (P&lt;.05) for the 42-d trial. No major trends were noted in number of pigs born per litter or pig birth weight. After one week of grazing, alfalfa height decreased 14.7 cm and DM content of the remaining alfalfa increased 9%. Each grazing season, the alfalfa stand decreased 3.8 plants/m2. Daily alfalfa intakes per gilt were calculated at 11.5 kg (3.2 kg DM) for 1991 and 1992, and increased to 16.3 kg (4.2 kg DM) for 1993 and 1994. These are composite intakes because all grazing gilts were commingled. Mid-gestation gilts rotationally grazing alfalfa need 720 g of corn per day plus phosphorus and salt to match weight gains of gestating gilts in a drylot fed 1,800 g/d of a corn-soy diet. Daily feeding, rather than interval feeding, resulted in greater weight gains and lower alfalfa intakes. The practice of grazing gestating sows has the advantages of no manure to haul, reduced purchased feed inputs, and inclusion of a soil-building crop like alfalfa in the crop rotation.

Growth and tissue accretion of lambs fed concentrate in drylot, grazed on alfalfa or ryegrass at weaning, or after backgrounding on ryegrass.

Weaned Targhee x Hampshire lambs (average BW 27.6 kg) were used to determine the effects of concentrate feeding, forage grazing, or finishing on concentrate after grazing upon growth and carcass tissue accretion. Lambs were assigned randomly and balanced by weight and sex to five replicated treatments (12 lambs/treatment): all-concentrate in drylot (DL); rotational grazing alfalfa (ALF); rotational grazing ryegrass (RG); RG for 62 d, then DL (RGDL); RG for 62 d, then ALF (RGALF). Lambs were slaughtered when fat thickness over the ribeye was estimated at 3.8 to 5.6 mm. Lamb growth and carcass measurements included ADG, accretion of bone, lean, and fat in the carcass, and final BW. Lambs on DL had the highest (P = .001) ADG, whereas lambs on RG treatments tended to have the lowest ADG and heaviest final BW. Compared with DL lambs, ALF lambs had lower (P < .05) ADG but comparable final BW. Lambs that grazed RG had more (P = .001) carcass lean weight than lambs fed in DL, but carcass lean weight of lambs grazed on ALF did not differ (P > .05) from that of lambs on the DL or RG treatment. Carcass fat was less (P = .001) for ALF lambs than for the DL, RGDL, or RGALF treatment group. Daily accretion of bone, lean, and fat was highest (P = .001) for DL. Daily accretion of lean and fat for the RG group was less (P = .001) than for the ALF group but did not differ (P > .05) from that of RGALF lambs. Lean:fat ratio in weight gain for DL lambs was less (P < .01) than ratios for the ALF and RG groups, which were similar to those for RGDL and RGALF lambs. When slaughtered at the same level of fat over the ribeye, DL-fed lambs had higher ADG and fewer days on test than grazed lambs. However, lambs finished or backgrounded on forage had high lean:fat tissue gain and a higher percentage of lean in their carcasses than DL-fed lambs.

Intensively managed pasture in the Great Lakes Basin: A future-oriented review

The contribution of pasture to agriculture in the Great Lakes Basin, and specifically in Ontario, is reviewed from both historical and futuristic perspectives. The ascendency of confinement-based ruminant agriculture is currently under challenge by environmental, societal, and market forces which may favor a less resource intensive approach to livestock feeding. Managing pasture for profitable ruminant productivity represents both opportunities and challenges for contemporary producers, as highlighted with examples from beef, dairy, and sheep research. The premise that research intended to benefit pasture enterprises must incorporate the grazing animal is supported by evidence from several sources, including the comparative performance of livestock grazing alfalfa versus other, less highly bred forage legumes. Emphasis is given to the predominant influence of climatic, soil, and managerial factors on pasture performance, through comparisons of sown and indigenous swards, as well as simple and complex mixtures. It is argued that the contribution of pasture to contemporary agriculture could be enhanced by focusing on alternative selection and management indices, such as stability of nutritional quality with both maturation and temperature, rather than quality per se, vertical profiles in nutrient bulk density in an intact sward, and herbage protein partitioning toward rumen bypass rather than rumen-degradable forms. Research in support of intensively managed pasture must effectively integrate grazing livestock, both as a vehicle to apply realistic stresses against which to test breeding materials and management practices, and as the ultimate indicator of biological and economic response. Key words: Pasture and grazing management, beef, dairy, sheep, alfalfa, bird's-foot trefoil, grass, herbage quality

Utilization of wheat stubble pastures by gestating ewes

A 4-month field trial was conducted with 48 mature Sardi ewes on the effects of stocking rate and supplementation on wheat stubble availability, biomass, chemical composition, dry matter (DM) intake and diet quality, and to test the effectiveness of supplementation in late gestation on ewes and lamb live weights (LW). Animals on treatments A (12 ewes ha −1) and B (24 ewes ha −1) grazed stubble alone for 10 weeks; animals on treatment C (24 ewes ha −1) received alfalfa hay at 0.5% LW (as-fed basis) after 4 weeks of grazing. At the start of the 11th week of grazing (last 5 to 6 weeks of gestation) alfalfa supplementation was discontinued and animals from each plot received a high (200 g cottonseed meal and 300 g whole barley) or a low (200 g cottonseed meal and 50 g whole barley) daily concentrate supplement. At lambing, all ewes were removed from the stubble and given an identical pen-fed ration of 1250 g chopped alfalfa hay, 400 g dried sugar beet pulp and 500 g whole barley. Stocking rate had no effect on biomass throughout the trial. Amount of wheat stubble and weeds did not differ up to the fourth week of grazing but declined sharply thereafter ( P< 0.05). Residual grain totally disappeared during the same initial period. Crude protein (CP) and fiber fractions of weed-free stubble were similar first but then CP decreased ( P<0.05) and fiber fractions increased ( P<0.05), except for acid detergent lignin which remained constant. Crude protein and ash content of esophageal extrusa samples decreased ( P<0.05) and neutral detergenber increased ( P<0.05) with increasing stocking rate. In vitro digestibility of extrusa and ewe DM intake tended to be lower at the higher stocking rate. Stocking rate had no effect on ewe performance on treatments A and C whereas animals on treatment B initially gained but then lost weight. Concentrate supplementation during the last 4 weeks of gestation tended to double LW gain of ewes on treatment A, compared to C. Lamb birth weight averaged 4.0 kg. Weight gains of A lambs were higher than of C lambs ( P<0.01), suggesting that ewes on treatment A had been fed adequately and produced enough milk for normal lamb growth rate, but ewes on B had not.

Yield and Regrowth Characteristics of Alfalfa Grazed with Sheep. II. Summer Grazing1

AbstractGrazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) in summer would provide high quality forage during periods of low rainfall when other forages are in short supply. ‘Arc’ alfalfa, grown on fine‐loamy, mixed, mesic Fluventic Dystrochrept at Blacksburg, VA, was grazed by sheep following two hay cuts in 1982 and 1983 with six treatments: (i) no grazing with hay being cut at 1/10 bloom; (ii), (iii), and (iv) grazing began approximately 14 days after second hay cut and continued for 2, 4, and 6 weeks, respectively; (v) grazing began at early bud stage and continued for 10 days in 1982 and 7 days in 1983; and (vi) grazing began at early bloom and continued for 7 days. Following grazing, hay was cut on each treatment if regrowth reached 1/10 bloom stage before killing frost. No grazing was imposed in 1984 and hay was harvested three times from plots from all six treatments. Forage remaining after grazing for 2, 4, or 6 weeks was higher in percent leaf, in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein, Ca, Mg, and P concentration, and was lower in cell wall constituents than after grazing at early bud or bloom. Grazing for 4 and 6 weeks precluded fall hay harvest and increased weeds. Alfalfa yield in 1984 was reduced by grazing except grazing at early bloom. Yield was 8.5, 7.3, 7.1, 6.7, 7.3, and 8.7 Mg ha−1 for the six treatments, respectively. Weed encroachment generally increased with increased grazing duration (GD). Grazing could decrease productivity, especially as GD is lengthened, but may be less detrimental than previously supposed.

Flexible Alfalfa Management: Early Spring Utilization1

Providing low‐cost high quality grazing for livestock early in the spring when pasture and hay are limited may increase body weights at economical prices. Current alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) varieties may be suitable for such grazing if either stands or yields are not greatly reduced by early spring harvests. To evaluate the possibilities of early spring alfalfa grazing, two severities of cutting to simulate grazing were imposed at several spring dates by removing one‐half the leaf area index (LAI) and all the LAI by cutting to a 5‐cm stubble height. Spring utilization dates, based on accumulating 1, 2, 3, and 4 LAI units, occurred on about 9 April, 27 April, 6 May, and 25 May, respectively. During the remainder of the season, harvesting hay at onetenth bloom was considered lenient management for recovery. The 9 April grazing cut, leaving about onehalf the LAI, enhanced the first hay yields as compared with removing nearly all the leaf area. However, at 6 May with an LAI of about 3, leaving one half the leaf area, resulted in lower yields and decreased quality of the following hay harvest as compared with a grazing cut at 5 cm which removed all leaf area. Regrowth from tall stubble remaining after the 6 May grazing cut generally orginated from branches at axillary buds which had smaller stems than those growing from crown buds. Early spring grazing cuts delayed the first hay harvest. This delay is desirable since favorable hay‐making weather is more likely later in the season. Number of regrowth days to one tenth bloom decreased between April and mid‐June and increased thereafter. Regrowth after early August cuts did not flower due to short days of late summer.Total season yields were similar for all treatments. Residual yields in subsequent years showed no detrimental effects due to date or severity of spring grazing cuts. Utilization of alfalfa in early srping by grazing and taking the first hay harvest about 3 weeks later than normal appears to be a feasible alternative system for flexible alfalfa management.

BLOAT INVESTIGATIONS: DENATURATION OF ALFALFA FRACTION II PROTEINS BY FOAMING

The effects of foaming on the solubility of alfalfa leaf proteins were reinvestigated. Foaming denatured and insolubilized the proteins of both fraction I and fraction II. Thus, contrary to previous reports, the proteins of both fractions seem responsible for bloat in cattle grazing alfalfa forage.

Bloat in Cattle. XIII. Efficacy of Molasses-Salt Blocks Containing Poloxalene in Control of Alfalfa Bloat

Five experiments were conducted to determine whether molasses-salt blocks containing the bloat preventive agent, poloxalene, might be used successfully to prevent alfalfa bloat in cattle. Rumen-fistulated identical twin Holstein cows, Angus×Holstein steers and heifers, Brown Swiss heifers, and lactating Brown Swiss cows were used. The molasses-salt blocks contained 66g poloxalene per kg block. The blocks were offered to cattle grazing alfalfa or fed freshly cut alfalfa. Block intakes varied from 0.23 to 0.44kg per animal per day in the five experiments. Intake was not related to body weight and seemed to be affected by weather and managerial factors. While intake fluctuated from day to day, minimum daily intakes were large enough to protect from severe alfalfa bloat when it occurred. Poloxalene block consumption lowered surface tension from 12 to 16 dynes per cm below that of control animals. Surface tension may serve as a simple method to estimate poloxalene intake.

Effect of Various Energy Supplements on Gains, Yields and Carcass Grades of Lambs Grazing Alfalfa Pasture

Effect of Various Energy Supplements on Gains, Yields and Carcass Grades of Lambs Grazing Alfalfa Pasture