Fescue Research Articles

ПРОДУКТИВНОСТЬ СЕЯНЫХ ЛУГОВ НАДПОЙМЕННОЙ ТЕРРАСЫ РЕКИ ЛЕНЫ

Productive capacity of soil in sown meadows of terrace above the flood-plain has changed during the period. Positive changes occurred in accumulation of organic matter in soil – increase in humus from 2.4 to 2.5 in depos- its and 3.5% in sown meadows. The content of nitrogen in humus has increased, it contributes to nitrogen accre- tion of humus substance in soil and protects colloids from washout of divalent cations, which have coagulating capacity. In soil of legumes and grasses, the mobile phosphorus content remains high, exchangeable potassium content – low. Aqueous suspension is alkaline 8% pH, total soluble salts – 0.08%. The herbage consists of 31% of alfalfa, up to 6–7% of brome, 14% of psathyrostachus, 50% of red fescue grass and introduced species of poa stepposa, the herbage productivity amounts to 1.8 t/ha. Metabolizable energy amounts to 12 GJ/ha, crude protein – 290 kg/ha. A lack of moisture in the summer leads to the intensive mineralization of organic remains, meadow grass roots. Organic matter in soil increases the content of humus in soil from 2.5 to 3.5%.

226 Serotonin stimulates relaxation in ovine saphenous vein precontracted with ergovaline

Abstract The predominant ergot alkaloid found in wild type endophyte-infected tall fescue grass is ergovaline. Ergovaline is a potent vasoconstrictor in livestock that consume it. Previous research has shown that ergovaline can bind serotonin (5-HT) receptors and blood vessels exposed to ergovaline become unresponsive to subsequent 5-HT exposure. Serotonin can stimulate vascular contraction or relaxation depending on the receptor subtype targeted. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate 5HT as vasorelaxant in the ovine saphenous artery and vein that were precontracted with ergovaline. Blood vessels were collected from mixed breed market rams (n = 7) at slaughter, cleaned of surrounding adipose and connective tissue, sliced into 2-mm cross-sections, and mounted in a multimyograph. Artery and vein cross-sections were equilibrated to 1 g tension in continuously gassed (95% O2/5% CO2) Krebs-Henseleit buffer (pH 7.4; 37.5 °C) for 90 min, precontracted with 1.0 μM ergovaline (in a tall fescue seed extract) for 30 min, exposed to increasing concentrations of 5-HT that ranged from 1 x 10-9 to 1 x 10-4 M for a 5-min interval. Response data were normalized to the 1.0 μM ergovaline response and were analyzed as a completely randomized design in SAS. The saphenous vein was larger in diameter blood vessel than the saphenous artery. Both vessel types contracted in response to exposure to 1 μM ergovaline. The saphenous artery had a much lower maximal response to ergovaline than did the vein (P < 0.05) that could be attributed to the size difference. The lateral saphenous vein relaxed to increasing concentrations of 5-HT (P < 0.05) with 87 % relaxation occurring by 1 x 10-6 M 5-HT. Conversely, the lateral saphenous artery contracted in response to increasing concentrations of 5-HT (P < 0.05) resulting in a 43% increase from the ergovaline response by the 1 x 10-4 M addition. This response did not become significant in the artery until 1 x 10-5 M 5-HT compared with 1 x 10-8 M for the vein. This resulted in a 50% effective concentration for 5-HT in the artery of 4.5 compared with 8.1 M for the vein (P < 0.05). The differing responses across vessels are likely a result of different receptor populations and this should be verified in future research. This is the first reported observation of stimulated relaxation of a blood vessel constricted ergovaline. Additional research is needed to understand the mechanism of how 5HT can be used to stimulate vasorelaxation in livestock suffering from ergot alkaloid-induced vasoconstriction.

Impact of four surfactants on the uptake of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by red fescue grass

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) pose great risks to human health and the ecosystem, necessitating effective remediation strategies such as phytoremediation. Surfactants, due to their ability to increase the bioavailability of hydrophobic contaminants, are considered as potential agents to improve phytoremediation for PFAS. In this research, we explored the impact of four surfactants (sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), rhamnolipid, Triton X-100, and Glucopone 600 CS UP) on plant growth and the uptake of PFAS by red fescue over 110 days. The results showed that while surfactants at lower concentrations did not negatively affect plant growth, the highest dose (2,500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the dry weight of plant shoots. Although none of the four surfactants led to an increased overall removal efficiency of ∑PFAS by red fescue over 110 days, SDS did enhance the uptake of PFAS compounds with long carbon chain lengths. With SDS addition at 2,500 mg/kg, the average fold increases of long chain PFAS removal were 1.99 for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), 2.44 for perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA), 2.11 for perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA), 1.52 for perfluoroundecanoic acid (PFUnA), 1.88 for perfluorohexanesulphonic acid (PFHxS), and 2.97 for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). The research indicated that using surfactants, such as SDS at appropriate doses could improve phytoremediation effectiveness in mitigating long-chain PFAS, which is a known challenge in soil remediation.

New Circular Distribution with an Application to Biology

In this paper, we introduce a new circular distribution known as the wrapped new weighted exponential distribution (WNWE) is introduced. We derive an explicit expression for its probability density function and establish closed-form expressions for the distribution function, characteristic function, and trigonometric moments. Furthermore, we discuss the properties of the proposed model. We employ the method of maximum likelihood estimation to estimate the parameters. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed distribution, we analyze a real dataset consisting of 50 starhead top minnows.

The Effect of Biostimulants on the Selected Parameters of Seed Germination of Genus Festuca

The Effect of Biostimulants on the Selected Parameters of Seed Germination of Genus Festuca

Silicon-mediated herbivore defence in a pasture grass under reduced and Anthropocene levels of CO2.

The uptake and accumulation of silicon (Si) in grass plants play a crucial role in alleviating both biotic and abiotic stresses. Si supplementation has been reported to increase activity of defence-related antioxidant enzyme, which helps to reduce oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) following herbivore attack. Atmospheric CO2 levels are known to affect Si accumulation in grasses; reduced CO2 concentrations increase Si accumulation whereas elevated CO2 concentrations often decrease Si accumulation. This can potentially affect antioxidant enzyme activity and subsequently insect herbivory, but this remains untested. We examined the effects of Si supplementation and herbivory by Helicoverpa armigera on antioxidant enzyme (catalase, CAT; superoxide dismutase, SOD; and ascorbate peroxidase, APX) activity in tall fescue grass (Festuca arundinacea) grown under CO2 concentrations of 200, 410, and 640 ppm representing reduced, ambient, and elevated CO2 levels, respectively. We also quantified foliar Si, carbon (C), and nitrogen (N) concentrations and determined how changes in enzymes and elemental chemistry affected H. armigera relative growth rates and plant consumption. Rising CO2 concentrations increased plant mass and foliar C but decreased foliar N and Si. Si supplementation enhanced APX and SOD activity under the ranging CO2 regimes. Si accumulation and antioxidant enzyme activity were at their highest level under reduced CO2 conditions and their lowest level under future levels of CO2. The latter corresponded with increased herbivore growth rates and plant consumption, suggesting that some grasses could become more susceptible to herbivory under projected CO2 conditions.

Preliminary checklist of the genus Festuca L. (Loliinae, Pooideae, Poaceae) in the Altai Mountains with outlines for further studies.

Here we present an updated checklist of the genus Festuca in the Altai Mountains (AM). The study was carried out on the abundant herbarium material and considered the latest published phylogenetic analyses. Festuca was revised within the scope of the fine-leaved group (clade) with two sections, sect. Aulaxyper and sect. Festuca. Two species, namely F.richardsonii and F.lenensis, were previously misidentified and are not present in the AM. Festucabrevissima is a new record for the Russian part of the AM and for the flora of Mongolia. In total, our revision shows that 17 species of fine-leaved fescues are present in the area of AM. In this paper, we provide a key to species identification, as well as illustrations of plants, habits, leaves, spikelets, and glumes. Information on nomenclature types, synonymy, flowering period, chromosome numbers, habitats, and general distribution along with distribution maps of the particular species within the AM are included.

Influence of Shading and Paclobutrazol Concentrations on Growth and Quality Characters of Three Different Turf Grasses Genera

This study was carried out in Pirmam,, Erbil Governorate - Iraq for two years, from 15 March 2020 to 15 March 2021 in the spring season and from 15 September2020 to 15 September 2021 in the autumn season, to study the responses of three turf grass genera, includingermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon L. var. cd4), Tall fescue grass (Festuca arrundaceae L. var. Barleroy) and Creeping bent grass (Agrostis palustris) cultivated by seeds to two shading levels of 0 and 75% and sprayed with three paclobutrazol concentrations at 0, 750 and 1500 mg. l-1. The experiment was performed by using Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in a split-plot design with three factors and three replications. The results showed that the shading level (0%) led to a significant increase in most studied characters like mowing number, cumulative dry weight of turf grass clipping yield, dry root weight, total chlorophyll and carbohydrate percentage and was superior to those grown under 75% shading. Both levels of shading had no significant effects on color degree and coverage percentage of the used turf grasses. It also showed that foliar spray of paclobutrazol had a significant impact on those traits. The highest values of plant density, mowing number, and cumulative dry weight of clipping yield were recorded when turf grasses were unsprayed with paclobutrazol, while the highest values of color degree, coverage percentage, total chlorophyll content, and carbohydrate percent were obtained when turf grasses were sprayed with 1500 and 750 mg.l-1 of paclobutrazol, respectively. Significant differences were shown among turf grass genera that were grown from seeds in those traits. Agrostise genus was significantly superior to other genera only in plant density, while Festuca genus was significantly superior to other genera in the rest of the other characteristics. As for triple interactions, the highest significant values for most characteristics were found in Festuca genera that were sprayed with 750 and 1500 mg.l-1 concentrations of paclobutrazol and grown in open fields.

Evaluation of Grazing Options During Summer for Growing Heifers – Year 3

Developing methods to provide high quality forage through most of the year is important for cattle operations. The purpose of this study was to determine forage management options to offset the summer “slump” with fescue. Four grass pasture treatments (10 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 49; initial wt 461 ± 65 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of novel fescue (FES), crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Heifers were weighed and they grazed pastures from May to September. Heifers on FES were continuously grazed. All other pastures were rotationally grazed. Sorghum-sudan was interseeded into fescue pastures in May. Average daily gain (ADG) for the entire grazing period was not different between pasture systems. Heifers on BERM and SS-FES had greater gain per acre than those FES pastures, with CRAB being intermediate. This result was primarily based on the increased stocking rates for those pastures. The extreme drought during the summer of 2022 resulted in little to no production of the sorghum-sudan and these pastures had the lowest biomass through the grazing period. Moisture is essential for success of interseeding sorghum-sudan into fescue pastures. Weather patterns impact animal performance as it impacts forage production. The best management practice may involve operations that have a variety of cool and warm-season grasses that producers can use to optimize forage production through varying weather events.

Management practice and soil properties affect plant productivity and root biomass in endophyte‐symbiotic and endophyte‐free meadow fescue grasses

AbstractIntroductionPesticides are increasingly used in intensely managed agro‐environments, with an increasingly acknowledged impact on crop production, root establishment and plant resilience. At the same time management practices are intensified with the goal to maximize productivity.Materials and MethodsIn a greenhouse, we studied the effects of three mowing regimes (uncut, and cutting 5 or 15 cm) employed three times during the season on root and shoot biomass and chlorophyll content of the cool‐season grass Festuca pratensis (meadow fescue) growing in soil with a history of glyphosate‐based herbicide (GBH) use, the corresponding control soil, and sterilized control soil. Half of the plants hosted a systemic and vertically transmitted fungal endophyte, Epichloë uncinata, which is known to promote host grass growth.ResultsEndophyte symbiosis did not affect any tested plant parameters. Cutting the plants to 5 cm decreased both root and cumulative shoot biomass. Herbicide soil history, together with intense cutting (5 cm), caused a decrease in shoot biomass and lowered the chlorophyll content. Surprisingly, soil sterilization boosted shoot biomass and chlorophyll concentrations during less intense cutting (15 cm) and noncutting when compared to the control soil. Root biomass reduced in uncut plants when growing in soil with a history of glyphosate use.ConclusionOur results indicate that GBH residues in the soil can diminish shoot biomass when grass is frequently cut. Decreased root biomass caused by soil glyphosate history goes together with a reduction of carbon allocation belowground, which decreases grassland resilience to climate warming, increasingly occurring droughts and extreme weather events.

Upgrading of Tall Fescue Grass Pyrolytic Bioliquid and Catalytic Valorization of The Biofurfural Obtained

AbstractThe production of added value products following catalytic hydrogenation reactions of bioliquids was studied. These bioliquids were obtained from the pyrolysis of raw and acid‐treated (H3PO4) Tall Fescue (Fescue arundinacea) waste. Before the pyrolytic test, the biomass samples were analyzed by a micro thermogravimetric analysis coupled with FTIR spectroscopy (TGA‐IR), which enables the chemical identification of functional groups of gaseous molecules originated by solid/gas transformations. From these results, the pyrolysis temperature was selected, and bench scale pyrolysis reactions were carried out. The pyrolysis bioliquids showed high furfural concentration, 46 and 70 % for fescue and acid washed fescue, respectively. The bioliquid with the highest furfural concentration was catalytically hydrogenated in aqueous phase. A batch reactor was employed, with Ru/C and Ru−Sn/C catalysts to produce high added value alcohols.

Approach of water–salt regulation using micro-sprinkler irrigation in two coastal saline soils

This study aimed to investigate whether saline silt and sandy loam coastal soils could be reclaimed by micro-sprinkler irrigation. The experiments were run using moderately salt-tolerant tall fescue grass. Micro-sprinkler irrigation in three stages was used to regulate soil matric potential at a 20-cm soil depth. Continued regulation of soil water and salt through micro-sprinkler irrigation consistently resulted in an increasingly large low-salinity region. The application of the three stages of soil water–salt regulation resulted in an absence of salt accumulation throughout the soil profile and the conversion of highly saline soils into moderately saline soils. There were increases in the plant height, leaf width, leaf length, and tiller numbers of tall fescue throughout the leaching process. The results showed that micro-sprinkler irrigation in three soil water and salt regulation stages can be used to successfully cultivate tall festuca in highly saline coastal soil. This approach achieved better effects in sandy loam soil than in silt soil. Tall fescue showed greater survival rates in sandy loam soil due to the rapid reclamation process, whereas plant growth was higher in silt soil because of effective water conservation. In sandy loam, soil moisture should be maintained during soil reclamation, and in silt soil, soil root-zone environments optimal for the emergence of plants should be quickly established. Micro-sprinkler irrigation can be successfully applied to the cultivation of tall fescue in coastal heavy saline soils under a three-stage soil water–salt regulation regime.

Comparison of Vegetation Types for Prevention of Erosion and Shallow Slope Failure on Steep Slopes in the Southeastern USA

Shallow slope failures due to erosion are common occurrences along roadways. The use of deep-rooted vegetative covers is a potential solution to stabilize newly constructed slopes or repair shallow landslides. This study compared species that may provide slope stabilization for sites in the Piedmont region of the southeastern USA. Six species were tested on experimental plots under natural rainfall conditions, and vegetation health and establishment were monitored. Two methods were used to measure surface erosion, measurement of total suspended solids in collected runoff and erosion pins. While measurement uncertainty was high for both methods, differences were evident between species in the spatial distribution of surface erosion that was related to the quality of vegetation establishment. For three species that established well, soil cores were collected to measure root biomass at depths up to 40 cm. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizaniodies) had substantially higher mean root biomass (3.75 kg/m3) than juniper shrubs (Juniperus chinensis; 0.45 kg/m3) and fescue grass (Lolium arundinaceum; 1.28 kg/m3), with the most pronounced difference in the deepest soil layers. Seeding with turf grass such as fescue is a common practice for erosion control in the region but replacing this with vetiver on steep slopes may help prevent shallow landslides due to the additional root reinforcement. Additional work is needed to measure the magnitude of the strength gain.

A SURVEY OF PRESERVED SPECIMENS OF THE GENUS FESTUCA L. (POACEAE) IN ROMANIA

The genus Festuca L. is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae, being one of the largest in Gramineae with ±450 species in temperate and alpine regions of both hemispheres with a cosmopolitan distribution occurring on every continent except Antarctica. They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm. The specimens of Festuca are preserved in the Al Beldie Herbarium from INCDS Marin Drăcea Bucharest. This Herbarium hosted 309 vouchers with 52 Festuca species, most of them belonging to F. gigantea (28), F. versicolor (27) and F. arundinacea (22). The oldest specimens were collected in 1773 and 1788. Most of the herbarium specimens were generally in very good (198) and good (76) condition except for a smaller number of specimens which were damaged (35). The aim of this article is to describe some Festuca species which are very good preserved.

Can endophyte-infected tall fescue minimize the grass tetany risk?

Non-toxic Neotyphodium (novel endophyte) has been shown to provide similar agronomic performance as wild-type endophyte to deter pathogens without exerting adverse effects on livestock. While the grass/novel endophyte interaction does not synthesize alkaloid peramine that has been linked to mammal toxicity, the connection between wild (naturally occurring) and/or novel endophyte infection and tetany ratio in forage has not been evaluated. The risk of grass tetany was evaluated in naturally occurring endophyte-infected tall fescue grass grown in Japanese Andisol. Three tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) ecotypes (Fukaura, Koiwai and Showa) either infected with Neotyphodium coenophialum (Morgan-Jones and Gams) Glenn, Bacon and Hanlin (E+), or noninfected (E-) were grown in low phosphorus (P) availability black Andisol and high P availability red Andisol under a controlled environment. The biomass nutrient concentration was measured and the tetany ratio, K/(Ca+Mg), was established for all three fescue ecotypes. 
 Results showed that K, Ca, and Mg concentrations and the K/(Ca+Mg) were significantly affected by endophytes, soils, and ecotypes and their interactions. Regardless of ecotypes and soils, K, Ca, and Mg concentrations were higher in endophyte-infected plants when compared to the control. Among the endophyte-infected ecotypes, the Fukaura and Koiwai showed higher K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in red Andisol. In contrast, the Showa ecotype showed higher K, Ca, and Mg concentrations in endophyte-infected plants than the control in black Andisol. Notwithstanding ecotypes and soils, endophyte-infected plants showed lower K/(Ca+Mg) than their counterparts, suggesting that the grass/endophyte interaction could provide a means of reducing the incidence of grass tetany in livestock.

Verges as Fragments of Loess Grasslands in the Carpathian Basin and Their Festuca Species

Loess vegetations of the Carpathian Basin have been ploughed for a thousand years. Therefore, loess steppes of verges of the Transdanubia have nearly disappeared. Therefore, in Hungary, it is also important to find out the composition of loess vegetation. The aims of our study were to date the age of the sample verges and explore types of verges. Is there a correlation between the types, location, expanse and vegetation types of the verges? Which of the coenologically important species of the genus Festuca occur in the verges and patches of loess grassland? The studies were carried out in three areas. We examined the age of the verges and their natural condition. Floristic and coenological surveys were applied to analyse the diversity of the verges. Inflorescence morphological analysis of the dominant Festuca species in the vegetation was carried out by analysing 25 parameters. Our results showed that not only the age of verges was valuable and natural. Most of the loess species did not appear in old verges. Consequently, we should not rely only on the age of the verges to make hypotheses about its natural condition and vegetation. Based on the coenological data, there were two types of verges, which were the interspaced verge and the border verge. Based on the diversity assessment from the survey, data of the interspaced verge showed the highest diversity value, the diversity value was higher than 4. Among the studied taxa, Festuca pseudovina was separated clearly as a homogeneous group. The morphotaxonomic parameters were not enough for species identification of F. valesiaca and F. callieri, but they were not enough for F. rupicola neither, so the examination of the sclerenchyma is required. Overall, in contrast to the previous hypothesis, the age of the grassland fragments is not the most important factor, but rather their location, size, the number of species and the diversity are adapted to them.

Fermentation Quality and Bacterial Ecology of Grass Silage Modulated by Additive Treatments, Extent of Compaction and Soil Contamination

New technologies related to the identification of bacterial communities in fresh forage and silage may give valuable detailed information on the best practices to produce animal feeds. The objective was to evaluate how management conditions during silage making manipulate the profile of bacterial communities and fermentation quality of grass silages. Silages were prepared from mixed timothy and meadow fescue grass using two compaction levels. As an additional treatment the grass was contaminated with soil and feces prior to tight compaction. Four additive treatments with different modes of action were applied: control without additive, formic acid-based additive, homofermentative lactic acid bacteria and salt-based additive. After 93 days the silos were opened, samples were taken and routinely analyzed. DNA extraction was carried out and PCR amplification of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene V4 region was performed using universal primers. The silage pH was higher for loose than tight compaction and higher for non-contaminated than for contaminated silages. Great shift was observed in bacterial profiles from fresh material towards silage. Lactobacillus genus was barely found on the relative abundance of fresh grass but became predominant in the final silage along with Sphingomonas genus. Use of additives improved fermentation quality and modified the bacterial profiles of grass ensiled under different management conditions.

Land‐use alters the form of larval density dependence to increase extinction risk in a grassland amphibian

AbstractAn understanding of interactions between anthropogenic stressors and intrinsic population drivers is needed to fully understand wildlife population declines. Density dependence is a key aspect of population regulation for many species, especially for species that have high reproductive potential, such as amphibians. However, patterns of density dependence have been characterized for only a few species and little work has evaluated how density‐dependent interactions may be altered by anthropogenic stressors. We combined the results of a mesocosm experiment with demographic population modeling to investigate how the conversion of native prairie to agricultural grasslands dominated by Tall Fescue grass (Lolium arundinacea) affected larval density dependence and adult population size of an imperiled amphibian, Lithobates areolatus (Crawfish Frog). Overall, density dependence was overcompensatory, suggesting that L. areolatus exhibits scramble competition as larvae. Both vegetation treatments had low survival at high densities, but more individuals survived to metamorphosis at moderate densities in Fescue treatments compared to Prairie treatments. We evaluated the implications of our experimental results using a stochastic density‐dependent matrix population model to project long‐term population dynamics. Simulated populations breeding in Fescue‐dominated wetlands had a more variable population size and up to 400% higher probability of quasi‐extinction within 200 years, compared to populations breeding in ponds with prairie vegetation. Without varying density in experimental treatments and using mathematical models to project emergent population dynamics, our mesocosm experiment results would have suggested a slightly positive effect of Fescue grass on amphibian development and survival. Vegetation changes surrounding breeding wetlands might play an important role in the decline of amphibian populations persisting in low‐intensity agricultural areas.

Effect of Cistanche deserticola on Rumen Microbiota and Rumen Function in Grazing Sheep

For a long time, veterinary drugs and chemical additives have been widely used in livestock and poultry breeding to improve production performance. However, problems such as drug residues in food are causing serious concerns. The use of functional plants and their extracts to improve production performance is becoming increasingly popular. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of Cistanche deserticola in sheep feed on rumen flora and to analyze the causes to provide a theoretical basis for the future use of Cistanche deserticola as a functional substance to improve sheep production performance. A completely randomized experimental design was adopted using 24 six-month-old sheep males divided into four groups (six animals in each group) which were fed a basic diet composed of alfalfa and tall fescue grass. The C. deserticola feed was provided to sheep at different levels (0, 2, 4, and 6%) as experimental treatments. On the last day (Day 75), ruminal fluid was collected through a rumen tube for evaluating changes in rumen flora. The test results showed that Prevotella_1, Lactobacillus, and Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group were the dominant species at the genus level in all samples. Lactobacillus, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, Ruminococcaceae_NK4A214_group, Butyrivibrio_2, and Christensenellaceae_R-7_group differed significantly in relative abundance among the treatment groups. The polysaccharides in C. deserticola was the major factor influencing the alteration in rumen flora abundance, and had the functions of improving rumen fermentation environment and regulating rumen flora structure, etc. Hence, C. deserticola can be used to regulate rumen fermentation in grazing sheep to improve production efficiency.

Evaluation of Grazing Options During Summer for Growing Heifers – Year 2

Developing methods to provide high quality forage through most of the year is important for cattle operations. The purpose of this study was to determine forage management options to offset the summer “slump” with fescue. Four grass pasture treatments (10 pastures total; 4 acres each) were used in a completely randomized design and stocked with growing heifers (n = 49; initial wt 473 ± 60 lb). Pasture treatments consisted of novel fescue (FES), crabgrass (CRAB), bermudagrass (BERM), and sorghum-sudan interseeded into novel fescue (SS-FES). Heifers were weighed and grazed pastures from April to September (153 d). Heifers on FES were continuously grazed. All other pastures were rotationally grazed. Sorghum-sudan was interseeded into fescue pastures in May. Average daily gain (ADG) for the entire grazing period was not different between pasture systems. In contrast to the previous year, there were no differences in heifer gain, ADG, or gain per acre for any of the grazing treatments.