Crude Protein Content Of Herbage Research Articles

Agronomic Biofortification of Fodder Maize (Zea mays L.) with Zn for Improving Herbage Productivity and Its Quality

Zinc (Zn) deficiency in soils not only reduces the productivity of forage crops, but also results in inadequate dietary zinc intake for livestock. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of different rates and methods of applying ZnSO4 to both soil and foliage on the yield and quality of fodder maize grown in a sandy loam soil testing low in DTPA-extractable Zn. A 2-year field experiment was conducted with six treatments including control, foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 days after sowing (DAS) (F1), foliar application of 0.3% ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS (F2), soil application of 16 kg ha−1 ZnSO4 (S16) and a combination of both soil and foliar ZnSO4 application (S16 + F1 and S16 + F2). Increase in green herbage yield by 25%, dry matter yield by 47% and Zn content by 79% was observed under S16 + F2 treatment over the control. Zinc application improved N, K, Cu and crude protein content of herbage significantly over the control. Thus, the study shows that significant improvement in growth parameters, herbage yield and quality of maize can be achieved with soil Zn application + two foliar sprays of ZnSO4 at 30 and 40 DAS, thereby ensuring availability of improved fodder Zn to the livestock.

Methane emissions and milk yields from zebu cows under integrated systems

Integrated systems are technologies that potentially increase animal production and environmental preservation, but the effect of these systems on the efficiency and methane emissions of dairy cows is still unknown. This study aimed to compare enteric methane emissions, dry matter intake and performance of grazing dairy cows in integrated systems in the Brazilian Cerrado biome, i.e., crop-livestock integration (CLI) or crop-livestock-forest integration (CLFI). Eighteen Holstein-Zebu cows were randomly assigned to the two production systems (n = 9 for each system) based on Monbasa pasture (Megathyrsus maximus cv. Mombaça; Syn. Panicum maximum) under rotational stocking management. Herbage allowance ranged from 12 to 14% body weight, and cows were supplemented with concentrated feed according to milk yield. Herbage samples were collected by simulated grazing to determine nutritional value. Milk yield was determined weekly. Herbage intake was estimated from fecal output and indigestibility of the pasture dry matter. Fecal output was estimated by the external indicator LIPE®, and dry matter digestibility was estimated by the internal indicator NDFi. Enteric methane emissions were estimated by the SF6 tracer gas technique. Data were collected in three sampling periods to characterize the rainy season, the transition from the rainy season to the dry season and the dry season. Data were analyzed in split plots, with animals within the system as the plot and seasons as the subplot. Statistical significance was considered at P < 0.05. The herbage crude protein content was 35.9% higher on average in the CLFI than in the CLI. In vitro dry matter digestibility was 16.7% lower in the CLI than in the CLFI in the rainy season. Milk yield and feed efficiency were similar between systems and seasons. The total dry matter intake in the rainy season was 34.6% higher in the CLFI than in the CLI. The energy loss, production and yield of methane were 29.8%, 35.0% and 31.3%, respectively, lower in the rainy season than in the other seasons. Enteric methane emissions, milk yield and feed efficiency were similar between the integrated CLI and CLFI systems in the Brazilian Cerrado region.

Effect of fertilizer inputs on productivity and herbage quality of native pasture in degraded tropical grasslands

AbstractThe practice of applying fertilizer inputs on an unimproved natural pasture is limited in tropical grasslands. A study was conducted to evaluate the response of degraded natural pasturelands in terms of species composition, forage yield, and quality to the application of different types of fertilizer. The study was conducted in two districts in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia with contrasting agroecologies. The treatments were control (no application of fertilizer), commercial fertilizer (50 kg urea ha–1 and 100 kg diammonium phosphate [DAP] ha–1), cattle manure (7.5 t ha–1), wood ash (3 t ha–1), and lime (7.5 t ha–1). Soil physical properties were not altered following application of the treatments, but chemical properties, including soil pH (P &lt; .01), electroconductivity (EC) (P &lt; .001), total nitrogen (TN), and P (P &lt; .001) were affected. Soil TN increased from 0.11 to 0.32% following the application of cattle manure. The pH increased from 5.9 to 7.3 with wood ash application. Herbage dry matter (DM) yield increased (P &lt; .001) from 1.88 to 6.65 t ha–1 with chemical fertilizer. The herbage crude protein content increased (P &lt; .01) from 96 to 157 g kg–1 with manure application. On the other hand, the neutral detergent fiber tended to decrease (P &lt; .05) following manure application. Partial cost‐benefit analysis indicated a positive economic gain from the direct sale of pasture hay for all treatments except for lime. The results indicated that fertilizer inputs offer feasible options to improve pasture productivity and enable rural farmers to benefit from their land resources.

Protein and Carbohydrate Fractions in Warm-Season Pastures: Effects of Nitrogen Management Strategies

Nitrogen (N) management affects herbage production and chemical composition; however, information on the impact of tropical herbage on N and carbohydrate fractions is scarce. A two-year study was conducted to investigate the potential use of pintoi peanut (Arachis pintoi) compared with N fertilization of palisade grass (Brachiariabrizantha cv. Marandu) by evaluating the herbage chemical composition (fractionation of protein and carbohydrate), herbage mass and accumulation rate, herbage disappearance rate, and stocking rate of pastures. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with three treatments, and four replications (paddocks) were used with twenty-one non-lactating crossbred dairy heifers. Treatments consisted of pastures of palisade grass without a N source (control), fertilized with urea (150 kg/ha/year; fertilized), or mixed with pintoi peanut (mixed). Inclusion of the legume increased concentrations of fractions A (p = 0.009), which is the soluble N compound, and B3 (p &lt; 0.001), which is slowly degraded true protein, compared with pastures fertilized with N and non-fertilized pastures. Nitrogen fertilization increased fraction B1 + B2 (p = 0.046), mainly true proteins, and decreased fraction C (p = 0.0007), indigestible protein, and neutral detergent fiber concentrations (p = 0.0003), contributing to increasing the nutritive value of the herbage. Additionally, N fertilization increased herbage mass (p = 0.004) and herbage allowance (p = 0.0001). Both N fertilization and biologically fixed N increased herbage allowance (p = 0.02) and accumulation rate (p = 0.02), as well as the crude protein content of herbage (p &lt; 0.0001) compared with non-fertilized pastures. Nitrogen fertilization increased true protein and decreased indigestible protein of herbage and promoted a greater herbage mass production, while the inclusion of legumes increased soluble protein and decreased the slowly degraded true protein of herbage. Both N management strategies increased herbage allowance and accumulation rate.

Ecosystem services under different grazing intensities in typical grasslands in Inner Mongolia and their relationships

Grazing, as the main land use of grasslands, is a key factor affecting the supply of ecosystem services11ES, ecosystem service; GI, grazing intensity; CK, control check; LG, light grazing; MG, moderate grazing; HG, heavy grazing; BI, biodiversity; HI, herbage intake; CP, crude protein content; SOCD, soil organic carbon density; SMN, soil mineralization nitrogen; AB, aboveground biomass; BB, belowground biomass; LB, litter biomass; TES, total ecosystem services; SSU, standard sheep units. (ESs) as well as the relationships between ESs. Using four grazing intensities, including control check, light grazing, moderate grazing, and heavy grazing, this paper quantified eight key ESs, including biodiversity, herbage intake, herbage quality (herbage crude protein content), climate regulation (soil organic carbon density), soil mineralization nitrogen, soil conservation (aboveground biomass), wind prevention and sand fixation (belowground biomass), and soil erosion prevention(litter biomass), in typical grassland areas of Inner Mongolia. Structural equation models were used to illustrate the impact of grazing on ESs through biodiversity, and the root mean square error was used to quantify the level of trade-offs for ES pairs. The results of this study indicated that grazing intensity (GI) significantly affected all ESs (p < 0.05), except for soil organic carbon density and soil mineralization nitrogen. As GI increased, provisioning services increased, while most regulating services decreased, and there was a general trade-off relationship between regulating services and other ones. In order to realize the maximum ESs benefit and the minimum trade-offs for ES pairs, the optimal grazing intensity for typical grasslands of Inner Mongolia should be between 170 (standard sheep units) SSU · d · hm−2 · y−1 and 340 SSU · d · hm−2 · y−1. The results of this study provide a decision-making foundation for grassland grazing management policies for the sustainable development of Inner Mongolian grasslands.

Benefits Are Limited with High Nitrogen Fertiliser Rates in Kikuyu-Ryegrass Pasture Systems

Nitrogen (N) fertiliser is applied to pastures in dairy farming systems to ensure productivity, but it is an expensive input that could be damaging to the environment if used excessively. In the southern Cape region of South Africa, N fertilisation guidelines for pastures were developed under conditions different to current management practices, yet dairy producers still base fertiliser programmes on these outdated guidelines. This study aimed to determine the efficiencies of N fertilisation. Various N fertiliser rates (0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg ha−1 applied after grazing), as well as a variable rate according to the nitrate concentration in the soil water solution, were assessed on a grazed pasture. Dairy cows returned to a pasture approximately 11 times per year. Pasture production showed a minimal response to fertilisation within each season. The most responsive parameters to fertilisation were the herbage crude protein content, soil mineral N content and urease activity. Reduced microbial activity was observed when more than 40 kg N ha−1 was applied. When considering the soil total mineral N content, N is used inefficiently at rates above 40 kg N ha−1. The results are indicative of an N saturated system that provides a rationale for reducing N fertiliser rates.

Effects of a proportion of herbage intake and crude protein content of herbage on nitrogen and energy utilization in lactating dairy cows

Effects of a proportion of herbage intake and crude protein content of herbage on nitrogen and energy utilization in lactating dairy cows

Effect of nitrogen fertilization rate and regrowth interval of grass herbage on methane emission of zero-grazing lactating dairy cows

Dairy cattle farming in temperate regions often relies on grass herbage (GH)-based diets but the effect of several grass management options on enteric CH4 emission has not been fully investigated yet. We investigated the combined effect of N fertilization rate and length of regrowth period of GH (predominantly ryegrass) on CH4 emission from lactating dairy cows. In a randomized block design, 28 lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows received a basal diet of GH and compound feed [85:15; dry matter (DM) basis]. Treatments consisted of GH cut after 3 or 5 weeks of regrowth, after receiving either a low (20kg of N/ha) or a high (90kg of N/ha) fertilization rate after initial cut. Feed intake, digestibility, milk production and composition, N and energy balance, and CH4 emission were measured during a 5-d period in climate respiration chambers after an adaptation to the diet for 12d. Cows were restricted-fed during measurements and mean DM intake was 15.0±0.16kg/d. Herbage crude protein content varied between 76 and 161g/kg of DM, and sugar content between 186 and 303g/kg of DM. Fat- and protein-corrected milk (FPCM) and feed digestibility increased with increased N fertilization rates and a shorter regrowth interval. Increasing the N fertilization rate increased daily CH4 emission per cow (+10%) and per unit of DM intake (+9%), tended to increase the fraction of gross energy intake emitted as CH4 (+7%), and (partly because of the low crude protein content for the low fertilized GH) only numerically reduced CH4 per unit of FPCM. The longer regrowth interval increased CH4 emission per unit of FPCM (+14%) compared with the shorter regrowth interval, but did not affect CH4 emission expressed in any other unit. With increasing N fertilization CH4 emission decreased per unit of digestible neutral detergent fiber intake (−13%) but not per unit of digestible organic matter intake. There was no interaction of the effect of N fertilization rate and regrowth interval on CH4 emission, but effects of N fertilization were generally most distinct with GH of 5 wk regrowth. The present results suggest that altering grass quality through an increase of N fertilization and a shorter regrowth interval can reduce CH4 emission in zero-grazing dairy cows, depending on the unit in which it is expressed. The larger amount of CH4 produced per day and cow with the more intensively managed GH is compensated by a higher feed digestibility and FPCM yield.

Relationships between soil fertility, herbage quality and manure composition on grassland-based dairy farms

It is reasonable to expect that compliance with grassland fertilization recommendations in the long run results in optimal soil fertility, and subsequent herbage quality. Here, we evaluate the development of soil, herbage and manure characteristics and their relation over the last decades. We hypothesized that herbage and manure quality are related with soil fertility. We used a large database with results of soil tests, spring forage quality characteristics, and manure analyses, which were made on demand of dairy farmers. We considered the Netherlands as a whole and three selected regions with contrasting soil types (sandy soil, riverine clay, and peaty marine clay). Effects of soil fertility on herbage quality were evident when comparing farms. Farms higher in soil P and K generally have correspondingly higher contents in forage. On average, soil fertility and herbage characteristics were within or just above the agronomical optimal range during the last decades. Herbage crude protein content decreased in all regions during last two decades, which is likely an effect of legislative measures on decreasing the application of N. Selenium (Se) and sulphur (S) contents increased sharply on sandy soils, likely because of increased use of Se and S containing fertilizers. Manure composition did not differ between soil types. In conclusion, at farm level, the element composition of herbage reflected the soil fertility status. The contents of S, P, K, Na, Mg, and Ca in the herbage were all significantly influenced by soil fertility characteristics. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining soil fertility for high quality roughage production.

Determination of yield and nutrient quality of herbage in Giron Masa grazing reserve, Kebbi State

The study determined the crude protein content of herbage collected from Giron Masa grazing reserve, Kebbi State Nigeria. The herbage samples were collected by using 1.0m 2 wooden frame (quadrant). Fresh weight of three most occurring species and remaining other species was taken by the use of spring balance for dry matter determination. Analysis of the data using SAS (1988) package indicated that LDS produces the highest DM and ERS was the least. DM yield on the other hand was highest in EDS and lowest in LRS. From the chemical analysis, highest values of 13.3% and least value of 5.6% CP was obtained in ERS and LDS respectively. The CF content was higher during the LDS (32.4%) and least in ERS (25.8%). Other parameters as ash, EE, Ca and P content were also determined. The results of the study indicated a significant effect of season on nutrient content of range herbage. The nutrient contents of the herbage fall within the range considered normal for semi-arid environment. The significant seasonal effect on the quality of the feeds could also be considered normal for plants growing in the semi-arid environment. The dry matter yield data, herbaceous and ligneous species composition and nutrient quality obtained in the present study could be considered fair. This could hold optimum number of livestock with their nutritional requirements, especially during the growing season. Keywords; grazing reserve, herbaceous, ligneous, nutrient, species, yield,

Short-term management and stocking rate effects of grazing sheep on herbage quality and productivity of Inner Mongolia steppe

Degradation and decreasing productivity increasingly demand sustainable grazing management practices within Inner Mongolian steppe ecosystems. This study focuses on grazing-induced degradation processes over a wide range of stocking rates and aims to identify short-term sensitive indicators and alternative management practices. Short-term effects of 2 grazing management systems (Mixed System and Traditional System) and 7 stocking rates (SR0, SR1.5, SR3, SR4.5, SR6, SR7.5, and SR9 for 0,1.5, 3, 4.5, 6, 7.5, and 9 sheep/ha, respectively) on yielding performance and herbage quality were measured on experimental plots in which moveable exclosures were used on areas chronically grazed by sheep. The experiment was conducted in a typical steppe ecosystem in Inner Mongolia, P. R. China. Results are presented for 2005 and 2006. Sampling time was the main factor affecting yield and quality. Stocking rate also showed considerable effects on yield. Herbage mass decreased linearly from SR0 to SR9, by 85% and 82% in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Herbage accumulation was also affected by stocking rate, and was highest at SR1.5 and clearly reduced at SR9. Grazing effects on relative growth rate indicated grazing tolerance of plants in the short-term, since up to high stocking rates, relative growth rates remained stable. Precipitation also determined plant responses to increasing levels of grazing. The year of higher rainfall generated higher grazing tolerance of plants and higher herbage growth than the drought year. Despite considerable reduction of herbage mass, consistent short-term responses of herbage quality to grazing in 2005 and 2006 were reflected only in terms of crude protein and acid detergent lignin. Herbage crude protein content was highest at SR7.5 and SR9, while lignin was lowest at SR7.5 and SR9. Neither productivity nor herbage quality was affected by the management system, suggesting that both systems may be applicable on typical steppe in the short-term.

Interpretation of results from on-farm experiments: manure-nitrogen recovery on grassland as affected by manure quality and application technique. 1. An agronomic analysis

In a 5-year field experiment, a comparison was made between the manure application practices of two adjacent dairy farms in the north of the Netherlands. Grassland management systems at Drogeham and Harkema contrasted in manure application technique (surface application versus shallow injection, respectively), quality of applied manure (slurry + MX: slurry with Euromestmix® clay mineral additive versus regular slurry), and some relevant site characteristics (high versus low soil organic matter content and soil moisture supply). Effects of manure types and application techniques, and treatment of the soil with a micro-organism supplement, were tested in a factorial experiment at the two sites, two blocks per site, one with and one without additional application of 157 kg N ha −1 year −1 inorganic fertilizer. Apparent N recovery was higher after shallow injection than after surface application. For plots receiving no additional inorganic fertilizer, this difference was largest for slurry + MX applied at site Harkema, since this slurry-site combination resulted in the highest observed average apparent N recovery following shallow injection (47%) and the lowest N recovery following surface application (20%). For plots receiving additional inorganic fertilizer N the contrasts between treatments were less pronounced. Year effects on N uptake and dry matter production could be related to cumulative temperature and precipitation surplus over the growing season. A simple comparison between the grassland management systems was carried out based on the response curves derived from the experiment. This demonstrated that the grassland system where slurry was applied by shallow injection is not necessarily the lowest in actual amount of N not accounted for (i.e., potentially lost). The efficiency of the Harkema system strongly depended on high N recovery, but showed high potential losses in some years and a high herbage crude protein content in other years, due to the low DM production capacity. On the other hand, the Drogeham system was tuned to high DM production and was characterized by higher system stability, as reflected by more stable relationships between DM production and N not accounted for and herbage crude protein content. These differences between the systems were probably to a large extent caused by differences in water balance and soil organic matter content.

Sodium fertilizer application to pasture. 9. The effects of combined or separate applications of sodium and sulphur fertilizers on herbage composition and dairy cow production

An experiment was conducted to examine the response of herbage grazed by dairy cows to sodium fertilizer applied with or without sulphur fertilizer. The residual effects of applying sodium fertilizer in the previous year were also evaluated. The application of sodium or sulphur fertilizer did not affect herbage growth or height, but the application of sulphur fertilizer increased crude protein content of herbage. The increase in sodium content with application of sodium fertilizer was small, but was greater when sodium fertilizer had also been applied in the previous year. Herbage potassium was increased when sodium fertilizer was applied in the year of the experiment, but only if sodium had not been applied in the previous year. Application of sulphur fertilizer increased herbage sulphur content and reduced the contents of boron, chromium, molybdenum and nickel. Cows grazing pasture that had received sodium fertilizer had increased milk yields and the content of lactose in milk, whereas those grazing pasture that had received sulphur fertilizer application had reduced milk yields and the content of milk fat.

The nutritive value of spring-grown herbage produced on farms throughout England and wales over four years. I. The effect of stage of maturity and other factors on chemical composition, apparent digestibility and energy values measured in vivo

The chemical composition, apparent digestibility and energy values of 173 samples of primary-growth spring herbage harvested in 1980, 1981, 1982 and 1984 from commercial farms in 10 counties of England and Wales have been studied. Samples were taken at weekly intervals between late April and mid-June. Apparent digestibility and energy values were determined with wether sheep fed near to maintenance. Digestible organic matter content of the dry matter (DOMD) was also estimated using three in vitro methods. The content of many chemical components was shown to be affected by the predominant variety in each sward and year of harvest, whereas age of ley and grazing by animals prior to first sampling had less effect. The three methods of estimating DOMD in vitro were shown to measure different amounts with the pepsin-cellulase method producing generally lower values than the rumen-fluid-based method. There were no indications that the digestibility and energy values measured in vivo were significantly influenced by age of ley or year of harvest, although variety affected crude fibre digestibility and the proportional loss of energy in urine. The digestibility of gross energy (GE) and that of organic matter (OM) were very closely related and energy lost in urine was positively related to herbage crude protein. The observed increases in cell-wall components and decreases in cell contents with increasing maturity were broadly in line with previous reports based on measurements with pure species. The associated decline in DOMD over all years was linear with a mean rate of decline of 2.5 g kg −1 per day. The decline in DOMD was accompanied by a decline in the GE of the digestible OM from 20.0 to 18.4 MJ kg −1 on average. The GE of digestible OM was related primarily to the herbage crude protein content. The metabolizable energy (ME) content of the herbage fell with increasing maturity on average from 12.6 to 8.8 MJ kg −1 DM at a rate of 0.05 MJ kg −1 DM per day. The significance of the variations in the GE of digestible OM, energy losses in urine and hence ME:DE ratios when attempting to relate DOMD to ME content is discussed.

Effect of grazing simulation on forage hay and grain yields of spring barleys in a low rainfall environment

SummaryA 4–year experiment was conducted at two sites in each year to evaluate some of the effects of five harvesting treatments on the forage and grain production and quality of four spring barleys sown in November and grown under rainfed conditions. A single harvest during the growing season at the milk stage of grain produced the highest herbage drymatter and digestible yields.One harvest at tillering reduced significantly the plant height, grain production and dry-matter yields of straw and hay, while the digestibility of the organic matter in the dry matter (D-value) and the crude-protein content of straw, crudeprotein content of grain and the number of tillers were not affected. The weighted mean of D-value and crude-protein content of herbage was increased when a ‘grazing’ cut was taken prior to harvest. In addition lodging was eliminated. Three or four harvests during the growing season resulted in very low forage yields of otherwise excellent quality.

Clipping Frequency and Fertilization Influence Herbage Yields and Crude Protein Content of 4 Grasses in South Texas

Crude protein content of herbage produced by buffelgrass, blue panicgrass, and Bell rhodesgrass was improved with nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization and clipping every 4 orJ weeks, compared to harvests only at the end of the growing season. Within a fertilization level, the 8-week clipping frequency generally increased dry matter production of the grasses over the 4-week clipping frequency or the end-of-season single harvest. Kleberg bluestem herbage generally contained less protein at all phenological stages than that of buffelgrass, blue panicgrass, or Bell rhodesgrass, and dry matter production was not increased by fertilization. Crude protein content of Kleberg bluestenm herbage was only slightly increased with the highest level of fertilization, regardless of clipping frequency. The South Texas Plains occupies nearly 9 million hectares of level to rolling terrain with elevations ranging from sea level to 95 m. Annual rainfall ranges from 45 to 75 cm with peaks occurring in May and September. Because of the long growing season and rainfall patterns, this area has a high potential for forage production. However, primarily as a result of continued excessive grazing of domestic livestock and cessation of fires, undesirable woody species have increase to the detriment of naturally occurring desirable vegetation (Scifres 1980). Brush management as a part of overall sound range management has proven its merit in restoring forage production (Scifres et al. 1976, 1980; Polk et al. 1976). Generally, natural revegetation through secondary succession is too slow for economical returns following high-cost mechanical control of undesirable woody species. Artificial revegetation with commercially available, adapted species is often considered the most feasible alternative for rapid restoration of these grazing lands. Major species that have been seeded successfully include buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), Bell rhodesgrass (Chloris gayana), Kleberg bluestem (Dicanthium annulatum), and blue panicgrass (Panicum antidotale). Although these grasses have been utilized in the overall range improvement program in south Texas for the past 4 decades, little is known about specific post-seeding management practices which could improve forage yield and quality. Brief descriptions, planting dates, seeding rates, and responses to irrigation and fertilization are found in experiment station leaflets (Novosad and Pratt n.d., Lancaster n.d., Lancaster 1949, and Anon. 1968). Since most of the livestock in this area are raised in yearlong cow-calf operations, high protein forage is required throughout the year to meet demands of growing calves and lactating cows. Waite At the time of this research, authors were graduate research assistant and associate professor, College of Agriculture,Texas Al and April 15 and 582 JOURNAL OF RANGE MANAGEMENT 36(5), September 1983 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.127 on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 05:36:06 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms Table 1. Fertility levels and pH of the soil of the study area where clipping frequency and fertilization was evaluated relatived to crude protein constants and herbage production of 4 grass species near Kingsville, Texas, during 1972-1973.' Nutrient availability

Effect of Establishment Method, Variety , and Seeding Rate on the Production and Quality of Alfalfa Under Dryland and Irrigation1

AbstractEstablishment of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) with small grain companion crop is not always satisfactory. This study was designed to compare alternative establishment methods and determine the influence of alfalfa varieties and seeding rates on dry matter and crude protein production and herbage quality. The relationship between alfalfa plant density and root+crown weight and their effect on forage yield were evaluated.Pure stands of alfalfa were established by four methods: 1) no herbicide or companion crop (check); 2) a plant herbicide, S‐ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate (EPTC); 3) a companion crop of oats (Arena sativa L.) harvested for forage; and 4) a companion crop of oats harvested for grain. Three alfalfa varieties were evaluated: T3X‐8 hybrid, ‘Saranac,’ and ‘Vernal.’ Four alfalfa seeding rates were compared: 4.5, 9.0, 13.5, and 17.9 kg/ha of purelive‐seed (PLS). Studies were conducted at three locations in South Dakota. Experiments at Gayville and Norbeck were under dryland conditions and at Brookings under irrigation.Alfalfa established with oats harvested for forage yielded the most weed‐free forage dry matter during the seeding year. This was followed in descending order by the yields of alfalfa established with EPTC, the check, and oats harvested for grain. Herbage crude protein yields were similar during the seeding year regardless of establishment method, except for the oat grain treatment which was lower. Second‐year alfalfa dry matter and protein production were not affected by establishment method.Dry matter yields were higher for Saranac and T3X‐8 hybrid alfalfa than for Vernal when moisture was optimum and winter injury did not occur. Under dryland, there were no differences in yield among the three varieties. T3X‐8 was generally lowest in crude protein content; Vernal was highest in protein late in the season.With irrigation, higher dry matter and crude protein yields were obtained during the seeding year at each increase in seeding rate. Under dryland, no differences in yield were noted above the 13.5 kg/ha rate during the seeding year. Second‐year alfalfa yield~ increased at seeding rates up to 9.0 kg/ha of PLS at Gayville and Brookings, and up to 13.5 kg/ha at Norbeck. Generally, herbage crude protein content was not affected by seeding rate. Root+crown weights of alfalfa decreased as seeding rates increased up to 13.5 kg/ha.