Summer Annual Forage Research Articles

Responses of Early Lactation Cows Fed Winter and Summer Annual Forages and Undegradable Intake Protein

Twenty-four multiparous Holstein cows were divided into six blocks of 4 cows based on their previous 305-d mature equivalent milk yield and were used in a 2 × 3 factorial experiment for the first 84 DIM. Objectives were to determine the effects of forage and RUP supplementation on DM and nutrient intakes and digestibilities, milk yield and composition, BW change, and plasma concentrations of insulin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, cortisol, NEFA, urea N, and protein. One cow from each block was assigned to wheat or sorghum silage plus one of three concentrates. Protein treatments were 1) all supplemental CP from soybean meal; 2) 33.3% of supplemental CP from heated soybean meal, fish meal, and corn gluten meal; and 3) protein treatment 2 plus an additional 4.6% CP from soybean meal. Intakes of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, NEL, and RUP were higher in cows fed sorghum silage; RUP tended to increase DMI, Milk and 3.5% FCM yields were higher for cows fed sorghum silage than for those fed wheat silage (42.3 vs. 40.0 kg/d and 41.2 vs. 38.7 kg/d, respectively). Milk protein, lactose, and SNF were increased by RUP. Insulin was increased, cortisol was decreased, and thyroid hormones were unaffected by RUP. Concentrations of NEFA were highest at wk 4. For early lactation cows fed diets containing sorghum or wheat silage, RUP is a necessity.

Cow weights and reproduction on native rangeland and native rangeland-complementary forage systems1

Replicated cow herds of 15 Angus x Hereford (AH) and 15 Brahman x Hereford (BH) F1 cows each were placed on native rangeland (NR) or native rangeland-complementary forage (NRCF) systems. The NR was 8.1 ha of sagebrush-mixed prairie per cow-calf unit and the NRCF used the same mixed prairie complemented by .4 ha of double-cropped winter wheat and summer annual forage replacing about 30% of the mixed prairie for each cow unit. Calving seasons, spring for NR and fall for NRCF, were selected to complement the respective forage systems. Cow weights, reproductive performance, and population demographics were measured through seven calf crops to investigate their relationship to forage systems and cow breed types. Seasonal average cow weights increased from 484 +/- 7 (SE) kg during calf crop 1 to a peak weight of 568 +/- 8 kg at calf crop 5. Average weight of AH cows was 514 +/- 3 kg, compared with 539 +/- 3 kg for the BH cows (P < .01). Angus x Hereford and BH cows were 38 and 44 kg heavier, respectively, on the NRCF system than on the NR system. The average percentage of reproduction for AH cows was 90 +/- 2%, compared with 87 +/- 2% for the BH cows (P < .13). Both breeds had approximately 87 (AH) to 89% (BH) reproductive rate on the NR system. In contrast, AH cows had 94 +/- 2% reproduction on the NRCF system, compared with 84 +/- 2% for the BH cows.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Summer annual forages in south central Kansas (1993)

Six summer annuals and three forage sorghums were evaluated for forage yield and quality under south central Kansas dryland conditions. When cut in the late boot to early heading stage, all forage types (millet, sudan, sorghum-sudan, and forage sorghum) produced similar dry matter yields, with no consistent differences in nutritional quality. Allowing the forages to reach maturity prior to cutting increased total yield per acre but decreased the crude protein content. The millets were higher in protein at maturity than the sudans or forage sorghums. However, the forage sorghums produced the most mature forage, whereas common sudan yielded the least. Cool, moist conditions during the growing season allowed the forages to develop slowly.

Growth and forage yield of cowpea and mungbean in the northern Great Plains

Cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.] and mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] are summer-annual legumes which have potential as forages in the northern Great Plains region of the USA during late summer when cool-season grass pastures decline in productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate forage yield and growth response of these species when grown under different row spacings and planting rates. Victor cowpea and Berken mungbean were planted at 500 000 pure live seeds (PLS) ha−1 in row spacings of 25, 50, and 75 cm at two South Dakota locations in 1987. In 1988 the two species were planted at rates of either 250 000 or 500 000 PLS ha−1 in the same row spacings at three locations. Cowpea produced higher forage yields than mungbean at all locations in both years. Yields of both species decreased with increased row spacing. Species did not differ in plant weight, but plant number per unit of harvested area was greater for cowpea than mungbean. Forage yield was not significantly affected by planting rate at any location in 1988; however, plant weight, leaflets plant−1, and leaf area plant−1 were significantly greater for the low rate, showing that forage yield remained relatively constant across wide variations in plant population. Results indicate that both cowpea and mungbean have potential as summer annual forage crops. However, the consistently higher yield performance of the cowpea cultivar suggests that it was better adapted than the mungbean cultivar to the northern Great Plains region and consequently should be a better forage crop. Key words: Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp., Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek, yield, plant density, cowpea, mungbean

Summer annual forages in south central Kansas (1991)

Summer annual forages in south central Kansas (1991)

Yield and nutritional quality of nine summer annual forages (1990)

Yield and nutritional quality of nine summer annual forages (1990)

YIELDS AND QUALITY OF ITALIAN AND WESTERWOLDS RYEGRASSES, RED CLOVER, ALFALFA, BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL, AND PERSIAN CLOVER GROWN IN MONOCULTURES AND RYEGRASS-LEGUME MIXTURES

Italian and Westerwolds ryegrasses (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.), red clover (T. pratense L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) were grown in monocultures and in ryegrass-legume mixtures as summer annual forages. Ryegrass monocultures were fertilized with NH4NO3 at 75 kg N/ha at plant emergence, and at the same rates after cuts 1 and 2. The forage legumes in order of productivity were Persian clover &gt; red clover &gt; alfalfa &gt; trefoil when grown in monoculture. Growing legumes in mixtures with ryegrass increased the dry matter (DM) yields from 15 to 52% over legumes grown in monocultures. The DM yields of mixtures were intermediate in relation to yields of legume monocultures and N fertilized ryegrasses. Inclusion of ryegrasses with legumes increased the DM production at the establishment phase and in the fall. Total N and in vitro digestibility of DM were lower for Westerwolds ryegrass-legume mixtures than for legume monocultures and Italian ryegrass-legume mixtures.Key words: Lolium multiflorum Lam., Trifolium resupinatum L., Trifolium pratense L., Medicago sativa L., Lotus corniculatus L.

A review of recurrent problems in feeding horses

E N Z O O T I C E Q U I N E C Y S T I T I S A N D ATAXIA The ingestion of fresh summer annual forages of the genus Sorghum (Johnson grass, Sudan grass and Common Sorghum) are the most commonly cited causes of equine cystitis and ataxia. Arrow grass, wild black cherry, chokecherry, pincherry, flax and the sorghums all contain cyanogenetic glycosides that are hydrolyzed to hydrocyanic acid during digestion. These plants are most toxic during rapid growth and immediately following a freeze. Heavy nitrate fertilization, wilting, trampling and disease may increase the level ofcyanogenetic glycosides. Urinary incontinence and posterior ataxia are clinically manifested following the ingestion of plants with cyanogenetic glycosides. There is axon dcgeneration and demylination at the posterior end of the spinal cord. ~-23 The condition is fatal. Horses should not graze fresh plants of the genus sorghum. If hay is properly cured and stored, it is safe for consumption.

Quality Estimates and Chemical Characterization of Fermented and Unfermented Summer Annual Forages1

AbstractLivestock enterprises require forage crops that provide feed during or after midsummer. Ten cultivars representative of forage and grain sorghums [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench], sorghum ✕ sudangrass (Sorghum vulgare sudanense) hybrids, and millet [Pennisetum americanum (L.) Leeke] that provide forage during this time of the year were evaluated for quality and fermentation characteristics. Chemical and bioassay measurements were compared prior to and after fermentation.Fermentation patterns were altered by sample handling. Expulsion of air from plastic fermentation bags by simply hand pressing or removal or air in the field by vacuum produced satisfactory silage for experimental purposes. Additional handling in the laboratory to heat seal was undesirable as it significantly increased pH and lactic acid concentrations and reduced titratable acidity.Fermentation generally reduced differences in IVDMD among cultivars within major types in the unfermented forage. Both N and crude fiber (CF) concentrations in oven‐dried samples generally were higher in fermented than in unfermented forage, but no difference was noted between 45 and 90 days of fermentation. Water‐soluble carbohydrate (WSC) levels were significantly altered by the drying method and fermentation. The WSC levels for unfermented forage and that fermented 45 and 90 days were 16.7, 6.6, and 7.6%, respectively. The WSC levels averaged 19.8% in unfermented freeze‐dried forage and 13.7% in unfermented oven‐dried forage. The WSC levels for fermented freeze‐dried forage were similar to those for oven‐dried forage (7.5 vs. 6.7%). The WSC percentages in the freeze‐dried, unfermented forage was not significantly correlated with either acetic or lactic acid production in 45‐day freeze‐dried fermented forage (r = 0.67 and 0.54, respectively), but were significantly correlated with titratable acidity (r = 0.93**). There was no indication of improved quality in fermented forage for which the WSC concentration was high in the unfermented tissue. Total digestible nutrients (TDN), computed from CF, averaged 58.2, 57.0, and 56.9% for the oven‐dried unfermented and 45 and 90‐day fermented silages, respectively, compared with IVDMD percentages of 52.6, 45.1, and 46.0.

Selection of Concomitant Variates Affecting Regrowth, Yield, and Digestibility in Forage Sorghums1

AbstractNumerous environmental factors and plant characteristics, and interactions among them and with management practices, affect growth and composition of summer annual forage sorghums (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench). Thirty‐eight plant and environment characteristics were estimated concurrently with the dry matter (DM) yield, DM regrowth rate (DM yield/day since emergence or since preceding harvest), and in vitro dry matter digestibility of three cultivars grown in the field on a fine‐loamy, siliceous, thermic Humic Hapludults and subjected to 19 different defoliation regimes in 2 different years. The selection of a subset of the 38 observed concomitant variates could be useful for planning future research. The purpose of this paper is to report on the sequential use of factor analysis and multiple regression techniques to decrease the number of independent variables without appreciable loss in the explanation for variability in the dependent variables. Factor analysis was used first to reduce possibly redundant concomitant variables or select proxy variables for a whole dimension. Fifteen of the original 38 variates were selected. multiple regression was then used to reduce further the concomitant variables to nine variables (days of growth since planting, days of regrowth since previous harvest, height of standing crop, leaf area index (LAI) of whole plant, DM yield of stubble at previous harvest, cumulative precipitation, degree days since previous harvest, percent leaf in DM harvest, LAI of whole plant at previous harvest). Six or fewer of these variates were associated with a large portion of the variability in the three dependent variables.The goal of parsimoniously identifying the variables which affected the dependent variables within a genotype in these experiments was attained. The strategy employed—sequential use of factor analysis and multiple regression for reduction in number of concomitant variables—may have merit for investigations in many agronomic disciplines.

Yield and quality of six summer annual forages (1979)

In 1977, all summer annual forages studied produced excellent yields. Based on leafiness and regrowth ability, sudangrasses and pearl millet appeared to be best for early vegetative and boot cutting management. The sorghum-sudan hybrids had suitable yields and quality at all harvest stages. The hybrid forage sorghum appeared best suited for soft-dough-stage harvest although yields of pearl millet and sorghum-Sudan hybrids were also excellent.

Grazing Pressures and Animal Performance from Pearl Millet1

AbstractIn the Gulf Costal Plain adapted summer annual forages such as pearl millet [Pennisetum typhoides (Burm.) Stapf and C. E. Hubb] are generally higher in energy content than perennial grasses and are capable of producing higher rates of gain. However, practically no data are available which define animal performance at different levels of forage utilization. The lack of definitive data on which to base a grazing program with pearl millet prompted this study which determined liveweight gains of weanling cattle grazing ]pearl millet and evaluated the relationships between gain, forage yield, forage quality, grazing pressure, and profitability.A hybrid pearl millet ‘Millex 23’ was seeded at the rate of 15 kg/ha on Thenas (Fluvaquentic Eutrochrept; coarse, loamy, mixed, thermic) soil and fertilized with 112 kg/ha each of N, P2O5, and K2O in each of 2 years. Weanling crossbred beef calves were used as tester animals and grazed at stocking rates ranging from 3.73 to 11.35 animals/ha. Liveweight average daily gains (ADG) from 0.27 to 1.01 kg were shown to be a non‐linear function of forage availability and a positive linear function of percent in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) available forage. Percent IVDMD of available forage varied from 36.29 to 63.57% and was inversely related to length of trial. Neutral detergent fiber values for available forage were negatively correlated with ADG (r= −0.84).Maximum profitability, expressed as return per ha, was found at intermediate grazing pressure and was dependent upon the magnitude of positive or negative margin between the time of purchase and the time of selling. Maximum profit occurred at greater grazing pressures as the positive margin between selling and purchase price increased.The most important factor affecting the profitability of grazing pearl millet was the differential between buying and selling price of the cattle. Aside from this factor, which the farmer seldom controls, grazing pressure is the most important determinant of profit. It was concluded that the greatest profit or least loss occurs at medium grazing pressures which, in this study, was approximately 2 kg of available forage per kg of animal liveweight.

A comparison of zulu sorghum, bulrush millet and white panicum in terms of yield, forage quality and milk production

Yield and nutritive value of three summer annual forages, hybrid forage sorghum (Sorghum spp. hybrid cv. Zulu), bulrush millet (Pennisetum typhoides cv. Tamworth) and white panicum millet (Echinochloa crusgalli var. edulis) were determined in three experiments. Uninterrupted growth was measured every 2 weeks between 4 and 12 weeks after sowing, and leaf, stem and inflorescence components analysed for nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium and dry matter digestibility by an in vitro technique. The value of 10-week-old herbage, from crops grown with 50 kg ha-1 N, was determined by grazing with 18 Jersey cows and by feeding chopped material to 12 cows indoors. White panicum was the lowest yielding forage (up to 6,360 kg ha-1 at 10 weeks) but contained the highest concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium in both leaf and stem fractions at all stages of growth. After 10 weeks growth this feed contained a high proportion of seed and was eaten in arger quantities than zulu sorghum or bulrush millet. Cows grazing white panicum produced the highestr lmilk yields (6.5 and 7.1 kg cow-1 day-1 indoors and grazed) and milk from these cows contained a highe solids-not-fat and protein content than milk from cows fed bulrush millet or sorghum. Zulu sorghum was highest yielding (1 1,240 kg ha-1 at 12 weeks in experiment 1 and 81 50 kg ha-1 at 10 weeks in experiment 2). With advancing maturity stem content increased (&gt;80 per cent from 8 weeks onwards) and the nitrogen content of both leaf and stem fractions rapidly declined to sub-optimum levels. Milk production of cows feeding on zulu sorghum was low, averaging 4.7 and 6.0 kg cow-1 day-1 for indoor and grazing experiments. Bulrush millet produced high forage yields with a higher leaf content than zulu sorghum and milk yields were higher. Butterfat content of milk from cows feeding on bulrush millet was lower than when cows were fed the other forages. It was concluded that these three forages are capable of providing a large bulk of feed but their feeding value at a semi-mature stage of growth is similar to perennial tropical pastures.

Crabgrass as a Forage and Hay Crop

Crabgrass is a high quality summer annual forage grass that is well adapted to the sandy soils and climatic conditions of the southern Coastal Plain. While it is often considered to be a weedy species, it is a valuable temporary summer forage crop, particularly on open land that is planted to vegetables or row crops, and used in a rotation as pasture for livestock grazing or hay production. This document is SS-AGR-193, one of a series of the Agronomy Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Published August 2003.&#x0D; SS-AGR-193/AG195: Crabgrass as a Forage and Hay Crop (ufl.edu)

The Relative Value of Xanthophyll from Corn Gluten Meal, Alfalfa, Coastal Bermudagrass and Pearl Millet for Broiler Pigmentation

DEHYDRATED grasses such as Coastal bermudagrass and Pearl millet represent potential xanthophyll sources for commercial poultry feeds.Coastal bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) is a hybrid characterized by upright growth, high leaf to stem ratio, rapid growth, fast regrowth after clipping, extremely good drouth resistance and good response to fertilization. It is a perennial grass established by sprigging and currently grown on about 6 million acres in southern and southeastern United States.Pearl millet (Pennisetum typhoides) is the highest yielding summer annual forage species adaptable to the same general area as Coastal bermudagrass. It is established by seeding and characterized by extremely fast growth, fast regrowth after clipping, good drouth resistance and high yields. The Gahi I hybrid used in this work was released in 1958 and is superior to older varieties in yield and response to fertilization.There is a paucity of published data on the pigmenting potency of degydrated Coastal .

Effect of Temperature and Soils on Emergence of Summer Annual Forage Grasses1

Effect of Temperature and Soils on Emergence of Summer Annual Forage Grasses¹