Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 137 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 93-103).

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Agronomy / Doohong Min / Alfalfa is an important forage legume grown in the central Great Plains. However, producers still lack information about the productivity of alfalfa grown with cool-season grasses and the proper time of the last cut of alfalfa in the fall. Two studies are presented in this dissertation. The first study was to determine during a three-year period (2015-2017) the dry matter yield (DMY) and forage nutritive value of alfalfa-grass mixtures compared to alfalfa and grasses grown in monoculture and to assess the effect of nitrogen fertilizer on the dry matter yield and nutritive value of alfalfa-grass mixtures. During the three-years, the DMY was significantly higher in monoculture alfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixtures than in grass monocultures. No significant differences in DMY between alfalfa monoculture and alfalfa-grass mixtures were found. For all treatments, nitrogen application significantly increased DMY compared to the control. In 2016 and 2017, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in smooth bromegrass and tall fescue were higher than in other treatments. Nitrogen fertilizer application did not affect nutritive values such as crude protein (CP), ADF, NDF, and relative feed value (RFV) in different treatments of the forage species. The second study determined the effect of timing of a fall cut on dry matter yield, nutritive value, and stand persistence of alfalfa in Northeastern Kansas in the United States. The DMY of first cut in 2016 was significantly higher in the Roundup Ready variety of alfalfa than in the low-lignin variety of alfalfa. There were no significant differences in DMY between alfalfa varieties in the remaining seasonal cuttings in 2016 and 2017 and in the annual total yield in both years. The DMY of the last cut in the fall was the highest in 2015, 2016 and 2017 in plots that were harvested on September 30. In 2017 the highest DMY in first cut was found in plots that were cut on October 15 in the previous year. The last harvests of the 2016 season, which were on October 15 and October 30, had the highest nutritive value. Opposite results on October 15 and October 30 were observed in 2017. Alfalfa cut on September 15 and September 30 had a higher stand persistence compared to alfalfa cut on October 15 and October 30. In conclusion, last fall cutting of alfalfa, which could be up to October 15, appeared to be acceptable because it did not affect forage dry matter yield.

The use of hydroponic feeding systems for horses has gained in popularity during recent years. Typically, this feeding system allows for a more efficient use of the whole plant, including the shoot, root, and seed remnants rather than traditional grazing in which only the shoot of the plant is consumed. Vertical systems have practical uses in largely developed areas where traditional forage sources are limited, in arid countries or in areas with severe droughts where forage growth is minimal. Though there is some research on fodder utilization in production animals, there are currently no published data on the effects of fodder in horses. Our study, approved by the Southern Illinois University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (#13-043) utilized eight Quarter Horse mares randomly assigned to one of two diets. Control (CON) horses were offered 2% of their body weight (BW) in hay (DM) and treatment (TRT) horses received 1% of their BW in hay (DM) and 1% of BW in fresh wheat fodder (AF) twice daily. Body weight and hoof temperature data were recorded weekly. Fecal samples were collected weekly and analyzed for pH, NH3, and VFA concentration as well as DM, ash, NDF, ADF, N, CP, and EE. Hay and fodder samples were also collected weekly to monitor nutrient profiles of the two forage types for the duration of the study. Additionally, nutrient profiles from seed to mature (8 d growth) were developed for fodder. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design using PROC MIXED of SAS (v. 9.4) and significance was established at P < 0.05. There were no significant differences in body weight, left or right front hoof temperatures between treatments. Fecal pH was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.01) in the TRT when compared to CON, and isobutyric acid was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in TRT as compared to CON. A comparison of the nutrient values of the two forages demonstrated significantly higher DM, ash, NDF, and ADF (P <0.0001) in hay while N, CP, and EE (P <0.0001) were significantly higher in fodder overall. Daily growth of the fodder decreased DM content (P <0.0001) while ash, NDF, ADF, N, CP, and EE (P <0.0001) increased as the fodder reached maturity. These results indicate that utilizing fodder affects fecal metabolites associated with digestion.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-12-07Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T21:03:43Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 magalhaes_ma_dr_jabo.pdf: 1657940 bytes, checksum: 9b49a53352c39415b50461e5b72b26ae (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O trabalho objetivou estudar e mensurar as características morfogênicas, estruturais e composição química de cultivares de Brachiaria (Marandu, Xaraés e Xaraés) submetidas a níveis de oferta de forragem (4, 7, 10 e 13% do peso vivo animal) sob pastejo rotativo. O experimento foi realizado no setor de Forragicultura, UNESP, campus de Jaboticabal, SP, no período de novembro de 2007 a fevereiro de 2008, e de novembro de 2008 a fevereiro de 2009. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos ao acaso com três repetições por oferta de forragem, totalizando 36 parcelas. A altura das plantas e comprimida foram maiores na oferta de forragem de 13% e na cultivar Xaraés, que também apresentou maior massa de lâminas foliares no prépastejo do último ciclo. No primeiro ano de avaliação e no primeiro ciclo de pastejo a taxa de aparecimento da lâmina foliar foi maior nas cultivares Marandu e Mulato. O número de lâminas foliares vivas variou em cada cultivar de Brachiaria, já que essa é uma característica particular de cada genótipo. O número de perfilhos vegetativos basais foi menor na cultivar Xaraés. O número de perfilhos mortos foi maior nas cultivares Marandu e Mulato (P<0,05), mostrando uma sincronia entre o aparecimento e morte de perfilhos, caracterizando um padrão de intensa renovação da população de perfilhos no pasto. Nas menores ofertas foi possível maior controle do alongamento do colmo, sendo que a cultivar Marandu apresentou as características mais desejadas no manejo do pasto. O maior teor de proteína bruta na lâmina foliar (P<0,05) foi na oferta de forragem de 4% e de modo geral, o componente lâmina foliar apresentou maior teor de proteína bruta que o componente colmo. O teor de fibra em detergente ácido foi maior na cultivar Xaraés para os componentes lâmina foliar e colmo. Independente das cultivares de Brachiaria e das ofertas de forragem... / The study aimed to evaluate and measure the morphogenesis, structure and chemical composition of Brachiaria (Marandu Xaraés and Xaraés) submitted to levels of herbage allowance (4, 7, 10 and 13% of live weight) under rotational stocking system. The experiment was conducted at the forage sector at UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, from November 2007 to February 2008 and November 2008 to February 2009. The experimental design was a complete randomized block design with three replicates per herbage allowance, totalizing 36 plots. Plant height and height compressed were higher at 13% herbage allowance and Xaraés cultivar, which also showed higher leaf mass at pregrazing in the last grazing cycle. In the first year of evaluation and the first grazing cycle, the leaf blade appearance rate was higher in Marandu and Mulato.cultivars. The number of leaf blades alive varied in each Brachiaria cultivar, since this is a particular characteristic of each genotype. The number of basal vegetative tillers was lower at Xaraés cultivar. The number of dead tillers was higher in cultivars Marandu and Mulato (P<0,05), indicating a synchrony between the appearing and death of tillers, characterizing a pattern of intense renewal of tillers in the pasture. In the lower herbage allowance could better control of stem elongation, and the cultivar Marandu presented the characteristics most desirable in the sward. The highest crude protein content in leaf (P<0,05) in was at herbage allowance 4% and in general, the leaf component showed higher crude protein content than the stem component. The content of acid detergent fiber was higher in cultivar Xaraes for leaf and stem components. Regardless of Brachiaria cultivars and herbage allowance studied the chemical composition of leaf blades had higher crude protein and lower levels of neutral detergent fiber contents found in the stem component... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-02-27Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:36:15Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 alari_fo_me_jabo.pdf: 325607 bytes, checksum: 4756624259fe078876f2e69dd8b056d2 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar as características estruturais e morfogênicas do capim-tanzânia, sob lotação intermitente, com diferentes índices de área foliar residual (IAFr). O experimento foi conduzido no setor de caprinocultura, FCAV, UNESP Jaboticabal, SP, no período de outubro de 2010 a maio de 2011. Os tratamentos foram três índices de área foliar residuais (IAFr)( 0,8; 1,6 e 2,4), sendo o período de descanso com o critério de 95% de interceptação luminosa (IL), em blocos casualizados com seis repetições. Foram avaliadas, no pré e pós pastejo, as alturas do dossel, IL, IAF, massa de forragem e as características morfogênicas e estruturais. As características período de rebrotação (PR), taxa de aparecimento foliar (TApF), taxa de aparecimento de perfilhos (TAP) obtiveram comportamento linear crescente com o aumento do IAFr. Já as características taxa de alongamento de colmo (TAlC), tamanho de final de folha (TFF), filocrono, taxa de senescência foliar (TSeF), dias de vida da folha (DVF), massa seca de colmo (MSC) no pré-pastejo e massa seca de folha (MSF) no pós-pastejo obtiveram comportamento linear crescente. Em relação aos ciclos de pastejo a TFF obteve efeito linear crescente, a TApF obteve comportamento quadrático com ponto de máximo no segundo ciclo, a MSF no pós e pré-pastejo, e a relação folha/colmo (F/C) obteve efeito linear decrescente, e as características PR, TAlC, filocrono, TSeF e DVF obteve comportamento quadrático com ponto de mínimo no segundo ciclo. Os pastos mantidos com maior desfolhação apresentaram características morfológicas e estruturais mais favoráveis ao pastejo de caprinos / This study aimed to evaluate the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of the Tanzania grass (Panicum maximum (Jacq.) cv. Tanzania-1) under rotational grazing with different levels of residual leaf index (RLI). The experiment was carried out at the goat of the FCAV, UNESP Jaboticabal, SP, from October 2010 to May 2011. Os tratamentos foram três índices de área foliar residuais (IAFr)( 0,8; 1,6 e 2,4), sendo o período de descanso com o critério de 95% de interceptação luminosa (IL), em blocos casualizados com seis repetições. Were evaluated before and after grazing, the sward heights, IL, IAF, herbage mass and the morphogenetic and structural characteristics of the pastures. The characteristics of regrowth period (RP), leaf appearance rate (LAR), rate of tillering (RT) obtained increased linearly with increasing RLA. Since the characteristics of stem elongation rate (SER), final leaf size (FLS), phyllochron, leaf senescence rate (LSR) days of life of the leaf (DLL), dry mass of stem (DMS) in pre-grazing and dry weight of leaf (DWL) in the post-grazing had increased linearly with increasing IAFr. In relation to the grazing cycles FLS obtained increased linearly, the LAR was obtained with a quadratic maximum point in the second cycle, the DWL post and pre-grazing and leaf / stem ratio (L/S) obtained linear decreasing effect the cycles of grazing, and features RP, SER, phyllochron, DLL and LSR obtained with a quadratic minimum point in the second cycle. The pasture maintained with greater defoliation (RLI 0.8), had morphological and structural best for grazing goats

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