The study of readily measurable agronomic traits which may estimate total dry matter production and the determination of their relationships with quality characteristics needs more emphasis in alfalfa breeding. The main objective of this study was the selection of specific stem weight (SSW) and its relationship to other agronomic and nutritive traits. A secondary study was on agronomic and nutritive traits and their relationship with one another. Means, standard deviations, analyses of variance, and correlations were obtained on 98 Mesa-Sirsa alfalfa clones for SSW, plant height, yield, leaf-stem ratio, stem acid detergent fiber (ADF), leaf ADF, stem acid detergent lignin (ADL), and leaf ADL. The means of SSW (70-47 mg/5 cm), plant height (58-48 cm), yield (52-23 g), leaf-stem ratio (2.1-1.0), stem ADF (45-42%), and stem ADL (10.1-9.1%) varied from one harvest to another depending on the temperature. Significant differences were observed among alfalfa clones on June 1980 for SSW, plant height, yield, leaf-stem ratio, stem ADF, stem ADL, and leaf ADL. Range values were as follows: SSW (92-53 mg/5 cm), plant height (70-41 cm), yield (82-22 g), leaf-stem ratio (1.6-0.6), stem ADF (50-36%) stem ADL (13-8%), leaf ADF (18-13%), and leaf ADL (5-3%). A low correlation was reported between stem ADF and SSW (0.34) and also was observed between stem ADF and leaf ADF (0.46). The SSW probably would be more effective in increasing total dry matter production in dense stands. The coarseness of the stem was not related with high fiber. High leaf ADF could be useful in selecting for leaf cells which are more resistant to rupture and would gradually release soluble protein in the rumen; thus, the incidence of bloat probably would be reduced. A low stem ADF would make the stem more digestible; therefore, intake of the stem fraction may be greater. With more coarse material in the rumen, salivary secretion might be stimulated. The SSW and stem ADF could be used to select individual genotypes which could increase growth and development and at the same time improve forage quality, since SSW and stem ADF are not related.

Alfalfa accumulates phytoestrogens and when ingested binds the estrogen receptor and induces morphological changes similar to endogenous estrogens. The objective of this study is to evaluate morphological changes in uteri, vulva, and teats of ovariectomized prepubertal ewe lambs. Eighteen prepubertal ewe lambs were ovariectomized in November 2000 and fed nonestrogenic hay until May 2001. In May, ewes were fed bentgrass straw and cottonseed meal. On day 0 of a 12-day feed trial, ewes were assigned randomly to three treatments (n=6 in each treatment): Estradiol, Control, and Alfalfa. Estradiol treated ewes were fed bentgrass straw and cottonseed meal ad libitum, plus receiving a daily injection of 10 mg estradiol-17�� suspended in corn oil. Control ewes were fed bentgrass straw and cottonseed meal ad libitum and received a daily injection of corn oil vehicle. Alfalfa ewes were fed alfalfa ad libitum and received a daily injection of corn oil vehicle. Three blinded observers assigned each ewe a subjective score ranging from 1 (no change) to 4 (significant change) for vulva and teat morphology on Days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, 9 and 12. Teat length and circumference were measured on Days 1, 7 and 12. Ewes were slaughtered on Day 13, uteri were weighed, and a cross-section was collected from each uterine horn. Cross-sections were fixed in Lillie's Neutral Buffered Formalin and embedded in paraffin wax, sectioned at 4-5 ��m, and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. An ocular micrometer was used to measure luminal epithelial cell height. Estradiol treated ewes had heavier (p<0.05) uterine weights and greater (p<0.05) uterine luminal epithelial cell height than that of ewes fed alfalfa or control ewes. Uterine weights and uterine luminal epithelial cell height were greater (p<0.05) in alfalfa fed ewes than control ewes. Vulva scores for estradiol treated ewes were higher than those of control ewes (p<0.05). Alfalfa fed ewes had numerically higher vulva scores than control ewes but the difference was not significant statistically (p>0.05). Teat scores or measurements showed no differences (p>0.05) among treatments. Ewes exhibited slight changes in vulva scores due to treatment, but the most noted effects were observed in uterine growth. This research suggests that uterine weight and uterine luminal epithelial cell height are sensitive to the estrogenic activity of alfalfa and estradiol-17 resulting in morphological changes in estrogen target tissues in the prepubertal ewe lamb. / Graduation date: 2003

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the influence of quality of supplemental alfalfa quality on beef cattle consuming low-quality meadow grass (MG) roughages. Fifteen steers (250 kg) were assigned randomly to one of three treatments: 1) meadow grass (5.2% CP), no supplement (MNS); 2) meadow grass plus high quality alfalfa hay (AHS) (18.8% CP); and 3) meadow grass plus low quality alfalfa hay (ALS) (15.2% CP). Supplements were fed at 0.45% BW and 0.55 % BW respectively. Total DM intake was greater (P<.01) for alfalfa supplemented steers. Likewise intake of digestible DM, DM digestibility and ruminal ammonia levels were greater for alfalfa supplemented steers (P<.01). In Exp. 2; 96 gestating Hereford x Simmental cows (537 kg; body condition 4.86) were assigned to the same treatments as in Exp. 1. For d-0 to d-42 cows grazed on 19.1 ha of stockpiled MG (4539 kg/ha; 6.8% CP) whereas d-43 to d-84, cows received MG hay (5.2% CP). Results for the 84-d study indicated that supplemented cows gained more BW (P<.01), body condition (P<.01) and had heavier (P<.01) calf birth weights than MNS cows. In the first 42-d period supplemented cows gained 16.2 kg more BW than MNS cows (P<.01). Likewise, supplemented cows increased .24 BC more (P<.01) than MNS cows. The same trend was observed from d-42 to d-84, though ALS cows lost more BC (P<.01) than the AHS cows. In Exp. 3; 90 gestating Angus x Hereford cows (475 kg; body condition 4.59) were assigned to one of three supplemental treatments: 1) 16.1% CP alfalfa; 2) 17.8% CP alfalfa; 3) 20.0% CP alfalfa. The level of supplementation was 0.63%, 0.55%, and 0.50% of BW, respectively. The basal diet was baled MG hay (5.6% CP). Weight gain and BC change for the 84-d study displayed a quadratic response (P<.10). In conclusion, alfalfa hay is an effective way of increasing low-quality roughage DM intake and digestibility. However, alfalfa hay quality did not appear to dramatically effect BW, BC, and (or) calf birth weights, when fed on a isonitrogenous basis. (KEY WORDS: Beef cattle, Supplementation, Meadow Hay, Alfalfa Hay) / Graduation date: 1997

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Integrative Biology, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2005. / Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xviii, 141 p.; also includes graphics (some col.) Includes bibliographical references (p. 116-130). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center

No description available.

Thesis (MScAgric)--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: An experiment was conducted to determine whether the quality of lucerne hay could be improved by artificial drying in a forced air bulk dryer (FABD) in comparison to lucerne hay produced by natural drying in the field. Lucerne fields were divided into four blocks of equal size and blocks were randomly assigned to each of the two treatments (natural or artificial drying). Lucerne was harvested at an early to mid flowering stage on six occasions. In two blocks, cut lucerne was left in the field to dry. Material in the remaining two blocks were left in the field for an initial drying period of no longer than 24 hours, after which it was transferred to a FABD. Samples oflucerne were taken at the time of harvest and then at regular intervals (on average 0, 4, 8,22,26,29,47,50,53, 56, 58,69, 72, 76 and 80 hours after cutting) in the field and in the FABD until the material was dry enough for baling (ca. 15-18% moisture). Collected lucerne samples were dried in a forced draught oven until constant mass to determine moisture content. The rate of moisture loss was compared. Samples of the lucerne hay in the field and in the FABD were taken after baling to determine forage quality by means of chemical analysis. Samples were analysed for crude protein (CP), total digestible nutrients (TDN), digestible organic matter (DOM), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content. Good weather conditions for natural drying during the trial period resulted in lucerne hay of similar chemical composition. Naturally dried lucerne hay had CP, ADF and NDF contents of 17.3, 41.2 and 48.0%, respectively, while values for artificially dried lucerne were 17.6, 40.6 and 47.3%. It was concluded that artificial drying of lucerne does probably not produce lucerne of a better quality than field drying under good weather conditions. In the following trials eight ruminally cannulated cows (four Jerseys and four Holsteins) were used to compare protein and fibre degradability of lucerne harvested at different stages of maturity (ie. 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth), and of different lucerne products (ie. lucerne hay, lucerne leaves and 8% leaves added to hay), dried in a forced air bulk dryer. All cows received a total mixed lactation diet for the duration of the trial period. The first in situ rumen degradability trial was conducted with lucerne harvested at three stages of maturity namely after 4,5 and 6 weeks' regrowth. Bags were incubated in the rumen for time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hours. Samples were analysed for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) content. The effective DM, protein and NDF degradabilities of lucerne hay did not differ (P>0.05) between Holstein and Jersey cows. In Holsteins, DM degradability values calculated at an outflow rate of 0.05/h for lucerne harvested after 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth were 63.1, 57.1 and 55.0%, respectively. Values of 64.6, 58.6 and 55.7% were obtained in Jerseys. CP degradability values for lucerne harvested after 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth were 81.7, 77.2 and 77.6% in Holsteins and 81.3, 78.2 and 79.4% in Jerseys. NDF degradability values for lucerne harvested after 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth were 35.8, 45.5 and 23.2% respectively in Holsteins and 35.1, 45.9 and 24.8% in Jerseys. Analysis of the effective DM, protein and NDF degradabilities across breeds indicated differences between lucerne harvested after 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth. Rumen degradability of DM and protein was the highest for lucerne harvested after 4 weeks' regrowth. DM degradability values oflucerne harvested after 4,5 and 6 weeks' regrowth calculated at a flow rate of 0.05/h were 63.9, 57.9, 55.4%, respectively, while protein degradability values were 81.5, 77.7 and 78.5%. The lowest ruminal NDF degradability values were found for lucerne harvested after 6 weeks' regrowth. Values for NDF degradability calculated at a flow rate of 0.05/h for lucerne harvested after 4, 5 and 6 weeks' regrowth were 35.5, 45.7 and 23.7%, respectively. These results indicated that lucerne quality decreased in terms of DM, protein and NDF degradability as the plants mature. The second in situ rumen degradability trial was conducted with three different lucerne components dried in a forced air bulk dryer, namely lucerne hay, lucerne leaves and lucerne hay + 8% leaves. The procedure followed was the same as in the first in situ trial. Dacron bags, containing samples of the lucerne components were incubated in the rumen for time intervals of 0, 2, 4, 8, 16,24,48 and 72 hours. Samples were also analysed for DM, CP and NDF content and compared both between breeds and across breeds. DM and protein degradability values (rate and effective degradability) of the artificially dried lucerne hay were higher in Jerseys than in Holsteins. DM degradability values calculated for Holsteins at a flow rate of 0.05/h for lucerne hay, lucerne leaves and lucerne hay + 8% leaves were 57.6, 66.5 and 61.4%, respectively, while protein degradability values of 76.9, 75.5 and 77.9% were obtained. DM degradability values calculated for Jerseys were 62.9, 69.1 and 61.7%, respectively, while protein degradability values of 82.4, 77.6 and 78.5% were obtained. Analysis of the mean disappearance values across breeds indicated that protein degradability of lucerne hay in the rumen was higher than that of lucerne leaves. Protein degradability values calculated at a flow rate of 0.05/h for lucerne hay and lucerne leaves were 80.1 and 76.5% respectively. The NDF degradability of lucerne hay was, however, lower than what it was for lucerne leaves (24.6 vs. 29.7%). / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Studies omtrent die voedingswaarde van lusern vir melkkoeie. 'n Eksperiment is uitgevoer om te bepaal of die kwaliteit van lusernhooi verbeter kan word deur gebruik te maak van kunsmatige droging in plaas van die tradisionele landdroging. Lusernlande is in vier blokke verdeel en blokke is ewekansig aan elk van die twee behandelings (kunsmatige en landdroging) toegeken. Gesnyde materiaal in twee van die blokke is op die land gelaat vir die duur van die drogingsproses. Die materiaal in die oorblywende twee blokke is op die land gelaat vir 'n aanvanklike drogingsperiode van maksimum 24 uur, waarna dit in 'n massa-droogoond geplaas is. Lusernmonsters is net na sny op die land geneem en daarna met gereelde (gemiddeld 4,8,22,26,29,47,50, 53, 56, 58, 69, 72, 76 en 80 uur na sny) intervalle op die land en in die droër totdat die materiaal droog genoeg was om te baal. Lusernmonsters is in 'n droogoond gedroog totdat 'n konstante massa bereik is vir die bepaling van die voginhoud van die materiaal. Die tempo van vogverlies van die materiaal in die massadroër en op die land is bepaal. Monsters van die lusernhooi wat op die land en in die oond gedroog is, is na baal geneem en die chemiese samestelling van die lusernhooi is bepaal. Monsters is ontleed vir ruprotein- (RP), totale verteerbare voedingstof- (TVV), verteerbare organiese materiaal- (VOM), suur bestande vesel (SBV) en neutraal bestande vesel (NBV)-inhoud. Weersomstandighede was ideaal vir natuurlike droging van lusern en dit het aanleiding gegee daartoe dat die chemiese samestelling van die kunsmatig- en natuurlik gedroogde lusernhooi nie veel verskil het nie. Die RP, ADF en NDF inhoud van natuurlik gedroogde lusernhooi was 17.3,41.2 en 48.0% terwyl waardes van 17.6,40.6 en 47.3% vir kunsmatig gedroogde lusernhooi verkry is. Daar is bevind dat die kunsmatige droging van lusern nie 'n hoër kwaliteit hooi lewer as wat verkry kan word tydens landdroging wanneer weersomstandighede gunstig is nie. Hierna is twee degradeerbaarheidstudies gedoen. Agt koeie (vier Holsteins en vier Jerseys) met rumenkannulas, is gebruik om die proteïen- en veseldegradeerbaarheid van verskillende lusernkomponente te vergelyk. Lusern op verskillende groeistadia gesny, asook verskillende lusernprodukte wat kunsmatig gedroog is, is vergelyk. Al die koeie het gedurende die proeftydperk 'n hoë-konsentraat laktasierantsoen ontvang. Die eerste in situ degradeerbaarheidstudie is gedoen met lusern wat na 4-, 5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is. Sakkies met lusernmonsters is in die rumen geplaas vir 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24,48 en 72 uur onderskeidelik. Monsters is na inkubasie in die rumen vir die DM-, RPen NBV -inhoud daarvan ontleed. Daar is bevind dat die DM-, proteïen en NBV degradeerbaarhede van lusernhooi nie verskil het (P.0>05) tussen Holstein- en Jerseykoeie nie. DM degradeerbaarhede wat by 'n deurvloeitempo van 0.05/h in Holsteinkoeie bereken is vir lusern wat na 4-,5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is, was onderskeidelik 63.1, 57.1 en 55.0%. Die waardes wat vir Jerseys bereken is, was onderskeidelik 64.6,58.6 en 55.7%. Vir lusern wat na 4-,5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is, was RP degradeerbaarhede 81.7, 77.2 en 77.6%, onderskeidelik, vir Holsteinkoeie en 81.3, 78.2 en 79.4%, onderskeidelik, vir Jerseys. NDFdegradeerbaarhede vir lusern wat na 4-,5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is, was 35.8,45.5 en 23.2%, onderskeidelik, vir Holsteins en 35.1, 45.9 en 24.8%, onderskeidelik, vir Jerseys. 'n Vergelyking van die DM-, proteïen- en NBV-degradeerbaarhede wat gedoen is met die saamgevoegde data van al die diere, het daarop gedui dat verskille bestaan tussen die lusern wat na 4-, 5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is. Die lusern wat na 4 weke hergroei gesny is, het die hoogste DM- en proteïendegradeerbaarheid in die rumen getoon. DMdegradeerbaarhede wat bereken is teen 'n deurvloei tempo van 0.05/h vir lusern wat na 4, 5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is, was onderskeidelik 63.9,57.9 en 55.4% en proteindegradeerbaarhede was 81.5, 77.5 en 78.5%. Lusern wat na 6 weke hergroei gesny is het die laagste NDF-degradeerbaarheid gehad. Waardes wat bereken is teen 'n deurvloeitempo van 0.05/h vir lusern wat na 4-,5- en 6 weke hergroei gesny is, was onderskeidelik 35.5, 45.7 en 23.7%. Hierdie resultate dui daarop dat die kwaliteit van lusern afneem in terme van DM-, protein- en NBV-degradeerbaarhede namate die plante meer volwasse raak. Die tweede rumendegradeerbaarheidstudie is gedoen met 3 lusernprodukte wat in 'n massadroër gedroog is nl. lusernhooi, lusernblare en lusernhooi waarby 8% lusernblare gevoeg is. Dieselfde proefprosedure as tydens die eerste degradeerbaarheidstudie is gevolg. Sakkies met lusernmonsters, is in die rumen geplaas vir 0, 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 en 72 uur. Monsters is ontleed vir DM-, proteïen- en NBV inhoud. Daar is gevind dat die proteïen degradeerbaarheid (tempo en effektiewe degradeerbaarheid) van kunsmatig gedroogde lusernhooi, hoër was by Jerseys as by Holsteins. DM degradeerbaarhede wat in Holsteinkoeie teen 'n deurvloeitempo van 0.05/h bereken is vir lusernhooi, lusernblare en lusernhooi + 8% blare, was 57.6, 66.5 en 61.4%, onderskeidelik, terwyl proteïen degradeerbaarhede 76.9, 75.5 en 77.9%, onderskeidelik, was. Vir Jerseys is DM-degradeerbaarhede van 62.9,69.1 en 61.7%, onderskeidlik, bereken terwyl proteïendegradeerbaarhede 82.4, 77.6 en 78.5% was. Gemiddelde verdwyningswaardes, wat bereken is deur data van al die diere saam te gebruik, dui daarop dat die proteïen degradeerbaarheid van lusernhooi in die rumen hoër was as in die geval van lusernblare. Die proteïen degradeerbaarhede wat bereken is teen 'n deurvloeitempo van 0.05/h, was 80.1 en 76.5%, onderskeidelik, vir lusernhooi en lusernblare. Die NBV -degradeerbaarheid van lusernhooi was egter laer as vir lusernblare (24.6 vs. 29.7%).

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No description available.