Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of grazing stockpiled perennial forage in field paddocks relative to feeding similar quality round bale hay in drylot pens on rumen degradation characteristics of forage; beef cow performance, cow reproductive efficiency, estimated dry matter intake and forage utilization, forage yield and quality, soil nutrients and system costs. Winter feeding systems were (i) stockpiled perennial forage (TDN = 58.9%; CP = 8.5%) grazing (SPF) and (ii) drylot feeding (DL) of round bale hay (TDN = 57.9%; CP = 8.4%). Experiment I was an in situ study, where five Hereford heifers (398 ± 14 kg) fitted with rumen cannulae were fed a grass hay (DM = 93.2%; TDN = 50.8%; CP = 9.8%; NDF = 66.2%) diet. In situ degradability of both stockpiled forage (SPF) and round bale hay (BH) samples collected at start (October) and end (December) of the field study were determined. The soluble fraction (S) of DM was greater (P = 0.01) in SPF October forage compared to SPF December, BH October and BH December forages. The potentially degradable fraction (D) of CP was lowest (P = 0.04) in BH December forage than in SPF October, SPF December and BH October forages suggesting that hay quality declined more rapidly than stockpiled forage and method of preservation may have affected overall hay quality. Furthermore, D fraction of both ADF and NDF was higher in SPF samples suggesting stockpiled forage may be more digestible than hay. However, the D fraction of NDF in both SPF and BH forages declined with later sampling date possibly due to effect of weathering and leaf loss. In Experiment II, 6, 4-ha paddocks consisting of meadow bromegrass (Bromus riparius Rehm) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa), were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 replicated (n = 3) winter feeding systems. In this study 58 dry pregnant (120 ± 16 d) Angus cows (675 kg ± 51 kg), stratified by body weight (BW; corrected for conceptus gain), were allocated to either the SPF or DL systems. Cows in winter feeding systems were provided additional energy supplement (rolled barley) (TDN = 86.4%; CP = 12.4%) depending on environmental conditions to maintain body condition, with no weight gain above that of conceptus growth. Dry matter intake (DMI) and forage utilization were estimated using the herbage weight disappearance method. The effects of winter feeding systems on soil nutrients were determined the following spring after winter grazing. Forage yield in DL (4683 ± 495 kg ha-1) and SPF (4032 ± 495 kg ha-1) systems was not different (P = 0.18) between treatments. However, forage utilization was lower (P < 0.01) in SPF (83.5%) than the DL (94.4%) system, signifying lower accessibility to stockpiled forage due to snow depth, lower temperatures, freezing rain and wind. Cows in the SPF system had higher forage DMI (P = 0.04) and supplementation intake (P < 0.01) compared to cows in drylot pens likely a combined effect of effective ambient temperatures below the lower critical temperature (LCT) during the grazing period and the higher potentially digestible fraction of neutral detergent fiber in stockpiled forage than hay. Cow BW change, average daily gain, rib fat change and rump fat change were not different (P > 0.05) between winter feeding systems. Reproductive performance of beef cows was not affected (P > 0.05) by either winter feeding methods as cows in both systems maintained body condition score (BCS) at 2.5 to 3.0 throughout the study. Average total production cost was 19% lower in SPF system compared to DL system. In conclusion, the rumen degradation characteristics of stockpiled perennial forages focused in this study support the utilization these forages in a winter feeding system to meet the nutrient requirements of dry beef cows in early to mid-gestation. It may be cost effective to manage beef cows in field grazing of stockpiled perennial forages in western Canada, without any negative impact on beef cow performance or reproductive efficiency.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the effects of source (experiment 1), frequency, and level (experiments 2 and 3) of energy supplementation on performance, forage utilization and intake, productivity, rumen fermentation, and nutrient digestibility of growing beef cattle fed stockpiled forage. In experiment 1 (EXP1) and experiment 2 (EXP2), 45 cross bred yearling steers were managed on stockpiled crested wheatgrass pasture over 70 days during summer/fall of 2011 and 2012. Steers were stratified by IBW (EXP1 = 334±1.2 kg; EXP2 = 358±1.8 kg) and allocated randomly to 1 of 9 crested wheatgrass pastures (5 steers/pasture). Each pasture was randomly assigned to 1 of 3 replicated (n = 3) treatments. In EXP1, two isonitrogenous and isocaloric by-product feed pellets that differed in starch and degradable fiber content were used in one of three supplementation strategies: 1) no supplement (CON), or supplemented at 0.6 % of BW with 2) low starch/high fibre (LS/HF) pellet (40.3% starch; 29.5% NDF DM basis) pellet, or 3) high starch/low fibre (HS/LF; 48.6% starch; 22.8% NDF DM basis) pellet. In EXP2 a by-product feed pellet was formulated to provide ruminal and post-ruminal energy (30.3 % NDF; 32.0 % starch; 7.2 % fat) supplementation strategies included: 1) daily (DLY) supplementation at 0.6 % of BW, 2) low-alternate (LA) supplementation at 0.9 % of BW, and 3) high-alternate (HA) supplementation at 1.2 % of BW. There was no effect (P > 0.05) of treatment on forage utilization in either experiment. In EXP 1, final BW and ADG were not different (P > 0.05) between LS/HF (435 kg; 1.4 kg d-1) and HS/LF (439 kg; 1.5 kg d-1). However, supplemented cattle had higher (P < 0.05) final BW and ADG than CON cattle (402 kg; 1.0 kg d-1). Supplementation increased production costs by 450 %. In EXP 2, no difference (P > 0.05) was observed for final BW and ADG among DLY (435 kg; 1.1 kg d-1), LA (424 kg; 0.9 kg d-1), and HA (428 kg; 1.0 kg d-1). Production costs were reduced by 23 % with alternate supplementation and LA had 19 % less production costs than HA. In experiment three (EXP 3), four ruminally cannulated beef heifers were individually fed a stockpiled grass hay and offered the same pelleted supplement as in EXP2. Treatments consisted of 4 supplementation strategies: 1) no supplement (CON), 2) daily (DLY) supplementation at 0.6% BW, 3) low-alternate (LA) supplementation at 0.9 % of BW, and 4) high-alternate (HA) supplementation at 1.2 % of BW. Forage intake, rumen fermentation parameters, and apparent total tract digestibility were measured. Three data sets were analyzed: 1) overall (average of all collection days), 2) day of supplementation (DS) and 3) non-supplementation day (NSD) for alternating treatments. Overall, hay DMI (kg d-1) was lower (P = 0.04) for DLY (7.1) vs. CON (8.1), but no different (P ≥ 0.11) for DLY vs. LA (6.9), or vs. HA (6.4). On DS, hay DMI (kg d-1) of DLY (7.3) differed (P < 0.05) vs. HA (6.0), but was not different (P = 0.16) vs. LA (6.4). On NSD, hay DMI (kg d-1) of DLY (7.0) was not different (P ≥ 0.48) to those of LA (7.3) and HA (6.9). Overall, total VFA concentration (mM) was lower (P < 0.01) for CON (69.2) vs. DLY (77.1); but not different (P ≥ 0.45) for DLY vs. LA (75.8) or HA (75.1). Rumen NH3 (mg/dL) was lower (P < 0.01) for CON (3.4) and higher (P < 0.01) for LA (5.8) vs. DLY (4.6), but not different (P = 0.37) for DLY vs. HA (4.3). Overall, ruminal pH was lower (P ≤ 0.04) for DLY (6.65) vs. CON (6.75) and HA (6.72), but similar (P = 0.18) for DLY vs. LA (6.70). On DS, ruminal pH was lower (P = 0.04) for HA (6.59) vs. DLY (6.64), but higher (P < 0.01) on NSD for HA (6.85) vs. DLY (6.67). Apparent DM, OM and GE digestibility coefficients were lower (P ≤ 0.03) for CON and LA vs. DLY, but no difference (P ≥ 0.36) for DLY vs. HA. These results indicate that beef steers grazing stockpiled crested wheatgrass were limited in energy intake and that supplementation of metabolizable energy improved animal performance regardless of the source of energy. Reducing the frequency of energy supplementation and level offered on alternate days do not affect animal performance and reduces the production costs of the system. Negative effects of alternate day supplementation on forage intake and rumen fermentation are reduced when a lower level is offered relative to simply doubling the daily amount of supplement.

The objectives of this study were to determine how seed reserves varied with depth in topsoil stockpiles and to evaluate the effect of length of time of storage on the number of viable seeds and number of species of seeds. Soil samples were taken from five topsoil piles representing zero to three years of storage on the Elkol-Sorenson mine near Kemmerer in southwestern Wyoming. Seeds were extracted using flotation/separation methods and were tested for viability using 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride solution. Data were analyzed using nonparametric statistical tests. Overall density of seeds in topsoil piles was low. No relationship was found between depth into the topsoil pile and the number of seeds or species. The number of seeds and species in the topsoil pile showed no decrease with increasing length of time of storage. The proportion of annual species in the seed reserve was not shown to increase with length of time of storage. Comparisons were made between the species composition of the seed reserve in the topsoil piles and the species composition of vegetation on sites selected to represent the sites of origin of the topsoil. Factors affecting the density, species composition and species richness of stored topsoil were suggested to be the plant community on the soil to be removed, depth of soil removed, and timing of topsoil removal.

Reclamation success is highly dependent upon final soil quality of stockpiled soils, such as those found Cold Lake Oil Sands Region. Stockpiled soils, however, are generally poor in quality. Soils were amended with, biochar (BC), humalite (HU), a sub-bituminous coal; and peat (PT), as well as 50:50 blends of biochar:humalite (BCH) and biochar:peat (BCP). These amendments were applied at rates of 0, 6.55, 13.1 and 26.2 g C kg-1 each. Biochar, PT, and BCP applied at the rate of 26.2 g C kg-1 were found to reduce N2O emissions by 34, 54, and 70%, respectively, relative to the control. Within the bioassay, BC and PT amendment resulted in a 38 and 40% increase in dry matter yield (DMY) respectively. Finally, amendment typically resulted in significant net decreases in Olsen P values, while nitrate and ammonium concentrations were high in PT amended soils. In general, PT had the best overall performance. / October 2015

This 2-yr experiment evaluated productivity of wild-type, endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) and novel endophyte-infected tall fescue (NE) summer stockpiled (SS) pastures and the performance of fall-calving beef cow/calf pairs stocked on each cultivar. Fescue cultivars used were KY-31 and MaxQ for E+ and NE treatments, respectively. Pregnant Simmental x Angus cows (128 total, 64 each yr) were stratified by BW, BCS, and expected calving date and then allotted to 1 of 10 pasture groups within each yr (20 groups total, 10 per treatment). Forage growth was stockpiled from April until the initiation of strip-grazing on August 31 of 2017 and 2018. Cows grazed treatment pastures for 52 d from 23 ± 14 d prepartum to 29 ± 14 d postpartum, and calved on treatment pastures. Forage quadrats were clipped from the grazed and ungrazed portions of each pasture to determine weekly forage mass. Total ergot alkaloid (TEA) concentrations were analyzed for all pastures at the beginning of the experiment and every subsequent 2 wk for E+ tall fescue. Cow BW was recorded on 2 consecutive d and BCS determined at the start and end of the experiment. In yr 2, ultrasound 12th rib fat thickness (FT) was measured at the beginning and end of the treatment period Milk production was estimated using the weigh-suckle-weigh technique at 29 ± 14 d postpartum. Initial TEA concentrations for NE (Yr. 1 = 112 µg/kg; Yr. 2 = 632 µg/kg) were decreased (P ≤ 0.01) compared to E+ (Yr. 1 = 1831 µg/kg; Yr. 2 = 2903 µg/kg). TEA concentrations for E+ pastures did not differ (P < 0.23) by sample date. However, average TEA concentrations were greater for yr 2 than yr 1(P ≤ 0.01). Fescue cultivars were not different (P ≥ 0.06) in forage CP, Ash, Ether Extract, and grazed or ungrazed forage mass. However, differences were observed (P ≤ 0.02) for ADF, NDF, and TDN by fescue cultivar. Cow BW, BCS, and FT at the beginning and end of grazing were not different (P ≥ 0.41) by treatment. Milk production was greater (P < 0.01) for cows grazed on E+. Calving date, calf BW, calf ADG were not different (P ≥ 0.65) by treatment. Neither AI nor overall conception rates differed (P ≥ 0.23) between cultivars. Performance of fall-calving cows pre-exposed to E+ was not hindered when grazed on E+ relative to NE in a SS system. / Master of Science / Wild-type, endophyte-infected tall fescue (E+) is the predominant forage of use for producers within the southeastern United States. Endophyte-infected tall fescue gained notoriety due to its drought and pest resistance as well as climate adaptability. These advantages are the result of a symbiotic relationship with an endophytic fungus that has been shown to decrease in animal performance through the production of toxic ergot alkaloids. Development of improved fescue cultivars provided producers with an alternative forage, known as novel endophyte-infected tall fescue (NE), that maintains the agronomic advantages noted with E+ fescue without negative impacts on animal gain and reproductive performance. In adopting NE tall fescue, producers are faced with the financial challenge of renovating existing stands of E+ with NE fescue; leaving pastures unusable during times of normal grazing behavior. This constraint has highlighted the need to explore forage utilization and strategies that can extend the grazing period that do not require the significant cost of total renovation with NE. Fall stockpiled tall fescue has provided producers an option to extend grazing from late November through February when pasture growth ceases and hay supplementation is normally needed. However, a 60 to 90 d period between summer and fall stockpiled grazing leaves producers looking for an additional strategy to provide standing forage for their herds. Summer stockpiling (SS), is a novel grazing strategy that bridges summer and fall stockpiled grazing through proper accumulation of 25 % of total pasture to help extend producers grazing season. The objective of the current experiment is to evaluate both E+ and NE SS pastures and its effect on animal performance, forage availability, and nutritive value. Cow BW and BCS were measured at the initiation, conclusion, and before artificial insemination. Calf BW and ADG were assessed 48 h post-calving and at weaning. Ungrazed and grazed forage mass was collected weekly, while measurements of ADF, NDF, CP, TDN, ether extract, and ash were measured every 2 weeks. After a 52 d treatment period, forage mass was similar across both cultivars, with ADF, NDF, and TDN favoring E+ tall fescue. Additionally, animal performance across both E+ and NE pastures were similar, however increased milk production was observed for cows grazed on E+. This experiment helps shed light on the concept of strategic renovation. Strategic renovation can be best utilized by producers who are interested in maximizing pasture utilization through rotationally grazing E+ and NE tall fescue pastures. By following this renovation strategy, proper allocation of NE tall fescue during times of enhanced ergotism and E+ tall fescue during low thresholds will develop a more specific rotation thus decreasing renovation costs for producers when ergotism is lowest.

In Virginia, tall fescue [(Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub,) formally known as Festuca arundinacea L.] can be found on more than 4 million ac of hay and pastureland. Two separate experiments were conducted at three different geographical locations over two growing seasons. The objective of Experiment 1 was to evaluate the influence of N sources and rates on yield and nutritive value of stockpiled tall fescue. Experiment 2 examined the effect of split spring and fall N applications at various rates on yield and nutritive value of tall fescue pastures. The first experiment was conducted at three locations (Blacksburg, Blackstone, and Steeles Tavern, VA) while the second experiment was conducted only at the Blacksburg and Steeles Tavern locations. In Experiment 1, the N sources included ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate, urea, urea + Agrotain®, Environmentally Smart N® (ESN), Nutrisphere (NSN), Nitamin® (Blackstone only), pelleted biosolids (Blackstone only), and broiler litter (Steeles Tavern only) applied at 0, 28, 56, 84, and 112 kg plant available N (PAN) ha-1. Plots were harvested in mid-December (Blacksburg and Steeles Tavern) and late January (Blackstone). The yield of the stockpiled tall fescue in 2006 ranged from 1,300 to 2,900, 1,700 to 3,000, and 2,600 to 3,300 kg DM ha-1 for the Blacksburg, Steeles Tavern and Blackstone locations, respectively. In 2007, however, the yield response to N rate and sources was significantly less than that of 2006 due to low rainfall. At the Blacksburg location, ammonium sulfate and ESN resulted in higher CP concentrations, ranging from 11-14% and 12-20% for 2006 and 2007 growing seasons, respectively. Similar variation (12-20%) was observed for the Steeles Tavern location in 2006. In general, the ADF and NDF content decreased as N rate increased from 0-112 kg ha1. Although the source and rate that resulted in high yield and nutritive value varied across location and years, N rates and sources improved the quality and yield of stockpiled fescue. Experiment 2 utilized urea which was applied in the fall at the rates of 0, 45, 90 or 135 kg N ha-1. followed by spring application of 0, 45, 90 or 135 kg N ha-1. A total of 16 treatment combinations per replication were used. Yields ranged from 1,900 to 3,600 kg DM ha-1 and 700 to 2,500 kg DM ha-1 in 2007 and 2008, respectively. At the Steeles Tavern location, yields ranged from 3,100 to 5,700 kg DM ha-1 and 2,500 to 5,100 kg DM ha-1, in 2007 and 2008, respectively. In both years CP increased with increasing N fertilization. On a dry matter basis, CP values ranged from 14 to 23% for both years. Treatments did not affect on NDF and ADF values. Split fall/spring N applications did not maximize yield of cool-season grass pastures in these experiments. / Master of Science