FORAGES Gwinyai E. Chibisa, Ph.D. http://craig-stephen.photoshelter.com/image/i0000ywgwhaenwsi
What is Forage? Characteristics i. Bulky ii. iii. Implications on animal nutrition? High fiber Is fiber important? Lower digestibility than grains High quality (60 68%) E.g.,? Medium quality (53 59%) E.g.,? Low quality (<53%) E.g.,?
? What is Forage Quality?
Forage Quality is Milk in the Bucket Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01
Forage Quality is Calves on the Ground Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01
Forage Quality is Pounds on The Scale Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01
Forage Quality Factors that affect animal responses? i. ii. iii. iv. v.
Forage Quality (cont.) Nutrient composition i. Crude protein ii. Fiber NDF (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin) ADF (cellulose, lignin) iii. Other nutrients?
Plant Cell NDF? ADF?
Forage Composition Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01
Forage Fiber (NDF & ADF)
Dietary NDF and DMI (and ph) DMI ph Zebeli et al., 2012. JDS. 95:1041-1056
Estimating DMI (as % of BW) DMI (% of BW) = 120 %NDF Forage Quality NDF, % DMI, % of BW Excellent 38 3.16 42 2.86 46 2.61 50 2.40 Poor 54 2.22
ADF and Digestibility Undersander, 2003. http://www.uwex.edu/ces/forage/
Estimating %Digestible DM % Digestible DM = 88.9 (ADF% 0.779) ADF, % DDM, % 30 65 35 61 40 58 45 54 50 50
Effects of ADF and NDF on Hay Price Putnam et al., 2008. Irrigated Alfalfa Management in Mediterranean & Desert Zones
Forage Quality (cont.) Factors that influence forage quality? i. Maturity stage ii. Leaf-to-stem ratio Species differences Grasses vs. Legumes Cool-season vs. Warm-season iii. iv. Variety differences Growth conditions v. Harvesting & Storage conditions
i. Maturity Stage lignin
Maturity & Nutrient Composition U.S.-Canadian tables of feed composition, third edition. 1982.
Lignification and Digestibility Lignin (% of NDF) Jung, 2012. Proceedings: Florida Ruminant Nutrition Symposium
Maturity, Yield & Quality http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/production/forages/print,annual-crops-an-excellent-way-to-increase-your-feeding-flexibility.html
ii. Grasses vs. Legumes Crude protein Cell wall, % Lignin Energy Minerals (E.g., Ca & Mg) Bloat Grasses Legumes
ii. Grasses vs. Legumes (cont.) Ball et al, 2001. American Farm Bureau Federation Publication 1-01
Grasses Non-leguminous, require less management Cool vs. warm season Keyser, 2012. UT Ext. Pub. SP731-A
Cool vs. Warm Season Grasses Navarrete-Tindall. 2010. Missouri Prairie Journal. 31:20-25
Cool Season Grasses i. Orchardgrass ii. Bromegrass iii. Tall Fescue iv. Ryegrass v. Bluegrass vi. Wheatgrass vii. Red Canarygrass viii. Timothy, etc.
Cool Season: Orchardgrass https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/bromus/inermis/?pile=poaceae
Cool Season: Orchardgrass (cont.) Shade tolerant perennial Much of PNW irrigated pasture Highly productive Highly palatable Compatible with alfalfa/clover mixes Marginal winter hardiness
Cool Season: Smooth brome https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/bromus/inermis/?pile=poaceae
Cool Season: Smooth brome (cont.) Shade tolerant, Winter hardy Highly productive, Slow regrowth Very palatable High protein content Erosion control e.g., Lincoln
Cool Season: Downy brome https://gobotany.newenglandwild.org/species/bromus/inermis/?pile=poaceae
Cool Season: Downy brome (cont.) Cheatgrass (Annual weed) Drought and grazing tolerant A lot of negatives Outcompetes most grasses (domination) Quick decrease in quality (maturity) Fire prone!
Cool Season: Tall Fescue http://www.pggwrightsonseeds.com.au/products/grasses/tallfescue/resolute/; http://www.biopix.com/trifid-bur-marigold-bidens-tripartita_photo-.aspx
Cool Season: Tall Fescue (cont.) Adapted to wide range of soil types Highly productive Negatives Summer slump Fescue toxicity (endophyte fungus) Some varieties e.g., Alta (vs. Johnstone, Fawn)
Endophyte fungus Causes plants to produce ergot alkaloids Ergot alkaloid e.g., Lysergic acid Biogenic amines e.g., Serotonin Numerous negative effects e.g., vasoconstriction
Ergot Alkaloids Fescue foot, heat stress http://thestockexchangenews.com/vet-talk-ergot-poisoning-in-cattle/; http://blog.nature.org/science/2014/02/03/bison-good-cattle-bad-a-prairie-ecologists-perspective/cows-in-pond/
Cool Season Grasses Refer to Improved grasses and legumes for Idaho for information on the following: i. Ryegrass ii. iii. iv. Bluegrass Wheatgrass Red Canarygrass v. Timothy
Warm Season Grasses i. Bermudagrass ii. iii. iv. Bahia Switchgrass Bluestem v. Bluegrass vi. Indiangrass, etc.
Warm Season Annuals i. Sorghum ii. iii. Sudan grass Sorghum Sudan hybrids High alkaline soil tolerant Drought tolerant Very productive Prussic acid & nitrate poisoning? http://www.cattletoday.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=99322/
Prussic Acid Poisoning (Cyanogenic glucoside) http://homepage.ruhr-unibochum.de/markus.piotrowski/index.html?research_nitrilase.html (Hydrocyanic acid/prussic Acid) Plant HCN content influenced by: Stage of growth, Drought, Frost, etc. HCN + Hemoglobin Cyanoglobin
Nitrate Toxicity http://www.agweb.com/article/get-to-know-nitrate-toxicity-naa-wyatt-bechtel/ Plant nitrate content influenced by: Drought & high T C, Lack of sunlight, disease etc.
Warm Season Annuals iv. Small cereals (Barley, Rye, Wheat, Oats ) Use with annual legume (e.g., Spring pea) for good silage Aim for grain development (late milk-early dough) http://www.progenellc.com/images/imagepage/oats/oats.html