Soybean (Glycine max L.) is a high value crop that has been used as a forage since the early 1900s in the southern U.S. (e.g., Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida). Renewed interest has increased the use of soybean as a viable and economical high protein alternative to forage growers in the southern region. The objective of this study was to determine herbage mass (HM) and nutritive value of forage soybean managed under two row spacing (36 and 72 cm) and three stubble heights (10, 15, and 20 cm). Five cultivars were used ‘Stonewall’, ‘Laredo’, ‘Tower of Leaves’, Asgrow® ‘AG64X8’, and Asgrow® ‘AG79X9’ and sown at two locations (Shorter and Headland, AL). Forage was harvested in July and August during both years and HM was determined. Crude protein (CP) and fiber fractions were determined using near-infrared spectroscopy. Years and location did vary, but overall, Stonewall had the greatest (p < 0.026) HM (1706 kg DM ha−1) with a high nutritive value (124 g CP kg−1, 449 g NDF kg−1, and 372 g ADF kg−1). Laredo had the lowest HM (1169 kg DM ha−1; p < 0.025). The 10 cm stubble height resulted in increased HM (1898 kg DM ha−1; p < 0.0001) but decreased nutritive value (149 g CP kg−1; 331 g ADF kg−1; 413 g NDF kg−1; p = 0.001) compared to 20 cm (179, 282, and 375 g kg−1 for CP, ADF, and NDF, respectively). Row spacing did not consistently influence either HM or nutritive values. Due to its relatively good nutritive value and HM, forage soybean should be considered as a monoculture or in a mixed sward with other warm-season annual forages for inclusion in forage-based livestock diets.
Warm-season annual forages are a viable option to complement perennial forage systems. Sugarcane aphid [SCA; Melanaphis sacchari] has emerged as a significant pest in Sorghum spp. compromising forage production. This study evaluated herbage responses and SCA incidence in monoculture and mixtures of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis L.), and sorghum × sudangrass [(Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) × (Sorghum × drummondii)]. Crude protein (CP), lignin, acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentrations were determined. Incidence of SCA was evaluated weekly on sorghum × sudangrass treatments. Herbage mass was not affected (P = .522) by treatments and ranged from 1,361 to 2,104 lb dry matter (DM) acre -1 . Greater herbage mass was observed in Year 1 than 2 (1,678 vs. 1,050 lb DM acre -1 ) most likely associated with higher rainfall on Year 1. Greater (P < .001) CP was observed in Year 2 and was also associated with mixtures containing cowpea. For treatments containing sorghum × sudangrass, the use of insecticide decreased losses in forage production, although sorghum × sudangrass mixtures did not result in a reduction of SCA when compared to its monoculture. This response is most likely associated with less sorghum × sudangrass plant density in mixtures which may have resulted in a higher SCA incidence per plant. Based on our results, the use of warm-season annuals is a viable option to complement forage production; however, the use of insecticide may be needed to reduce yield and economical losses due to SCA.
In vitro digestibility (IVTD) is a useful tool for determining nutritive value of forages. The majority of equine forage digestion occurs in the cecum; however, many studies use fecal inoculum. The current study aimed to determine the optimal buffer:cecal fluid for batch culture fermentation and compare this method with fecal IVTD. Three horses were sourced from the Auburn University Veterinary School. Fecal material was collected via a rectal grab sample, placed in a plastic bag, and into a 39°C water bath. The cecal contents were collected using an abdominal incision within 5 min of termination. Contents were placed in a pre-warmed (39°C) thermos. Cecal fluid was strained and proportioned into 3 treatments (100:0, 75:25, and 50:50 cecal fluid:buffer). Fecal material was weighed and mixed with buffer to achieve a 10:90 by weight. Three samples of alfalfa, bermudagrass, and perennial peanut hay were randomly assigned to a fluid treatment and placed in the respective jar, digested for 48h, then underwent neutral detergent fiber analysis. The experiment was designed as a 4 × 3 factorial with horse considered random (n = 9). Statistical analysis was conducted using Proc Mixed (SAS Inst, Cary, NC) with α = 0.05. There was no effect of fluid treatment on IVTD (P = 0.12). However, a forage effect was observed (P < 0.001). Alfalfa and perennial peanut IVTD were not different (75.6%; P = 0.40), but greater (P < 0.001) than bermudagrass (48.1%). This study showed that no difference in cecal fluid and fecal material occurred when used as microbial inoculant sources for a Daisy-II batch fermentation for determination of equine IVTD.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) and perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata) are frequently utilized by equine producers in the Southeast. However, challenges related to their production have producers searching for alternative legume options. In 2019 and 2020, five soybean cultivars, “Tower of Leaves,” “Stonewall,” “Laredo,” “AG79X9,” and “AG64X8,” were evaluated for yield and nutritive value. Soybeans were grown at two row spacings (36 and 71 cm), two locations (Central and South Alabama), and harvested at three heights (10, 15, and 20 cm; HH). Forages were harvested using a plot harvester, dried at 55°C, and ground to 1 mm. Forage quality was determined using a NIRS, with verification by wet chemistry analyses. The study was a randomized, complete block design (n = 4) and statistical analysis was carried out using PROC Glimmix of SAS version 9.4 (SAS Inst., - Cary, NC). Forage yields were greatest in “Stonewall” and “Tower of Leaves,” and lowest in “Laredo” (2,074, 1,978, and 1,348 kg/ha, respectively). Across years, HH and forage cultivar had a significant effect on yield (P < 0.0001). As expected, yield increased as HH decreased (P < 0.0001). In 2019, crude protein (CP) was affected by HH (P < 0.0001), with 10 cm having lower CP than 15 and 20 cm (14 vs 16%, respectively; P < 0.0001). Neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were affected (P < 0.01) by HH and variety. “Stonewall” had the lowest NDF (30.84%) and ADF (29.27%; P < 0.01). “Stonewall” and “AG79X9” had the greatest TDN (74 and 73%, respectively; P < 0.01). The cultivar “Stonewall” shows promise as a forage, with greater yields and moderate forage nutritive value compared with the other cultivars tested. Further research is needed to evaluate “Stonewall” in mixtures with other warm-season annual forages.
Summer annual forage mixtures are both high yielding and contain a high nutritive quality. They provide a summer forage option for maintaining stockers, forage-finished beef, and replacement heifers on with little to no external inputs needed. Recently, sugarcane aphid infestations have limited production of sorghum × sudangrass (Sorghum bicolor var. bicolor*bicolor var. sudanese; S). This study investigated mono-, bi-, and tri- cultures of S, cowpea (Vigna unguiculata; C), and crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris; R). Forage yield, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, and sugarcane aphid counts were determined for each treatment. Sugarcane aphid counts were conducted on a weekly basis during the study and forage samples were harvested twice during each season. A forage subsample was taken for determination of CP, NDF, ADF, and ADL using wet chemistry. Data were analyzed using Proc Glimmix of SAS 9.4 (SAS inst., Cary, NC). During Year 1, the only difference in yield among treatments was observed in R, which was lower than other plots (949 and 1,259 kg/ha, respectively; P < 0.05). Neutral detergent fiber was greatest (P < 0.0001) in treatments containing S, whereas C and C+R had the least NDF (64.6%, 55.1%, and 56.6%, respectively; P < 0.02). Sugarcane aphids were greater (P < 0.0001) in S+C compared to S+R and SI on July 12 (33.5, 21.1, and 22.4 aphid days/ two leaf sample, respectively). During Year 2, there were no differences in yield among plots (996 kg/ ha, P > 0.9); NDF was greatest in S and lowest in plots containing C and C+R (63%, 46%, and 45.6%, P < 0.0001). While there appeared to be no reduction in sugarcane aphid pressure in the mono- and mixed- cultures of S, C+R showed promise as a summer annual mixture with similar yield and higher quality to that of S and S mixtures.
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