Abstract:The objective of the study was to quantify differences in nutritive value, over four seasons, of native grasses such as <i>Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua trifida, Brachiaria fasciculata, Chloris ciliata, Digitaria insularis, Leptochloa filiformis, Panicum hallii, Panicum obtusum, Paspalum unispicatum, Setaria grisebachii, Setaria macrostachya, Tridens eragrostoides, Tridens muticu</i>s and naturalized <i>chrus ciliaris</i> and <i>Rhynchelytrum repens</i> that are used as … Show more
“…All herbage samples during the grazing period had adequate K levels to meet the optimum maintenance requirements for beef cattle (6 g/kg DM; NRC, 1996) and sheep (5 g/kg DM; NRC, 1985). Herbage biomass with sufficient K content to meet the maintenance requirements for beef cattle and sheep was also found by Ganskoop and Bohnert (2001), Ramirez et al (2009) in grasslands of northern Great Basin and Mexico, respectively, and by Roukos et al (2011a) in adjacent grasslands.…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
confidence: 90%
“…Thus, it can be assumed that there is an increased risk of Mg deficiency to occur in grazing livestock, a result also found by Roukos et al (2011a). Conversely, Ramirez et al (2009) reported that 13 grasses in Mexico had marginal sufficient levels of Mg to meet growing beef cattle requirements. Minson (1990) stated that seasonal variation of Mg content within species are relative small and Mg concentration in herbage is affected by its botanical composition and climatic conditions Suttle, 2010;Roukos et al, 2011a).…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
confidence: 94%
“…Climatic conditions, botanical composition, soil properties and topography may differentiate the nutritional quality of herbage, which needs to be precisely estimated in order to determine a proper management plan (Vazquez-de-Aldana et al, 2000;Ayan et al, 2006;Bovolenta et al, 2008;Ramirez et al, 2009;Holechek et al, 2010;Mountousis et al, 2011;Roukos et al, 2011a).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Roukos et al (2011a) reported higher values of Ca and P in herbage collected from grasslands in adjacent area. On the contrary, Ganskoop and 152 Bohnert (2001) and Ramirez et al (2009) found inadequate levels of P in forages to meet maintenance requirements of sheep and cattle in grasslands of arid environments of USA and Mexico, respectively.…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
Grazing is an economically and environmentally valuable activity in phryganic Mediterranean ecosystems. The herbaceous vegetation of these ecosystems provides an essential feed source for grazing ruminants. Despite the extension and economic importance of phryganic ecosystems in Mediterranean Basin there has been relatively little scientific focus on nutritional quality of their herbaceous vegetation. The nutritional quality of herbaceous vegetation in a phryganic ecosystem was assessed for two consecutive years during the grazing period (March to July). Herbage samples were analysed for chemical composition, metabolizable energy, in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility and mineral content (Ca, P, K, Mg) at monthly basis. According to the results time of harvest significantly affected crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin and the content of minerals (i.e. Ca, P, Mg, K). Mean monthly temperature found to have a great negative impact on nutritional quality. During the grazing period, the nutritional quality of herbage vegetation was strongly correlated with growing degree days. Over a threshold of about 700 growing degree days the nutritional quality of herbage dramatically decreased. Overall the current study provides crucial information for the nutritional dynamics of the herbage vegetation of the phryganic Mediterranean ecosystems that can be towards developing an efficient grazing strategy.
“…All herbage samples during the grazing period had adequate K levels to meet the optimum maintenance requirements for beef cattle (6 g/kg DM; NRC, 1996) and sheep (5 g/kg DM; NRC, 1985). Herbage biomass with sufficient K content to meet the maintenance requirements for beef cattle and sheep was also found by Ganskoop and Bohnert (2001), Ramirez et al (2009) in grasslands of northern Great Basin and Mexico, respectively, and by Roukos et al (2011a) in adjacent grasslands.…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
confidence: 90%
“…Thus, it can be assumed that there is an increased risk of Mg deficiency to occur in grazing livestock, a result also found by Roukos et al (2011a). Conversely, Ramirez et al (2009) reported that 13 grasses in Mexico had marginal sufficient levels of Mg to meet growing beef cattle requirements. Minson (1990) stated that seasonal variation of Mg content within species are relative small and Mg concentration in herbage is affected by its botanical composition and climatic conditions Suttle, 2010;Roukos et al, 2011a).…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
confidence: 94%
“…Climatic conditions, botanical composition, soil properties and topography may differentiate the nutritional quality of herbage, which needs to be precisely estimated in order to determine a proper management plan (Vazquez-de-Aldana et al, 2000;Ayan et al, 2006;Bovolenta et al, 2008;Ramirez et al, 2009;Holechek et al, 2010;Mountousis et al, 2011;Roukos et al, 2011a).…”
Section: Methodsmentioning
confidence: 99%
“…Roukos et al (2011a) reported higher values of Ca and P in herbage collected from grasslands in adjacent area. On the contrary, Ganskoop and 152 Bohnert (2001) and Ramirez et al (2009) found inadequate levels of P in forages to meet maintenance requirements of sheep and cattle in grasslands of arid environments of USA and Mexico, respectively.…”
Section: Mineral Composition and Grass Tetany Indexmentioning
Grazing is an economically and environmentally valuable activity in phryganic Mediterranean ecosystems. The herbaceous vegetation of these ecosystems provides an essential feed source for grazing ruminants. Despite the extension and economic importance of phryganic ecosystems in Mediterranean Basin there has been relatively little scientific focus on nutritional quality of their herbaceous vegetation. The nutritional quality of herbaceous vegetation in a phryganic ecosystem was assessed for two consecutive years during the grazing period (March to July). Herbage samples were analysed for chemical composition, metabolizable energy, in vitro dry matter digestibility, in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility and mineral content (Ca, P, K, Mg) at monthly basis. According to the results time of harvest significantly affected crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin and the content of minerals (i.e. Ca, P, Mg, K). Mean monthly temperature found to have a great negative impact on nutritional quality. During the grazing period, the nutritional quality of herbage vegetation was strongly correlated with growing degree days. Over a threshold of about 700 growing degree days the nutritional quality of herbage dramatically decreased. Overall the current study provides crucial information for the nutritional dynamics of the herbage vegetation of the phryganic Mediterranean ecosystems that can be towards developing an efficient grazing strategy.
“…However, these evaluations may be complemented with studies of intake, ruminal fermentation and metabolites and hormones concentrations to more precisely establish dietary supplementation needs. As the rangelands mature, digestibility decreases because of decreased nitrogen and increased fibre and lignin contents (Ramı´rez et al 2009). These changes may be accompanied by a decrease in intake, ruminal ammonia and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations.…”
The objective of this study was to determine and compare, seasonally, across two consecutive years the chemical composition, intake, ruminal fermentation and plasma concentrations of glucose (G), urea-N (UN), nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and insulin in grazing steers. Data were analysed as repeated measures within a split plot design. The crude protein (CP), metabolisable protein (MP), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and metabolisable energy (ME) were different within years and seasons (PB0.05). The values for organic matter intake (OMI), CP intake (CPI) and metabolisable protein intake (MPI) were greater in wet season (P B0.01). The pH values were not affected by years and seasons (P 0.05). Ruminal ammonia (NH 3 ÁN) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were lower during dry season than during wet season (P B0.05). The plasma concentrations of G, UN, and insulin were higher in the wet season (PB0.05); however, the NEFA concentrations were higher in the dry season (PB0.05). The variables corresponding to chemical composition, intake, ruminal fermentation and concentrations of metabolites and hormones were affected over time by the years and seasons.
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