Dry Matter Intake and In Vivo Digestibility of Grass-Only and Grass-White Clover in Individually Housed Sheep in Spring, Summer and Autumn

Hurley, MaryAnne; Lewis, E.; Beecher, Marion; Garry, B.; Fleming, C.; Boland, T. M.; Hennessy, Deirdre

doi:10.3390/ani11020306

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…The low DM content of some prewilted grass samples (≤300 g kg −1 DM) was associated with grass harvested in autumn (after October 20). In this period, wet mowing conditions make it difficult to efficiently wilt the harvested grass and to attain a sufficient DM content (Hurley et al, 2021; Larsen et al, 2016). Overall, silages with less than 25% DM are at risk of juice losses and poor fermentation, while those with more than 45% DM face challenges in proper compaction, leading to increased oxygen presence and potential mold and yeast development (Kung et al, 2003; Muck, 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management strategies to improve the nitrogen use efficiency in grasslands and the protein quality in grass silages: Lessons from a practical study on dairy farms in Flanders

Van den Bossche,

De Boever,

Haesaert

et al. 2024

Grassland Research

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BackgroundGrasslands are the primary source of forage for ruminants. Legal restrictions on nitrogen fertilization force farmers to optimize nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) of grassland and protein quality in grass silage.MethodsThe present study included grassland data from 10 dairy farms in Flanders. For each grassland field, the presence of clover was determined based on the seed mixture composition. Soil and manure were sampled before the first application and analyzed to determine plant available N content. The annual NUE was calculated for each field possible (n = 28). Prewilted grass samples were taken just before ensiling (n = 65) and grass silage samples (n = 41) were collected from the same fields.ResultsClover fields demonstrated improved NUE due to a lower nitrogen input from fertilizers compared to pure grassland fields (75 vs. 265 kg ha−1). The protein quality of the grass silage was positively correlated with the organic matter digestibility, sugar content, and dry matter content of the prewilted grass. Conversely, crude ash content had a negative effect.ConclusionsThese findings underscore the importance and potential of clover and the practical feasibility of optimizing grassland management to improve both NUE in grasslands and protein quality of the silage.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Management strategies to improve the nitrogen use efficiency in grasslands and the protein quality in grass silages: Lessons from a practical study on dairy farms in Flanders

Van den Bossche,

De Boever,

Haesaert

et al. 2024

Grassland Research

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“…A number of experiments have demonstrated that immature perennial ryegrass (PRG) can be highly digestible (Morgan & Stakelum, 1987;Beecher et al, 2014Beecher et al, , 2018Garry et al, 2020Garry et al, , 2021. The inclusion of white clover into PRG swards has been demonstrated to further increase the in vivo OMD of pasture-based diets (Peyraud, 1993;Hurley et al, 2021). This high OMD of immature pasture results in high concentrations of metabolisable or net energy per kg of dry matter (DM) (Bruinenberg et al, 2002; Institut National de Recherche Agronomique [INRA], 2018).…”

Section: Quantifying the Nutritive Value Of Pasturementioning

confidence: 99%

Developments in nutrition for pasture-based cattle and sheep systems in Ireland

Patton

Dineen

Keady

et al. 2022

Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research

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For ruminant production systems, the requirement to meet specific nutrient targets in the animal’s diet must be balanced with the aim of achieving high utilisation of forage in the overall feed budget. A focus of research and extension in an Irish industry context has been to meet these objectives using grazed pasture as the predominant forage source. This has prompted investigation to improve understanding of the components defining forage nutritive value, as well as the management factors affecting its intake and utilisation by animals. Similarly, quantifying the animal performance responses to varying type, rate and timing of dietary supplementation has been an important area of investigation. This review summarises some of the principal outcomes and developments over recent years across beef, sheep and dairy production systems. In addition, ruminant production systems are increasingly challenged to reduce potential environmental impacts by mitigating nutrient and gaseous emissions across their production cycles. Current and emerging research with regard to this issue, and enteric methane production in particular, is discussed.

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“…The chemical composition of herbage varies during the growing season. Autumn herbage, in comparison to spring herbage, has less sugar and fibre and a higher crude protein (CP) and fat content (Hurley et al, 2021; Larsen et al, 2016). In the temperate climate of Belgium, the herbage season approaches its end in October.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further, the wet autumn mowing conditions make it difficult to wilt autumn herbage to the desired dry matter (DM) content. Both factors jeopardize the palatability of the silage and result in lower uptake by cattle (Hurley et al, 2021; Larsen et al, 2016). Improving the protein quality of autumn herbage may be a promising strategy on dairy farms for two reasons.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autumn grass treated with a hydrolysable tannin extract versus lactic acid bacteria inoculant: Effects on silage fermentation characteristics and nutritional value and on performance of lactating dairy cows

Van den Bossche,

Goossens,

Haesaert

et al. 2023

Animal Physiology Nutrition

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Hydrolysable tannins (HT) show potential as silage additive for autumn herbage silages, high in (rumen degradable) protein, as they may reduce proteolysis. Additionally, they have abilities to form pH‐reversible tannin–protein complexes, non‐degradable in the rumen but degradable in the abomasum and intestines of ruminants. Therefore they can improve milk N efficiency and shift N excretions from urine to faeces, possibly mitigating the environmental impact of ruminants. In this study, two small bunker silos were filled with autumn grass. One was treated with 20 g/kg DM HT extract (TAN) (TannoSan‐L), the other with 8 mg/kg DM inoculant containing lactic acid bacteria (INO) (Bonsilage Fit G). Secondly, micro‐silos (2.75 L) were filled with four treatments; (1) grass without additive (CON) (n = 5); (2) TAN (n = 5); (3) INO (n = 5); and (4) TAN + INO (n = 5). The bunker silos were used in a cross‐over feeding experiment with periods of 4 weeks involving 22 lactating Holstein cows (average ± SD: 183 ± 36.3 days in milk, 665 ± 71.0 kg body weight, and 33.8 ± 3.91 kg/day milk yield). The HT dose was insufficient to reduce proteolysis or alter chemical composition and nutritional value in the micro‐ and bunker silages. Including grass silage added with TAN (3.2 g HT/kg DM) in the diet, did not affect feed intake nor fat and protein corrected milk yield in comparison to feeding the grass silage added with INO in a similar diet. The TAN‐fed cows had an increased faecal N excretion and decreased apparent total‐tract N and organic matter digestibility, but no improvement in the cows’ N utilization could be confirmed in milk and blood urea levels. Overall, feeding an autumn grass silage treated with 20 g/kg chestnut HT extract did not affect the performance of dairy cows in comparison to feeding an autumn grass silage treated with a lactic acid bacteria inoculant.

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Dry Matter Intake and In Vivo Digestibility of Grass-Only and Grass-White Clover in Individually Housed Sheep in Spring, Summer and Autumn

Cited by 8 publications

References 41 publications

Management strategies to improve the nitrogen use efficiency in grasslands and the protein quality in grass silages: Lessons from a practical study on dairy farms in Flanders

Management strategies to improve the nitrogen use efficiency in grasslands and the protein quality in grass silages: Lessons from a practical study on dairy farms in Flanders

Developments in nutrition for pasture-based cattle and sheep systems in Ireland

Autumn grass treated with a hydrolysable tannin extract versus lactic acid bacteria inoculant: Effects on silage fermentation characteristics and nutritional value and on performance of lactating dairy cows

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