Forage Conservation in the Tropics*

Proliferatiion of weeds is a major constraint in pasture management, especially in the tropics, where fertilizers are rarely used and where poor grazing management is common. Nonetheless, grassland weed control should not be initiated indiscriminately without an evaluation of the palatability and nutritive value of the species present. One objective of a grazing trial conducted at Pichilingue, Ecuador, was to compare the palatability, in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein (CP) content, cell wall components, mineral and nitrate contents of seven weed species and four cultivated forages during the dry season. The weed species were Alternanthera gullensis (Mart.) Griseb (chaff flower), Amaranthus spinosus L. (spiny amaranth), Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop. (large crabgrass), Eleusine indica (L.) Gaerth. (goosegrass), Momordica charanria L. (balsam apple), Sida acuta Burm. f. (southern sida), and Sida rhombifolia L. (arrowleaf sida). Weeds were more digestible than cultivated forages, higher in CP and acid‐detergent lignin, and lower in neutral‐detergent fiber, acid‐detergent fiber, and silica. The Ca:P ratios in cultivated forages were close to the recommended 1:1 to 2:1 ratio. The only weed with a favorable Ca:P ratio was D. sanguinalis. The remaining weeds had Ca:P ratios of 3 to 7:1. During the dry season cattle were reluctant to graze the increasingly fibrous and protein‐deficient cultivated forages, so they consumed A. gullensis and A. spinosus, despite the very spiny texture of the latter. With the exception of D. sanguinalis for which palatability observations were not possible, cattle did not consume the other weeds. There were no symptoms of mineral imbalance or nitrate toxicity in cattle from grazing weeds. The practical implication of this study is that some weed species may be useful as feeds for grazing livestock during periods of limited feed supply, and should not be removed indiscriminately. Based on this study, A. gullensis and A. spinosus should not be removed from pastures during the dry season.

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“…Tropical grazing beef cattle require 50% digestible organic matter (DOM) for maintenance (Miller, 1969).…”

Section: In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility and Crude Proteinmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season¹

Nuwanyakpa¹,

Bolsen²,

Posler³

et al. 1983

Agronomy Journal

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“…Teff grass ( Eragrostis tef [Zucc.] Trotter) is an annual C 4 species which has demonstrated potential to produce high-quality forage for grazing and hay production ( Norberg et al, 2009 ; Miller, 2011 ; Staniar et al, 2010 ). Additionally, teff is a vigorous species requiring minimal input, and this contributes to its value as an emergency crop ( Assefa et al, 2001 ; Evert et al, 2009 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Potential for teff to support grazing beef cattle is supported by total forage yield estimates as high as 16 t/ha with multiple harvests within a growing season ( Miller, 2011 ), while protein content may vary throughout the grazing season and soil conditions. Supplementation with dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS) may enhance growth performance of grazing animals through retained energy ( Morris et al, 2005 , 2006 ) and mitigation of metabolizable protein deficiency ( MacDonald et al, 2007 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Teff grass for continuous stocking in the Southern High Plains by growing beef steers receiving protein supplements

Sugg

Sarturi

West

et al. 2021

Translational Animal Science

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This experiment evaluated forage quality, total nutrient yield, water footprint, and growth performance of beef steers receiving protein supplements while grazing Teff grass [‘Tiffany’Eragrostis tef (Zucc.) Trotter] over 2 consecutive growing seasons. Each year, four 2.66-ha irrigated paddocks (experimental units) were stocked with crossbred beef steers (n = 5 per paddock, initial BW = 289 ± 30 for yr 1; and n = 6, initial BW = 286 ± 23 for yr 2) in a randomized complete block design and stocked continuously for 63 d. Daily supplements [0.45 kg/d of cottonseed meal (Control) enough to avoid a negative ruminal N balance; and 0.50% mean paddock BW animal-daily (approximately 1.65 kg) of sorghum-dried distillers grains plus solubles, (DDGS)] were randomly assigned to 2 paddocks each. Supplement did not influence forage NDF, ADF, CP, or in vitro true digestibility (P ≥ 0.54), except for a tendency (P = 0.08) for a numerical increase in NDF content of paddocks with steers that received DDGS supplementation. Paddock nutrient-yields were similar (P ≥ 0.43) between supplement treatments. Supplementation with DDGS produced greater (P = 0.01) cattle shrunk ADG. Predicted teff DMI, NEm, and NEg (P ≤ 0.03) were greater with cattle offered Control treatment. Predicted total DMI was similar (P = 0.14) although predicted dietary NEm, NEg, gain:feed, and total BW gain were greater (P ≤ 0.02) with DDGS. Predicted forage intake was greater (P ≤ 0.05) for cattle offered Control treatment. Teff nutrients remaining on d 56 were similar (P = 0.33) between treatments. Water footprint for total production of forage nutrient components did not differ (P ≥ 0.12) by treatments. Nutrient yield and water use efficiency of continuously stocked teff grass was not affected by supplemental regimen. Using DDGS as a supplement may increase BW gain through increased nutrient utilization without hindering teff nutrient production on a continuous stocking system.

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“…O autor concluiu que essa gramínea, mesmotratada com melaço, não podia ser considerada como adequada ao processo da ensilagem, deyi do às perdas de princípios nutri ti vos e ao baixo teor proteico das silagens. Miller (1969) numarevisão sôbre a ensilagem, fêz referências à conservação de forragens nas regioes tropicais e deu ênfase ao fato de que as gr.ê: míneas e as leguminosas dessas áreas são plantas di.fíceis de S! :t rem ensiladas.…”

Section: Uso De Aditivos E Preservativosunclassified

Efeito da maturidade da planta e diferentes tratamentos sôbre a ensilagem do capim elefante (>i<Pennisetum purpureum>/i<, Shum) variedade Napier

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Forage Conservation in the Tropics*

Cited by 10 publications

References 5 publications

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season¹

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season¹

Teff grass for continuous stocking in the Southern High Plains by growing beef steers receiving protein supplements

Efeito da maturidade da planta e diferentes tratamentos sôbre a ensilagem do capim elefante (>i<Pennisetum purpureum>/i<, Shum) variedade Napier

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Forage Conservation in the Tropics*

Cited by 10 publications

References 5 publications

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season1

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season1

Teff grass for continuous stocking in the Southern High Plains by growing beef steers receiving protein supplements

Efeito da maturidade da planta e diferentes tratamentos sôbre a ensilagem do capim elefante (>i<Pennisetum purpureum>/i<, Shum) variedade Napier

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Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season¹

Nutritive Value of Seven Tropical Weed Species During the Dry Season¹