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• Urine volume and N concentration influences relative N loading onto the soil. • Forages with low DM% present an opportunity to modulate cows' urination behavior. • Feeding chicory or plantain had a positive effect on milk production in dairy cows. • Cows fed the herbs urinated more often and greater volumes per day than ryegrass. • Urinary N concentration was lower from cows grazing the herbs than ryegrass. Urine patches from ruminant livestock are risk areas for soil nitrogen (N) loss from grazed pastures. Urine volume and N concentration at any given urine event influences the relative N loading onto the soil. Forages such as chicory (Cichorus intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) with high water and mineral content present an opportunity to modulate urination behaviour and urinary nitrogen (UN) excreted into the environment. This study compares urination patterns, milk production and N use efficiency, of cows grazing chicory, plantain, or ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) with 13% white clover (Trifolium repens L.; RGWC) herbage. Fifty-four Friesian x Jersey cows in late lactation were blocked into replicated groups of six cows, and offered one of three pasture types. Automated urine sensors measuring urine volume and timing were affixed to approximately 10 random cows per treatment for 24 h. Milk yield was similar for all treatments (19.1 ± 0.52 kg/cow.day), but milk solids production (protein + fat) were greater from cows grazing chicory than RGWC (1.86 vs 1.72 kg MS/cow.day, P < 0.01) while plantain was intermediate (1.76 kg MS/cow.day). There was large variation in urine event volume (0.13–11.6 l per event), though mean urine volume per event was similar for each treatment (3.01 ± 0.3 l per event; P = 0.24). Water, sodium and potassium intakes from herbage was greatest for chicory compared with plantain or RGWC. Frequency of urination increased with increasing water, sodium and potassium intakes and cows grazing chicory and plantain urinated more often (28.6 and 21.2 events/cow.day, respectively) than those grazing RGWC (13.9 events/cow.day, P < 0.05). Consequently, cows grazing chicory excreted 1.5 and 2.4 times more urine per day (P < 0.01) than cows grazing plantain and RGWC, respectively. Apparent N intake was similar between cows grazing chicory and RGWC, but greater than cows grazing plantain. However, UN concentrations from cows grazing chicory and plantain were similar (P > 0.05), but substantially lower than RGWC (1.3 vs 4.8 g/kg; P < 001). The reduction in UN in cows grazing herbs is mainly attributed to increased number of urinations, which resulted in urine dilution. The combination of similar urine volume per event in all three forages, frequent urinations and substantially lower UN concentration in cows grazing the forage herbs indicate a benefit from forage herbs to reduce N load onto pasture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mineral concentration in forage is an important factor for extensive livestock production. Therefore, a study was performed in order to evaluate the soil mineral contents and their relationships with forage mineral concentrations taking into account three grassland sites located at Zacatecas state, México. Soil organic matter (OM) content and pH as well as soil and forage contents of Ca, P, Mg, Na and K were estimated. Soil OM contents were not different (P >0.05) among sites averaging 2.99 %. Soil pH of site 2 was higher (P =0.05) than those of sites 1 and 3. Soil of site 2 had higher P, Ca and Mg concentrations than the minimum contents used as references. Soil contents of Na and K were lower than the reference contents suggesting deficiencies in all three sites. Considering requirements for growing cattle, P, Ca and Na were at insufficient levels in forage from all three sites. Significant correlations (r Pearson) suggest a positive effect of soil P content on forage P and Mg concentrations. Soil P content could affect forage Ca concentration and Ca:P ratio. Other correlations suggest soil Ca negative effects on forage Ca concentration and Ca:P ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to evaluate the mineral composition of forage crops in respect to dairy cow nutrition 40 soil and corresponding plant (alfalfa, grasses and silage corn) samples were collected from 15 locations in Serbia and analyzed for the concentration of macro- (P, K, and Ca) and microelements (Mn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Se, and Mo). On average, the soils were well provided with the studied elements from the aspect of plant nutrition, but the analyzed fodder crops could not secure sufficient amounts of Cu, Zn, Se, and Ca for dairy cow nutrition. Principal components analysis was applied in order to determine the connection between the concentrations of macro- and microelements in forage crops and their grouping into components responsible for most of the variability in mineral content. The mineral composition of alfalfa was defined by three components (Se, Zn, and Cu) which accounted for the largest part of the established variability. The variability of mineral composition of grasses was defined by four components (Zn, K, Se, and P) and that of silage corn by the concentrations of Fe, Mn, and K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of potassium (K + ) deficiency were investigated in Sulla carnosa plants. Plants were grown hydroponically for one month in K + -sufficient (6 mM K + , Control) and K + -deficient (60 μm K + ) solutions inside the greenhouse in Biotechnology Center of Borj Cedria, Tunisia. Growth, water status, pigment contents, photosynthetic gas exchange, photosystem II (PSII) photochemistry and leaf principal secondary metabolites (polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins), and their antioxidant properties (DPPH (1.1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging capacity, ferric reducing power, chelating effect on ferrous ions, and β-carotene bleaching test) were determined. Growth of vegetative organs was decreased by some 50% by K + deficiency with stems more affected (−68%) than roots (−42%) and leaves (−45%). Water content decreased in the three vegetative organs. Photosynthetic gas exchange and pigment contents were affected by low K + conditions. In contrast to condensed tannins which remained constant, total polyphenols and flavonoids contents increased under K + deficiency (by 62.7 and 14.5%, respectively). Furthermore, total antioxidant activity increased by 33.5% compared to control plants. Except for β-carotene bleaching test that increased, DPPH scavenging capacity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and chelating effect on ferrous ions decreased owing to K + deficiency. An increased and/or de novo synthesis of individual polyphenols was also observed by RP-HPLC analysis. As a whole, these data suggest that S. carnosa was able to modulate the metabolism of secondary metabolites and their antioxidant activity under conditions favouring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in order to minimize the deleterious effects of these oxygen species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

El artículo presenta el análisis de contenido de minerales presentes en macro y micro elementos de forraje en Etiopía. Diversos temas discutidos incluyen animales de pastoreo en el país, la disponibilidad de baja calidad en alimentos para animales, el precio de los forrajes, área cubierta por granjas modelo en Etiopía y análisis de forraje mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica técnica.

Wheat ( Triticum aestivum L.) has been widely grown as a winter forage crop in the southern Great Plains. However, development of wheat cultivars for winter forage production has not been a major goal of wheat breeding programs in the USA. Also, little information on forage yield and nutritive value of currently grown wheat varieties is available. The objective of this study was to test 15 wheat varieties to compare their forage yield and nutritive value and to identity superior varieties for winter forage production. The field trials were conducted during three growing seasons in southern Oklahoma. There were significant effects of variety, clipping-date, and environment for mean forage yield. The mean forage yield of the varieties ranged from 2,200 kg ha for NF95134A to 1,655 kg ha for Forage Max. The crude protein content varied from 24.2 to 20.8 %. When mean forage yield and crude protein yield were considered, NF95134A was the best variety for the tested regions. However, when low detergent fiber content and high energy value were considered, Forage Max was the best variety in the tested environments. When forage production, especially during the coldest months December through February was considered, NF96107A and NF96131 produced the best forage yield. This study showed that significant differences in forage yield and nutritive value existed among the winter wheat varieties and the results of the study could provide useful guidelines for livestock producers and for forage wheat breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Forages, through the amount and composition of their fatty acids (FA), and because they represent a major part of ruminant diets, can help improve the nutritional quality of milk and meat. However, no comprehensive dataset is available to estimate fat and FA content and composition of forages. This study used the available data on fat and FA content and composition of forages to (i) compute mean composition values for the main forages, and (ii) estimate the influence of forage conservation, cultivation and harvest conditions on fat and FA content and composition. We report mean values for the main forage species in the form of fresh forage, silage or hay. The main factor influencing fat and FA composition was vegetation stage of forage at harvest (estimated by the month of harvest or regrowth interval). Compared with fresh forage at harvest, wilting or drying forages (especially in bad drying conditions) altered their FA, whereas unwilted silage, the use of ensiling additives and N fertilization had only minor effects. The differences between grass (except corn) and legume species were lower than those induced by vegetation stage and wilting or drying. We gave equations to estimate the effects of these factors and thus refine the estimation of the FA content and composition of the forages. Total FA content and proportion of linolenic acid were positively related to crude protein, and negatively related to fiber content of the forages. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The current effort was intended to cram the effect of sewage water on morphology and chemical symphony of cv. Dunkeld of canola (Brassica napus L.) in Sargodha, Punjab, Pakistan. The obtained information showed that there was an explicit effect of each metal on the growth and yield of the canola cultivar. Sewage water treatment had a significant effect on number of leaves and leaf area. The presence of heavy metals in the sewage water increased the plant growth and yield but up to a certain level, however, higher concentration of heavy metals reaching to toxic level, caused the reduction in plant growth and yield. When sewage water was diluted the toxicity became abridged. Ten levels of sewage water serial dilutions were used in present studies. Statistically completely randomize design with three replications for each experiment unit was implemented. At 50% sewage water dilution, plants got the reasonable quantity of micro and macro nutrient which resulted in increase in growth, yield and yield components. From the analysis of variance of data, Ca, Mg and Mn concentrations were affected substantially by the treatments in soil as well as in forage and showed consistence pattern of augment with increase in the treatment level of sewage water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first Bulgarian and European standard wheatgrass variety Morava -- tetraploid, high productive, ecologically stable (winter hardy and drought resistant), resistant to leaves diseases and exceptionally long-lived and persistent had been developed during the period 1995 - 2010 in the Institute of Forage Crops - Pleven. Recurrent phenotypic selection, vegetative propagation (clones selection) of 15 elite genotypes with local origin from Northeastern Bulgaria and polycross methods were applied to its creation. The variety is multifunctional, suitable for hay, hay-pasture use, for erosion control and landscape maintaining. It can be component of hay mixtures with alfalfa and sainfoin. The results from successful competitive varietal test trial (CVT) in Pleven (2001-2004 Γ. average DMY 9615 kg ha-1) and from National official varieties testing trials for Value of Cultivation and Use (VCU average DMY 10021 kg ha-1) from three locations (Chepinci, Plovdiv and Selanovci) and for Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) in one location (Chepinci) of the Executive Agency for Variety Testing, Field Inspection and Seed Control (EAVTFISC) (2006 -- 2008 Γ.) are presented and the description of the variety Morava. The variety have been registered on the Official Variety List of the Republic of Bulgaria (OVL) for the years 2012, on OECD list for the year 2010, 2011 and 2012 Γ., with Certificate from the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria from 2010 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Through a completely randomized design and five repetitions, the content of macrominerals, microminerals, ash, and nitrates was studied in four varieties of Pennisetum purpureum (King grass, Taiwan 146, Cuba CT-115 and Cuba CT-169). There were significant differences between varieties, for the indicators studied in leaves and stems. The nitrates varied from 0.023 up to 1.07 %. The stem had the highest values. In the macrominerals, phosphorous ranged between 0.08 and 0.21 %, potassium between 0.62 and 3.25 %, calcium between 0.25 and 0.76 %, magnesium between 0.29 and 0.85 %, and silica between 0.57 and 4.21 %. In all of them, the highest value was always for the leaves. In the microminerals, copper varied between 6.03 and 20.09 ppm, and zinc between 17.42 and 38.32 ppm. The stems recorded the highest value, while the leaves had the highest values for manganese and iron. It is concluded that there was variability in the varieties of Pennisetum for the minerals under view, as well as between their leaves, stems and seasonal periods. These data may be a guide for the efficient management through the correct application of mineral or organic fertilizers or for the calculation of the mineral needs of ruminants. New studies are recommended to widen and complement the information obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the content of phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), total ash (Cen) and insoluble ash (Insol), iron (Fe), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in forage species growing wild in silvopastoral system of the Lower Delta of the Parana River after planting forest. 10 plants were harvested from the following species: Glyceria multiflora (Cebadilla de agua), Deyeuxia viridiflavescens (Pasto plateado), Melilotus officinalis (Trébol de olor amarillo), Phalaris angusta (Alpistillo), Lolium multiflorum (Ray gras), Lathyrus pubescens (Arvejilla), Vicia gramínea (Vicia) y Leersia hexandra (Arrocillo). They were dried, incinerated and ashes dissolved in acid. Mineral determinations were performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) and colorimetry. Mineral contents in the species studied here were lower than values informed previously of forage species of temperate weather and, in some cases, mineral requirements for cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]