Role of Information and Information Providers in Technology Transfer

Technology transfer is an essential component of economic change in society. Developers of new technology often fail to realize that there is a science to technology transfer. This lack of appreciation for the skills involved in information dissemination and in activities necessary to affect a change of action in an audience often severely limits the rate and amount of technology transfer that occurs. Significant differences exist between doing a news release or writing a publication and causing audience acceptance of a new technology. The old standards of expecting adoption of a new technology simply because it “will profit farmers” or because it is tested and recommended by “revered” public researchers has not been, and will not be sufficient to cause acceptance. Instead it is necessary to consider the audience and how its concerns relate to technology adoption, how audiences learn (which varies with different audiences), and match the presentation methods to the learning preferences of the specific audience

Forage Yield and Economic Losses Associated with the Brown-Midrib Trait in Sudangrass

Brown-midrib genes increase digestibility due to reduced lignification in sudangrass, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan. Brown-midrib lines are known to be low in forage yield potential, but this reduction in forage yield has not been previously quantified. The objectives of this study were to quantify the increase in forage quality and decrease in forage yield and to provide an economic assessment of this dichotomy. Piper and Greenleaf (normal leaves) were compared with their brown-midrib counterparts and four highly selected brown-midrib (FG) lines at two locations for 2 yr. Brown-midrib lines averaged 9.0% lower in lignin and 7.2% higher in in vitro fiber digestibility than normal lines. The reduction in first-harvest forage yield was highly variable across germplasms and locations. Greenleaf and the FG lines showed severe forage yield reductions in Wisconsin but not in Nebraska, whereas forage yield of Piper was uniformly reduced across locations. Reduced tillering and plant height of the brown-midrib plants appeared to be mechanisms for reducing forage yield. The brown-midrib phenotype of sudangrass, caused by the homozygous condition of the bmr-6 allele, appears to be environmentally sensitive, particularly limiting production in cooler and shorter growing seasons. Conversely, uniform reductions in second-harvest forage yield suggested a fundamental limitation to regrowth potential associated with the brown-midrib phenotype. Predicted net returns from feeding sudangrass hay were similar for first-harvest normal and brown-midrib lines, but severely depressed for brown-midrib lines in second harvest, due to the severe yield reductions

Forage Yield and Economic Losses Associated with the Brown-Midrib Trait in Sudangrass

Brown-midrib genes increase digestibility due to reduced lignification in sudangrass, Sorghum bicolor subsp. drummondii (Nees ex Steud.) de Wet & Harlan. Brown-midrib lines are known to be low in forage yield potential, but this reduction in forage yield has not been previously quantified. The objectives of this study were to quantify the increase in forage quality and decrease in forage yield and to provide an economic assessment of this dichotomy. Piper and Greenleaf (normal leaves) were compared with their brown-midrib counterparts and four highly selected brown-midrib (FG) lines at two locations for 2 yr. Brown-midrib lines averaged 9.0% lower in lignin and 7.2% higher in in vitro fiber digestibility than normal lines. The reduction in first-harvest forage yield was highly variable across germplasms and locations. Greenleaf and the FG lines showed severe forage yield reductions in Wisconsin but not in Nebraska, whereas forage yield of Piper was uniformly reduced across locations. Reduced tillering and plant height of the brown-midrib plants appeared to be mechanisms for reducing forage yield. The brown-midrib phenotype of sudangrass, caused by the homozygous condition of the bmr-6 allele, appears to be environmentally sensitive, particularly limiting production in cooler and shorter growing seasons. Conversely, uniform reductions in second-harvest forage yield suggested a fundamental limitation to regrowth potential associated with the brown-midrib phenotype. Predicted net returns from feeding sudangrass hay were similar for first-harvest normal and brown-midrib lines, but severely depressed for brown-midrib lines in second harvest, due to the severe yield reductions

Influence of Aphanomyces Root Rot on Alfalfa Health and Forage Yields

Maximum alfalfa performance is achieved when grown on deep, well drained soils, while severe stand and yield losses can occur on soils that are imperfectly drained (Wing, 1909; Alva et al., 1985). In Wisconsin, nearly half of all forage production is on soils that are classified as somewhat poorly drained

Importance of Considering Rate of Passage When Determining Energy Content of Forages for High Producing Animals

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of higher rates of passage and correspondingly lower rumen retention times on digestion of forages. One hundred and fifty samples of legumes, grasses and grass-legume mixtures were collected from farmer samples submitted to commercial forage testing laboratories and 32 samples of alfalfa at varying maturity were collected from research plots. In vitro digestions were performed for either 24 or 48 hours followed by neutral detergent analysis. Neither acid detergent fiber (ADF) nor neutral detergent fiber (NDF) predicted the standard 48-hour digestion very well (r2 = -0.38 and B0.26, respectively). Similar results were noted for 24-hour digestion (r2 = -0.48 and B0.47, respectively). While the correlation was high between 24- and 48-hour digestions (r2 = 0.86), individual samples showed considerable variation. It is recommended that digestion kinetics be considered with determining energy availability for forages for higher producing animals

Extending Grazing and Reducing Stored Feed Needs

Why extend the grazing season? For most livestock producers, extending the grazing season for their animals, or otherwise filling gaps in pasture forage availability to reduce stored feed needs, should be a high priority objective

Towards Truly “Global” Near Infrared Calibrations for Protein and Neutral Detergent Fibre in Dried Ground Forages

Over the past five years, Foss and DeLaval have sponsored the activities of a group of forage analysts with the aim of developing global Near Infrared (NIR) calibrations for parameters that are important in ruminant nutrition. The approach adopted has been based on the amalgamation of historical databases from centres worldwide and calibrations for protein and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in dried ground forages have been developed based on databases that currently comprise approximately 30,000 records. Protein and NDF, while not the most important parameters in ruminant nutrition, were chosen for the initial calibration development exercise because of the amount of data available and because the methodologies adopted by different laboratories worldwide were relatively uniform. The aim was to create calibrations that would work for any forage type in any area of the world. Over the past two years, several trials have been carried out worldwide comparing the performance of global calibrations with the performance of locally developed calibrations for indigenous forages and based on reference values from local laboratories

Developing a National Alfalfa Information System

Using state-of-the-art telecommunication technologies, this project is developing a comprehensive knowledge resource for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.); the National Alfalfa Information System (NAIS). This project will serve as an improved model for Extension educational programs. Alfalfa is the most important forage crop in the USA and grown worldwide for feeding millions of livestock and in many cropping systems. As a legume, it is important in sustaining the environment and the productivity of agriculture. Information needs are present in every state and internationally. The NAIS is being developed through national and international cooperation, putting the best science-based alfalfa information and expertise at the fingertips of producers, consultants, extension workers, instructors, researchers, and users. Collaboratively developed materials will reduce duplication of effort. To make the knowledge easy-to-use, educational design, communication, and information science professionals are working with alfalfa experts in creating a WWW system and Web-aware CD-ROM. To ensure content quality, peer-review by members of multiple professional societies is included. A significant result will be around-the-clock availability of up-to-date, easy-to-use, and peerreviewed information. Shared workload and the peer-review process can influence faculty morale, efficiency, and effectiveness, an adjunct to maximizing the utilization of alfalfa worldwide by making the best information readily available

Parrots Eat Nutritious Foods despite Toxins

Generalist herbivores are challenged not only by the low nitrogen and high indigestibility of their plant foods, but also by physical and chemical defenses of plants. This study investigated the foods of wild parrots in the Peruvian Amazon and asked whether these foods contain dietary components that are limiting for generalist herbivores (protein, lipids, minerals) and in what quantity; whether parrots chose foods based on nutrient content; and whether parrots avoid plants that are chemically defended.We made 224 field observations of free-ranging parrots of 17 species in 8 genera foraging on 102 species of trees in an undisturbed tropical rainforest, in two dry seasons (July-August 1992-1993) and one wet season (January-February1994). We performed laboratory analyses of parts of plants eaten and not eaten by parrots and brine shrimp assays of toxicity as a proxy for vertebrates. Parrots ate seeds, fruits, flowers, leaves, bark, and insect larvae, but up to 70% of their diet comprised seeds of many species of tropical trees, in various stages of ripeness. Plant parts eaten by parrots were rich in protein, lipid, and essential minerals, as well as potentially toxic chemicals. Seeds were higher than other plant materials in protein and lipid and lower in fiber. Large macaws of three species ate foods higher in protein and lipids and lower in fiber compared to plant parts available but not eaten. Macaws ate foods that were lower in phenolic compounds than foods they avoided. Nevertheless, foods eaten by macaws contained measurable levels of toxicity. Macaws did not appear to make dietary selections based on mineral content.Parrots represent a remarkable example of a generalist herbivore that consumes seeds destructively despite plant chemical defenses. With the ability to eat toxic foods, rainforest-dwelling parrots exploited a diversity of nutritious foods, even in the dry season when food was scarce for other frugivores and granivores