44 research outputs found
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Palatability of Mongolian rangeland plants
This document provides information on the palatability of plants on Mongolian rangelands including native and introduced vascular plants by major seasonal periods: winter (January - March), spring (April- June), summer (July - September), and autumn (October - December). In addition to this, some species of valuable lichen species are also included. Information is presented on 1044 plant species (131 grasses, 50 grass-like plants (sedges and rushes), 664 forbs, 161 shrubs/semishrubs, 17 woody/tree species and 8 lichen species found in Mongolia. About 13700 evaluations were included in this document. Camel, cattle/yaks, elk (Cervus elaphus sibiricus), deer (Moschus moschiferus), goat, horse, sheep, and reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) were assigned herbivores to evaluate palatability for each species. However, due to lack of information, evaluation for each and every species may not be found. Also, 131 forage species which could be found on Mongolian rangelands were included besides to these 1044 species, although palatability information on them was not available or was very limited. For each plant species both the scientific and the Mongolian official names are provided for user’s convenience. This information is intended to contribute accumulating data bank for sustainable management of rangeland resources of Mongolia and possibly be useful to other countries and geographic regions with similar natural conditions, especially in Central Asian regions
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Nutritive Quality of Flowers in Some Early-Plants
In spring time, animals, goats and sheep in particular, prefer to eat flowers Pulsatilla multifida, and Iris tenifolia. Pulsatilla's flower contains sugar 20.33, starch 6.71, cellulose 19.15, lignin 6.50, and acid detergent fibre (ADF) 24.88, neutral detergent fibre (NDF) 32.55, hemicellulose 7.67, and protein 14.27 percent. Dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD ) of Pulsatilla multifida were found 84.35, 84.17%, respectively. Flowers of Iris tenifolia contain sugar 38.89, starch 3.71, protein 18.42, cellulose 9.04, lignin 12.98, ADF 15.60, NDF 19.60 and hemicellulose 4.0 percent. DMD, OMD of Iris tenifolia were found 89.69% and 89.79%, respectively
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Influence of previous cattle and elk grazing on the subsequent diet quality and nutrient intake rate of cattle, deer, and elk grazing late-summer mixed-conifer rangelands
Four studies were conducted on late-summer diet quality and quantity of cattle (Bos taurus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus), and elk (Cervus elaphus) in response to prior grazing by cattle and elk on mixed-conifer rangelands and on related research techniques. In our first study we assessed a photographic technique to estimate shrub browse yield and utilization. Our results indicate the photographic method could be used to measure available browse yield and utilization of shrubs in a nondestructive way. In our second study we compared DMD and NDF digestibility (NDFD) estimates of in vivo digestibility using the following techniques: 1) Tilley and Terry two-stage in vitro, 2) DaisyII in vitro, and 3) filter bag in situ preceded by 48 h acid-pepsin treatment. In most cases, the DaisyII and in situ techniques overestimate both DM and NDF digestibility compared to the in vivo and two-stage in vitro techniques. We compared the bite-count technique (BC) of estimating diet intake and synthesized diet quality to direct estimates of diet quality using rumen evacuation technique (RE) in our third study. In summary, although the BC technique has the advantage of not requiring rumen fistulated animals, for some variables, it did not yield results that were comparable to RE technique. In our fourth study determined late-summer diet quality and nutrient intake rates of cattle, deer, and elk in response to previous early-summer grazing by cattle and elk at moderate utilization level’ (31.9 ± 2.7%) in northeast Oregon. Crude protein level of the animals’ diets did not differ (P > 0.10) on the ungrazed paddock compared to cattle or elk grazed paddocks, however, it was higher (P < 0.10) on cattle grazed paddock than on elk grazed paddock. Cattle diets contained lower CP and IVDMD (P < 0.10) compared to deer or elk diets and relative to elk, deer consistently selected forages which contained higher CP (P < 0.10). Our study suggested that early-summer grazing by cattle or elk at moderate utilization has little effect on the subsequent nutrient intake rate of cattle, deer, and elk in mixed-conifer rangelands during the late-summer in northeast Oregon
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Rumen degradability and chemical composition of Mongolian highland’s pasture grass
High mountains pasture had a marginally higher degradability compared to forest steppe and steppe in Mongolia. Based on results of analysis of pastures taken all-year-round, we subjectively group the time into 4 periods, i.e. before April, May-June, July-September, After September. The time periods also corresponds to vegetative stage of pasture grass. The ranking in
degradability and degradation rate of these periods is generally: May-June > July-September > Before April > After September.
For very fruitful use of rumen degradable capacity of died standing forage of pasture there is a great need to provide nitrogen and mineral supply through supplementation feeding during the winter-spring
Alternative Pasture Development System and Breeding Weight for Beef Heifers
Proper development of replacement beef heifers is critical and needs to be accomplished at lower costs without sacrificing reproductive performance. The current recommendations indicate heifers should reach approximately 65% of mature body weight (MBW) at breeding for successful reproduction (Patterson et al. 1992; NRC 1996). Meeting heifer maintenance and gestation nutrient requirements are getting more economically challenged for beef producers in western Canada. Therefore, producers are moving from drylot development systems where cattle are housed and fed in pens to the adoption of extensive grazing systems (Kelln et al. 2011) in field paddocks. Limited research has been conducted to determine whether inherent differences in development systems affect reproductive efficiency of heifers. The most commonly used extensive dormant season grazing system in western Canada is pasture grazing forage bales in field paddocks (Kelln et al. 2011).
The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the effects of developing heifers to a pre-breeding targeted body weight (BW) of either 55 or 62% MBW on dry matter intake (DMI), nutrient intake and reproductive efficiency; and (2) the effects of developing heifers in either field pasture paddocks (PG) or conventional drylot pens (DL) on development system cost over 2 seasons (2010-2012)
Evaluation of a New Fall Rye Cultivar 'Bono' in Single and Double Cropping Systems
Non-Peer ReviewedHybrid fall rye (FR, Secale cereale L.) is now being considered as a novel cropping option in western Canada due to its high yield potential, fast growing, and earlier maturing and harvest. An earlier harvest allows producers to consider the option of seeding another forage on the same land base in the same crop year (i.e., double cropping). Growing fall rye may also address forage demand during drought conditions due to its fibrous root system and efficient use of N along with spring moisture. The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of a new hybrid fall rye cultivar ‘Bono’ compared to a conventional fall rye, modern open pollinated cultivar ‘Hazlet’ and winter triticale in single and double cropping systems with spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in central Saskatchewan. The study included 5 replicated (n = 4) treatments: (i) Bono fall rye; (ii) Hazlet fall rye; and (iii) Pika winter triticale as single crops, and two double cropping treatments composed of spring barley harvested for greenfeed followed by the seeding of two fall rye cultivars: (iv) barley/BonoFR; and (v) barley/HazletFR. The study was conducted in the Dark Brown soil zone at the Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence located near Clavet, SK in 2019 and 2020. Pre-seeding herbicide was applied for all treatment plots. No fertilizer was added except for double-cropping plots that were fertilized with 23 kg actual N/ha in fall 2019. First crop - barley was seeded at 136.6 kg/ha at 2.5 cm depth and harvested for greenfeed at soft dough stage in late summer, followed by second crop - fall rye seeded at 85 kg/ha and 3.75 cm depth in the same year. The fall rye was harvested as greenfeed between the flag leaf to heading emergence the following summer. Winter triticale was seeded at 151.2 kg/ha and 3.75 cm depth. Soil was analyzed for available nitrate–N (NO3–N), sulfate–S (SO4–S), phosphate–P, (HPO4/H2PO4–P), and available potassium (K). Forage dry matter yield (DMY) and quality were determined including crude protein (CP), crude protein yield (CPY) and total digestible nutrient yields (TDNY) per hectare. Metabolizable energy (ME), and nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) were also estimated to evaluate the two cropping systems. Soil available N, P, K, and S averaged 62.2, 26, 724, and 1502 kg/ha, respectively. In the double cropping system, first crop-spring barley produced similar (P > 0.05) DMY (avg. 5955 kg/ha) and quality (CP = 9.1%; neutral detergent fiber (NDF = 47.4%, TDN = 67.2%, ME = 2.5 Mcal/kg) over the two production years. Bono fall rye did not differ (P > 0.05) in DMY (avg. 2339.8 kg/ha) or quality from Hazlet fall rye in both single and double cropping systems. However, compared to winter triticale, both fall rye cultivars had lower CP (13.4 vs. 18.6%; P = 0.003), ruminally degradable protein (RDP, 10.2 vs. 13.7%; P = 0.004), relative feed value (RFV, 91.8 vs. 122.3; P 0.05) DMY and estimated nutrient yield per hectare including CPY, TDNY, N, P, and K, but differed (P = 0.009) for higher NUE level. Expectedly, double cropping increased total DMY (barley DMY + fall rye DMY) by 74.2% (8401 vs. 2166 kg/ha), CPY by 61.5% (832.8 vs. 320.5 kg/ha), TDNY by 75.9% (5503 vs. 1325 kg/ha), P by 77.1% (19.5 vs. 4.5 kg/ha), K by 41.7% (94.8 vs. 55.3 kg/ha), and N uptake (133.3 vs. 51.3 kg/ha), with 34.7% higher NUE (64.5 vs. 42.1) as opposed to single crops. Preliminary results suggest that the new cultivar, Bono fall rye shows good potential to be used in a double cropping system providing adequate forage production and nutrition for beef cattle, while its lower nutritive value compared to winter triticale is compensated by the higher efficiency of nitrogen use, protein and total digestible nutrients accumulated per hectare. Spring seeded barley would provide suitable forage for greenfeed during summer, and Bono fall rye would be a viable alternative to other winter cereals in a single cropping system
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Species Composition and Diversity on Northwestern Bunchgrass Prairie Rangelands
Management and conservation of rangelands are increasingly concerned with maintaining productivity, species composition, and diversity of native plant communities. We estimated aboveground annual productivity, species composition, and diversity of a native bunchgrass type community across 1152, 0.5 m2 plots at The Nature Conservancy’s Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in northeastern Oregon. Standing crop was estimated by clipping current year’s crop to ground level and canopy cover was estimated visually as cover classes. The Shannon diversity index (H) was used to characterize species diversity in the study area. Across the study sites 186 plant species were observed, approximately 80% of which were native perennial species. Native bunchgrasses and perennials contributed nearly 80% to the total standing crop with 16% attributed to invading and/or introduced species. We found that the prairie was low in productivity but high in evenness of species abundance
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Botanical composition and diet quality of beef cattle grazing at three stocking rates following fuels reduction in mixed conifer forests
Due to the increasing cost and concern of catastrophic wildfires in the Western United States, there is an increasing interest in fuels reduction projects. Fuel reduction treatments utilize various methods of thinning and/or prescribed fire to obtain desirable forest stand conditions. However, the effects of fuels reduction on ecosystem function are not well known. To explore the effects of fuel reduction, a series of studies have been developed. One of these studies was designed to look at how cattle diets are affected by fuels reduction and stocking rate. The study occurred at the Starkey Experimental Forest and Range in Northeast Oregon. A split plot factorial study design was used, with the whole plots (3 ha) being fuel reduced or no treatment (extant) and the split plots (1 ha) within grazed to three levels of forage utilization; (1) 3 cows/ha, (2) 6 cows/ha, (3) 9 cows/ha, with a 48 hour grazing duration. Grazing treatments were applied in August of 2005 and 2006. Cattle dietary composition information was collected from six cows in each experimental unit (1 ha) using the bite-count method with 20 minute grazing bouts. Masticate samples were collected after each 20 minute grazing bout from six ruminally cannulated cows in each experimental unit in order to determine diet quality. Masticate samples were analyzed for CP, ADF, NDF, and invitro digestibility. Preliminary results indicate foraging efficiency of cattle decreases with increased stocking rates along with an increase in shrub use across both treated and untreated sites. The results of this study will be used as part of a larger, long-term study that will provide information and models on the interaction of ungulate herbivory and episodic disturbance that will help inform and guide the management of multi-use forests
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Changes in Forage Quantity and Quality with Continued Cattle Grazing in a Mountain Riparian Pasture
The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the quantity, quality, and moisture of available forage in a riparian pasture, and shrub utilization by cattle during a 30-d late summer grazing period. A riparian pasture (44.7 ha) in northeast of Oregon was grazed with 30 yearlings (419 kg, BCS = 5.05) and 30 mature cows with calves (499 kg, BCS = 4.65) from early August to early September in 2001, and from late July to late August in 2002. Sampling dates were d 0, d 10, d 20, and d 30. The forage availability before grazing was 1058 kg/ha and declined to 323 kg/ha at the end of the grazing period (P 0.10). In contrast, the moisture content of grasses were over 50% at the beginning of the grazing period and declined to 34% by d 20. Likewise, forbs and shrubs were higher than grasses in CP (11, 14, and 6%, respectively) and IVDMD (58, 49, and 42% respectively). In summary, our results suggest that cattle grazing late summer riparian pastures will switch to intensive shrub utilization when grasses decline in quality and quantity, and forbs decline in quantity
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Estimating Shrub Forage Yield and Utilization Using a Photographic Technique
We assessed a photographic technique to estimate shrub yield and utilization of common snowberry, snowbrush, and heart-leafed willow found in mixed-conifer rangelands. We determined the correlation between green leaf area size (LA) and forage yield (Y) and compared plant utilization estimated by photographic technique (ULA) to actual utilization (UY) values. Shrub forage yield and utilization were determined by hand plucking in five to eight increments. Before the first plucking, and after each subsequent plucking, we took two photos that were perpendicular to each other at the intersection of the shrub. Each photo was evaluated using image-processing software to produce red (R), green (G), and blue (B) color band images. Green leaf area was determined as follows: pixel = ([G-R] + [G-B])/ (G+R+G+B); Green leaf area, cm2 = (Calibration [C], cm2∙pixel-1) × (LA, pixel). Green leaf area calculated from the photographic technique was strongly correlated (r2 = 0.83-0.94, P < 0.001) with forage yield for all three shrubs. A strong correlation (r2 = 0.95, n = 142) was detected between utilization values estimated through green leaf area size and actual values. Utilization estimated by LA did not differ (P = 0.60, n = 142) from actual utilization values. In summary, our results indicate the photographic technique could be used once calibration curves are developed, to measure available browse yield and utilization of shrubs in a nondestructive approach