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Goats are the common grazing livestock integrated into the silvopasture system. Previous grazing studies with goats in southern-pine silvopastures showed significant debarking of pine trees during the cool-season grazing period. However, goats’ behavior in this system during the warm-season grazing period has not been previously reported. The objective of the study was to determine the diurnal behavior and distribution pattern of Kiko wethers in southern-pine silvopastures planted with warm-season forages. The study was conducted at the Atkins Agroforestry Research and Demonstration Site, Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, USA. The study site consisted of three silvopasture plots (0.4-ha each) comprising 12-year-old longleaf (Pinus palustris Mill.) and loblolly (Pinus taeda L.) pines, with a tree density of 402 trees ha−1 (loblolly: longleaf ratio – 1.27). Study plots were divided into three zones, and three different warm-season forages were grown in these zones. Forage samples were collected and analyzed for productivity and quality. Ten Kiko wethers (2.75–2.90-year-old, 62.9 ± 1.56 kg BW) were rotationally stocked in the study plots, and their diurnal behavior and distribution pattern studied when they were in each study plot. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test in R-package. Grazing was the predominant diurnal behavior (46%) shown by Kiko wethers followed by staying in shelters (22%) and lying (17%). Wethers did not show any pine debarking behavior. Wethers spent predominant diurnal time in Zone 3 (42%) planted with sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don) that had the highest quality forages followed by Zone 1 (31%) planted with bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Fluegge). Kiko wethers could be safe to stock in southern-pine silvopastures containing 12-year-old trees during the warm-season grazing period.

The purpose of this study was to compare the anti-oxidative and cytoprotective effects of quercitrin and avicularin isolated from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don extract to those of quercetin, an aglycone of quercitrin, and avicularin. Quercetin had higher antioxidative activity and cell penetration ratio than its glycosides, resulting in greater cytoprotective effects against 1O2. The cytoprotective effects against cell damage seems to reflect 1O2 quenching rate, free radical and ROS scavenging activity, and cell permeability. Among them, cell permeability to block free radical initiation and chain reactions in cell membranes is considered to be the most important feature of cytoprotective activity.

Sustainable ruminant livestock production could benefit from feedstuffs containing condensed tannin (CT) if they maintained or improved livestock health and productivity while reducing the excretion of urinary nitrogen (N), which can be readily lost to the environment. Such feedstuffs would be most useful if they were easy and inexpensive to grow and could be field dried and pelletized for ease of transport and storage. One feedstuff that may meet these criteria is pelleted sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata). Therefore, a 4 × 4 Latin square trial was conducted with four mature male sheep fed four proportions of pelleted SL with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay cubes, to determine effects on digestion and N excretion, and the fate of the CT during digestion. Pelleted SL contained (g/kg dry matter; DM) 182 CT, 23.3N, 341 aNDF, 227 ADF, 87 ADL and 55 ash, while the cubed alfalfa hay contained (g/kg DM) 28.5N, 381 aNDF, 284 ADF, 78 ADL and 137 ash. The SL pellets were consumed readily, but increasing their proportion in the ration DM from 0 to 0.4 linearly decreased apparent digestibility of DM from 59.7 to 49.9% and N from 74.7 to 53.4%, with associated reductions in urinary N excretion. Evaluation with 1H-13C heteronuclear single quantum coherence nuclear magnetic resonance (HSQC NMR) spectroscopy detected trace amounts of intact CT in sheep feces and analysis of the feces from the 0.4 lespedeza pellet ration using the HCl-butanol-acetone-iron assay indicated that 96% of the CT had been modified into non-proanthocyanidin components. Fiber analysis conducted with and without sulfite indicated an accumulation of sulfite-resistant CT-protein complexes in feces which likely contributed to the reduction in digestibility of fiber and N. This study has shown that SL pellets reduced urinary N excretion and diverted feed N to feces, but their inclusion in the diet reduced the apparent digestibility of DM and N. Complexes of CT, protein and fiber were the main contributor to the poor digestibility of aNDF and ADF in diets containing SL pellets. Findings presented here suggest a potential negative effect of these SL pellets on long-term sheep productivity in contrast to short-term productivity improvements due to the ability of the SL pellets to reduce gastrointestinal parasite populations.

Eighteen Katahdin sheep ewes (initial body weight [BW] = 73.7 ± 1.76 kg and age = 5.2 ± 0.56 yr) and 18 St. Croix ewes (54.7 ± 1.33 kg BW and 4.1 ± 0.42 yr) were used in an experiment to determine effects of dietary level of Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; 5.8% condensed tannins and 10.3 % crude protein, dry matter [DM] basis) and other supplemental ingredients on BW, feed intake, digestion, energy metabolism, ruminal methane emission, and levels of blood and ruminal fluid constituents. Diets were consumed ad libitum and included a concentrate supplement at approximately 0.45 % BW (DM). Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) was the basal forage for control (CON), ionophore (ION; lasalocid at 33 mg/kg DM), coconut oil (3%; CCO), and soybean oil (3%; SBO) diets, and forage in moderate- and high-lespedeza diets was a 1:1 mixture of alfalfa and lespedeza and all lespedeza, respectively (ALF:LES and LES, respectively). There were four 6-wk periods, with digestion assessed in wk 4 and measures with a respiration calorimetry system in wk 5. Although there was a three-way interaction involving dietary treatment, breed, and period, average forage intake was greater for LES than for CON, ION, CCO, SBO (P 0.05) for diets with lespedeza and for ION (697, 607, 589, 598, 635, and 690 g/day for CON, ALF:LES, LES, ION, CCO, and SBO, respectively; SEM = 50.4). There was a treatment by period interaction (P

Legumes with excessive condensed tannins may become unpalatable to ruminants; however, body condition may affect feed intake. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of goats with different initial bodies condition scores fed pellets composed of pure alfalfa, sericea lespedeza, and this with polyethylene glycol (PEG) for 35 days. Goats had compensatory gain, once no difference (P > 0.05) among body scores was obtained in final body weight. Goats in low body scores had greater (P ≤ 0.05) average daily gain. About feed intake, no differences among legume diets were found in the high diet group. In most of the variables, animals in the high group kept greater their body measures, as well as legumes could be similar (P > 0.05), despite of SL quality. Pellets made from sericea and plus PEG decreased (P ≤ 0.05) gases productions. Goats in low body conditions have compensatory gain when fed either sericea or plus PEG, both viable substitutes for alfalfa. Body measurements are a tool to predict body weight, in spite of moderate correlations. Pellets made from sericea can decrease feed energy loss via CH4 emissions and provide an alternative N pathway.

The objective was to examine the effects of supplementary quebracho on control of coccidiosis and gastrointestinal nematodes in lambs and kids. In Exp. 1, naturally infected lambs weaned (87.8 ± 0.4 days of age; day 0) in January (winter) were blocked by sex and randomly assigned (n = 10/treatment) to receive supplement with or without 100 g/lamb of quebracho for 28 days. In Exp. 2, single or twin rearing ewes were randomly assigned into two groups, and naturally infected lambs were fed control (n = 28) or quebracho (100 g/lamb of quebracho tannins in feed; n = 27) between -28 and 21 days (weaning = day 0; 70.8 ± 0.1 days of age). In Exp. 3, weaned doe kids (57.6 ± 2.0 days of age) were randomly assigned to receive alfalfa (Medicago sativa) supplement with (n = 9) or without (n = 8) 50 g/kid quebracho or sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) with quebracho (n = 8) for 21 days. Fecal oocyst count (FOC), nematode egg counts (FEC), fecal score, dag score (soiling around rear quarters), and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were determined every 7 days. Data were analyzed as repeated measures using mixed models. In Exp. 1, FOC decreased in quebracho-fed lambs (diet × time, P0.001) but FEC was similar between treatments during the feeding period (P = 0.19). Packed cell volume (P = 0.19) and fecal score (P = 0.42) were similar between groups. Quebracho-fed lambs had a greater dag score initially (diet × time, P = 0.02), but were similar by day 42 (P = 0.72). In Exp. 2, FOC remained low (P = 0.02), PCV tended to decrease (P = 0.06), but FEC increased on days 14 and 21 (diet × time; P0.001) in quebracho compared with control-fed lambs. Quebracho-fed lambs had lower fecal score (diet × time; P = 0.005) but higher dag score (diet × time; P0.001). In Exp. 3, FOC of kids fed quebracho (alfalfa or sericea lespedeza supplement) was lower than control (P0.001). Fecal score of kids fed sericea lespedeza compared with alfalfa were lower regardless of quebracho (P = 0.01). There were no differences among treatments for dag, FEC, PCV, or body weight (P0.10). Quebracho was effective in reducing FOC but not clinical signs of coccidiosis in both lambs and kids, and may not be highly digestible in lambs as it caused loose stools.

Phytochemical investigation of Lespedeza cuneata led to the isolation of seventeen compounds including three steroids (β-sitosterol 1, β-sitosterol-6′-linolenoyl-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside 3, and β-sitosterol glucoside 13), nine flavonoids (quercetin 4, kaempferol 5, isovitexin 8, hirsutrin 9, nicotiflorin 10, vitexin 11, astragalin 12, trifolin 14, and isorhamnetin 17), two phenolics (benzyl-β-d-glucopyranoside 7 and homovanillyl alcohol 16), one carotenoid (loroxanthin 2), one lignin (7R,8S–dihydrodehydrodiconiferyl alcohol 15), and one hexose (pinitol 6) on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Among these compounds, 2, 3, 7, 15 and 16 were reported for the first time from the genus Lespedeza. The taxonomic significance of these isolated compounds was also summarized.

Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata), a condensed tannin rich plant, has been used in recent years to aid in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in sheep and goats. Grazing or feeding dried SL leads to a reduction in egg production by GIN and reduces coccidiosis. Growth rates in lambs and kids when fed SL for more than 56 d has not been well characterized. The objective was to determine the effects of feeding SL leaf meal pellets on growth rate in lambs and kids. Lambs or kids weaned between 86 and 108 days of age (day 0) were supplemented with up to 900 g of a control supplement (CO) or SL leaf meal pellets for 56–112 days while grazing grass pastures at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Booneville, AR or Louisiana State University (LSU), Baton Rouge, LA in 2010 (ARS lambs only), 2011 (lambs only), 2012, and 2013 (kids only). Animals were weighed every 28 days for up to 112 days of supplemental feeding. Data were analyzed using GLM [average daily gain (ADG)], mixed models using repeated measures, or regression. Between days 0 and 56, ADG was greater in 2012 (P=0.01) or tended to be greater in 2010 (P=0.07) in SL than CO lambs at ARS, but lower in SL than CO ARS lambs (P

The objectives of the present study were to determine if the molecular weight of condensed tannins (CT) from warm-season perennial legumes affects the biological activity of CT relative to suppression of methane (CH4) production by ruminants, and to identify potential North American native forage plants to use for mitigation of enteric CH4 emission. Eight North American native warm-season perennial legumes were evaluated: Leucaena retusa Benth. (littleleaf leadtree), Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMill. Ex B.L. Rob. & Fernald (Illinois bundleflower), Lespedeza stuevei Nutt. (tall lespedeza), Mimosa strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray (powderpuff), Neptunia lutea (Leavenworth) Benth. (yellow puff), two ecotypes of Acacia angustissima var. hirta (Nutt.) B.L. Rob (prairie acacia), and Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC. var. paniculatum (panicledleaf ticktrefoil). Two introduced legumes were also included: Arachis glabrata Benth. (rhizoma peanut) and Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don (sericea lespedeza). Forages were fermented with cattle rumen fluid for 48 h anaerobically using an in vitro gas production technique. D. paniculatum, L. stuevei, and M. strigillosa were high in CT, ranging from 11.7 to 12.5%. D. illinoensis, L. cuneata, N. lutea, and two ecotypes of A. angustissima var. hirta had less CT (P

On the Ground • Supplemental polyethylene glycol (PEG), a polymer that neutralizes the negative effects of tannins, can increase intake and preference of cattle for fresh-cut sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata), an invasive, tannin-containing legume for the tallgrass prairie region of the Great Plains. • In grazing trials, steers supplemented with PEGI plus a high-protein supplement tended to eat more sericea than did steers only supplemented with the high-protein supplement. • Supplementing cattle with PEG, protein, or a combination of the two has the potential to enhance the amount of sericea consumed by cattle, contributing to the control of this weed.

Feeding sun-dried sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don.] reduces gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection in goats fed in confinement, but effects of this forage when fed as a supplement to goats on pasture are unclear. A study was completed in which supplemental feeds (75 and 95% SL leaf meal pellets and a commercial pellet, all fed at 0.91 kg/head/day) were offered to thirty growing male Spanish goats (9 months old, 20.6 ± 2.8 kg, 10/treatment) grazing perennial warm-season grass pastures in Fort Valley, GA, from September to November, 2010. Fecal and blood samples were taken from individual animals weekly to determine fecal egg count (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), respectively, and animal weights were recorded at the start and end of the trial. After 11 weeks grazing, animals were slaughtered for recovery, counting, and speciation of adult GIN from the abomasum and small intestines. There was no difference in FEC between goats fed the 75 and 95% SL leaf meal pellets, but both groups had lower (P

SUMMARY As parasites become resistant to available anthelmintics, new methods of control are needed. New drugs take a long time to develop in addition to being expensive; therefore, there is increasing interest in finding and using natural alternatives. Additionally, natural remedies are needed for the organic sector because synthetic drugs are not allowed and birds with outdoor access are likely to encounter parasites. Sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don.] is a common perennial legume found in pastures across the southern United States that has been shown to be effective at controlling parasitic nematodes in small ruminants because of its condensed tannin content. Diets high in condensed tannins are often unpalatable to poultry; however, growers report that chickens maintained on pastures will consume SL. These reports and the level of consumption have not been verified. Therefore, before determining its potential in controlling parasites in poultry, we confirmed in a preliminary study that birds on pasture consumed SL (92% of birds examined had SL in crops), and in a subsequent study, dried SL leaves were added to a commercial broiler feed to determine the palatability of SL at various concentrations. Diets included 0 (control), 5, 10, or 20% SL (DM weight) and were fed from hatch until slaughter at 6 wk of age. Male broilers (n = 80) were randomly divided into 8 groups and fed 1 of the 4 diets in replicate. Body weight gains were similar between the control and SL at 5%. Including more than 5% SL in the diet reduced individual BW (P < 0.05). At the end of the feeding period, the digestive organs as a percentage of body weight of birds fed 20% SL were larger than those of control birds. Feed conversion was higher in the 20% SL treatment (2.31) than in the control treatment (1.63; P < 0.05). Palatability of SL did not appear to be a problem because all treatment groups consumed a similar amount of feed. Therefore, the effects of SL on parasite control will be evaluated in subsequent studies.

Twenty-four yearling Boer (87.5%) × Spanish wethers (32.5 ± 0.36 kg body weight) were used in a 32 d experiment to assess effects of frequency of feeding condensed tannin (CT)-containing Sericea lespedeza (SL; Lespedeza cuneata) on ruminal methane emission. Fresh SL (153 g/kg CT) was fed at 1.3 times the metabolizable energy requirement for maintenance every day (1SL), other day (2SL), fourth day (4SL), and eighth day (8SL), with alfalfa (Medicago sativa) offered at the same level on other days. Ruminal fluid for microbial assays was collected 1 d after SL feeding and at the end of the feeding interval (short and long interval samples, respectively). Dry matter intake was not affected by frequency of SL feeding. Daily ruminal methane emissions increased at a decreasing rate (Linear and Quadratic; P

Changes in plant species diversity can result in synergistic increases in decomposition rates, while elevated atmospheric CO2 can slow the decomposition rates; yet it remains unclear how diversity and changes in atmospheric CO2 may interact to alter root decomposition. To investigate how elevated CO2 interacts with changes in root-litter diversity to alter decomposition rates, we conducted a 120-day laboratory incubation. Roots from three species (Trifolium repens, Lespedeza cuneata, and Festuca pratense) grown under ambient or elevated CO2 were incubated individually or in combination in soils that were exposed to ambient or elevated CO2 for five years. Our experiment resulted in two main findings: (1) Roots from T. repens and L. cuneata, both nitrogen (N) fixers, grown under elevated CO2 treatments had significantly slower decomposition rates than similar roots grown under ambient CO2 treatments; but the decomposition rate of F. pratense roots (a non-N-fixing species) was similar regardless of CO2 treatment. (2) Roots of the three species grown under ambient CO2 and decomposed in combination with each other had faster decomposition rates than when they were decomposed as single species. However, roots of the three species grown under elevated CO2 had similar decomposition rates when they were incubated alone or in combination with other species. These data suggest that if elevated CO2 reduces the root decomposition rate of even a few species in the community, it may slow root decomposition of the entire plant community.

The objective of three experiments was to determine the impact of supplementing sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; SL) in three concentrations in a loose or pelleted diet on gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in small ruminants. Experiments on lambs were conducted at the USDA, Agricultural Research Service in Booneville, AR (Exp. 1) and at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA (Exp. 2); an experiment on goat kids occurred at University of Maryland-Eastern Shore (Exp. 3). Exp. 1 used crossbred hair sheep lambs naturally infected with GIN that were randomly allocated to diets containing 0, 25, 50, and 75% SL diets (n=11 or 12/diet). Exp. 2 consisted of Haemonchus contortus-inoculated crossbred wool breed lambs that were blocked by gender and FEC and randomly assigned to 0, 25, 50, or 75% SL diet (n=8/diet). Fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were not influenced by SL supplementation in Exp. 1 and 2. Exp. 3 consisted of naturally GIN infected Boer crossbred goat kids in individual pens. Kids were blocked by FEC and randomly allotted to treatments of 0, 20, 40, or 60% SL with 9-13 goats/diet. The more SL fed, the greater the reduction in FEC (P0.001). There was an increase in PCV in SL fed goats (P0.001). Larval speciation at the end of the experiment indicated that feces from control animals produced 43% H. contortus larva while 20, 40 and 60% SL resulted in 39%, 35% and 31% H. contortus larvae, respectively. Feeding dried SL may be less effective in lambs than kids, though concurrent studies must be conducted to confirm this.

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) continue to plague the small ruminant industry, especially in parts of the world with warm, humid climates. Alternatives to chemicals are needed for GIN control because of anthelmintic resistance and a desire to reduce chemical residues in meat products. Three experiments using peri-parturient does or ewes addressed the objective: 1) in Arkansas, meat goats were untreated (n = 20) or fed copper oxide wire particles (COWP; 2 g each) in pelleted sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata; n = 22) before kidding while consuming sericea lespedeza hay, 2) in Arkansas, 42 Katahdin ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (2 g each) before lambing within groups fed bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) or sericea lespedeza hay in a 2 × 2 factorial design, 3) in Louisiana, Gulf Coast Native ewes were randomly assigned to remain untreated or were fed COWP (4 g each) in a pelleted ration (n = 10 each) after lambing began. Fecal egg counts (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV) were determined weekly in all experiments, and coproculture to examine GIN species was conducted in the first two experiments. Haemonchus contortus is typically the predominant GIN in the southeastern U.S., even during cooler months. However, Trichostrongylus spp. was the predominant GIN in Arkansas during these experiments. In all of the experiments, feeding COWP led to a reduction in FEC, but no change in PCV. The sericea lespedeza hay fed to ewes in Experiment 2 was associated with a reduction in FEC compared with ewes fed bermudagrass hay. Kids and lambs from COWP-treated dams in two experiments were lighter than those from untreated dams. Sericea lespedeza aided in the control of GIN infection, and while feeding COWP to peri-parturient ewes and does offered some reduction in GIN infection, body weight of offspring at birth and 60 or 90 days of age may be reduced.

This research assessed the potential use of a low input forage containing a high amount of condensed tannins (CT) to reduce foodborne pathogens prior to slaughter of meat goats. In a completely randomized design, twenty Kiko × Spanish intact male kids (BW = 19.2 ± 0.74 kg) were fed ground sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours) G. Don; 2 pens], a high-CT legume, or bermudagrass hay [BG; Cynodon dactyon (L.) Pers.; 2 pens], at 75% of daily intake with a corn-based supplement (25% of intake) for 14 weeks ( n = 10 goats/treatment). At the end of the feeding trial, the animals were slaughtered using standard procedures. Immediately after evisceration, rumen and rectal samples were collected to assess bacterial loads and volatile fatty acids in the rumen. Concentrations of rumen volatile fatty acids were significantly different between dietary treatments. Goats fed SL hay had higher ( P P Escherichia coli (2.33 vs 1.13 log 10 CFU/g) counts of rumen contents were higher ( P E. coli counts in feces were not different ( P > 0.05) between dietary treatments. The high-CT influenced ( P 10 CFU/g, respectively. The results indicated that high CT in the diet might influence rumen volatile fatty acid composition, but might not reduce the bacterial loads in gastrointestinal tracts of meat goats.

Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) parasitism is the greatest threat to economic sheep and goat production in the southern USA, and there is widespread prevalence of GIN resistance to broad-spectrum anthelmintics in this region. A natural alternative for controlling GIN in small ruminants is feeding hay of sericea lespedeza [SL, Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours., G. Don)], a perennial warm-season legume high in condensed tannins. To determine the level of SL needed to reduce GIN infection, a confinement study was completed with 32 Spanish/Boer/Kiko cross yearling bucks offered one of four diets with 75% hay and 25% concentrate (n=8, 2 pens/treatment, 4 goats/pen). The hay portion of each diet consisted of a combination of ground SL (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of the diet) and bermudagrass [BG, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.; 75%, 50%, 25%, and 0% of the diet]. The bucks were allowed to acquire a natural GIN infection on pasture prior to moving to the pens. After a 3-week adjustment period in the pens, the goats were stratified by fecal egg count (FEC) and packed cell volume (PCV), randomly assigned to treatments and pens, and then fed the treatment diets for six weeks. During the experimental period, fecal and blood samples were collected from individual animals weekly to determine FEC and PCV, respectively. Adult worms from abomasum and small intestines were collected for counting and identification of species at slaughter. Goats fed SL hay at 25%, 50%, and 75% of the diet had 45.3% (P=0.2048), 66.3% (P=0.0134), and 74.5% (P=0.0077) lower FEC than control animals (75% BG hay) after 21 days. The 50% and 75% SL goats had 84.6% (P=0.0625) and 91.9% (P=0.0340) lower FEC than controls by day 42. The 75% SL-fed goats tended to have higher (P=0.0624) PCV and had fewer (P=0.035) abomasal worms than control animals, while PCV and adult worm numbers of the 50% and 25% SL goats were not different from controls. The optimum level of SL hay in the diet for reducing worm numbers of small ruminants appears to be 75%, whereas 50-75% SL reduces FEC, which could lead to reduced larval infection on pasture.

Twenty-four yearling Boer × Spanish wethers (7/8 Boer; initial body weight (BW) of 37.5 ± 0.91 kg) were used to assess effects of different condensed tannin (CT) sources on methane (CH 4 ) emission. Diets were Kobe lespedeza ( Lespedeza striata ; K), K plus quebracho providing CT at 50 g/kg dry matter (DM) intake (KQ), Sericea lespedeza ( Lespedeza cuneata ; S), and a 1:1 mixture of K and S (KS). Forages harvested daily were fed at 1.3 times the maintenance metabolizable energy requirement. The experiment was 51 days divided into two phases. In phase A forage diets were fed alone, and in phase B, 25 g/day of polyethylene glycol (PEG) was given mixed with 50 g/day of ground maize grain. Adaptation periods were 28 and 7 days in phases A and B, respectively. After adaptation there were 8 days for feces and urine collections, with gas exchange measured on the last 2 days. Ruminal fluid was collected at the end of the experiment via stomach tube for microbiology assays. The N concentration was 22.8 and 23.6 g/kg DM, in vitro true DM digestibility was 0.698 and 0.648, and the level of CT was 140 and 151 g/kg DM for S and K, respectively. DM intake was similar among treatments in both phases (phase A: 720, 611, 745, and 719 g/day (S.E. = 59.0); phase B: 832, 822, 867, and 880 g/day (S.E. = 55.3) for K, KQ, S, and KS, respectively). N digestibility was affected by treatment in phase A (P 4 emission was 9.6, 6.8, 10.6, and 8.9 l/day (S.E. = 1.44) in phase A and 19.0, 16.6, 21.8, and 19.2 l/day (S.E. = 1.51) in phase B for K, KQ, S, and KS, respectively (S.E. = 1.25). When data of both phases were pooled, supplementation with PEG in phase B markedly increased (P 4 emission (9.0 l/day versus 19.1 l/day). In accordance, there was a substantial difference (P in vitro CH 4 emission by ruminal fluid incubated for 3 weeks in a methanogenic medium and with other conditions promoting activity by methanogens (11.5 and 22.9 ml in phases A and B, respectively). Counts of total bacteria and protozoa were similar among treatments in both phases, but values were greater (P versus phase A. In summary, CT from different sources had a disparate influence on N digestion, but similar effects on ruminal microbial CH 4 emission by goats, possibly by altering activity of ruminal methanogenic bacteria though change in actions of other bacteria and/or protozoa may also be involved.

The synthesis of an affinity gel aimed at leaf-opening factor beta-glucosidase (LOFG) and affinity purification of LOFG is presented. A gluconamidine-based beta-glucosidase inhibitor was used as the ligand of the affinity gel. beta-Glucosidase exhibiting an activity shift throughout the day was selectively purified from Lespedeza cuneata Don by the affinity gel. The resulting LOFG exhibited high substrate specificity toward the leaf-opening factor.

Invasion of rangeland by exotic forage species threatens ecosystem structure and function and can cause catastrophic economic losses. Herbicide treatments often are the focus of management efforts to control invasions. Management with the fire-grazing interaction (or patch burning) might suppress an invasive forage species that has grazing persistence mechanisms developed apart from the fire-grazing interaction. We studied tallgrass prairies invaded by sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dum.Cours.] G. Don) to compare rate of invasion between traditional management and management with patch burning, to evaluate the effect of burn season on sericea lespedeza invasion within pastures managed with patch burning, and to correlate canopy cover of sericea lespedeza to canopy cover of other functional groups with and without herbicides. Sericea lespedeza canopy cover increased from 1999 to 2005 in both traditional- and patch-burn pastures, but sericea lespedeza increased from 5% to 16% canopy cover in traditionally managed pastures compared to 3% to 5% in the patch-burn pastures. Rate of increase in canopy cover of sericea lespedeza was less in patches burned in summer (0.41% ? year 21 ) than in patches burned in spring (0.58% ? year 21 ) within patch-burn pastures. Most plant functional groups, including forbs, were weak-negatively correlated with canopy cover of sericea lespedeza. Although herbicide application reduced mass of sericea lespedeza, other components of the vegetation changed little. Herbicide treatments temporarily reduced sericea lespedeza but did not predictably increase other plant functional groups. Patch burning reduced the rate of invasion by sericea lespedeza by maintaining young, palatable sericea plants in the burn patch, and could play a vital role in an integrated weed management strategy on rangelands.

Resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) to anthelmintic treatment has increased pressure to find alternative, non-chemical control methods. Feeding hay of the high condensed tannin (CT) forage sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum-Cours.) G. Don.] to sheep and goats has reduced GIN fecal egg count (FEC) and worm numbers in the abomasum and small intestines. This effect has been reported with both unground (long) and ground hay. Pelleting of ground hay increases ease of storage, transport, and feeding, but heating during the pelleting process could reduce biological activity of CT. Eighteen naturally GIN-infected 5-6-month-old Kiko-Spanish cross bucks were fed pelleted and ground SL hay and ground bermudagrass [BG; Cynodon dactyon (L.) Pers.] hay diets (n=6 per treatment) in a confinement trial. The bucks were fed the ground BG hay (75% of daily intake) plus a pelleted 16% CP commercial goat chow (25% of daily intake) for 3 weeks, after which they were assigned to treatment groups based upon FEC, 12 animals were switched to ground and pelleted SL hay plus goat chow for 4 weeks, and then all animals were fed the BG ration for one additional week. Throughout the trial, feces and blood were collected from individual animals weekly to determine FEC and blood packed cell volume (PCV), respectively. All goats were slaughtered at the end of the trial, with adult worms in the abomasum and small intestines recovered, counted, and identified to species. Both forms of SL hay reduced (P

Synthesis of affinity gel aimed for leaf-opening factor β-glucosidase (LOFG) and affinity purification of LOFG are presented. Gluconamidine-based β-glucosidase inhibitor was utilized for the ligand of the affinity gel. β-Glucosidase exhibiting activity shift throughout the day was selectively purified from Lespedeza cuneata Don by the affinity gel. The resulting LOFG exhibited a high substrate specificity toward the leaf-opening factor.

Parasitic infection is one of the leading economic constraints in small ruminant production. This problem is exacerbated as the resistance of nematode populations to chemical treatment (anthelmintics) becomes increasingly more common. Condensed tannin (CT) containing plants are being investigated as alternative solutions to address these problems. This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of the CT containing forage, Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza, SL) fed as hay, on Haemonchus contortus infection in sheep. Naturally and experimentally infected lambs were fed either SL or bermudagrass (BG, control) hay for 49 days. All lambs were fed BG hay for an additional 14 days. SL hay effectively reduced (67-98%) fecal egg count (FEC) during the time of feeding for both infection groups. FEC increased in both infection groups after SL feeding was stopped which indicated an effect on fecundity. SL hay feeding also reduced worm numbers, with more of an effect on reducing naturally infected worm burdens (67.2%) than on establishment of incoming larvae (26.1%). SL fed as hay may be more useful to remove existing worms than establishing worms. The decrease in FEC would have the benefit of reduced pasture contamination.

Sericea lespedeza has been an important forage legume in portions of the USA for decades but has recently been recognized as invasive in some ecosystems. Stand characteristics potentially affecting usefulness and invasiveness were assessed on forested and open sites of a Louisiana Coastal Plain landscape. Typical heavy weed competition, which was not overcome by increased seeding rate or extent of seedbed preparation, occurred in full sunlight. An open longleaf pine canopy suppressed competitive herbaceous species and enhanced establishment compared to that in full sunlight. Shade of either longleaf pines or dense overstory of tall weeds reduced productivity but not stands. Sericea lespedeza spread was limited to a few meters during 7 years, apparently due to lack of an effective dispersal mechanism. Long stand life under mature longleaf pines and in the open field along with ability to re-colonize from soil seed reserves contribute to both usefulness of sericea lespedeza for conservation, forage, and wildlife habitat in agricultural landscapes and potential undesired persistence, especially with land-use changes to less intensive management, on Louisiana Coastal Plain landscapes.

Infection with gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN), particularly Haemonchus contortus, is the biggest constraint to profitable goat production in the United States (US). Due to widespread prevalence of anthelmintic resistance in goat GIN, alternative, non-chemical control methodologies are needed to increase profitability of small ruminant industries. A study was designed to test the efficacy of a high condensed tannin (CT) legume, sericea lespedeza [SL, Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours. G. Don)] against GIN of goats fed in confinement. The goats were given a trickle infection of 500 H. contortus larvae/animal three times per week during the trial to simulate natural infection. Twenty Boer bucks (6-8 months old) were fed bermudagrass [BG, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] hay plus concentrate for 5 weeks in confinement and then 10 animals were switched to SL hay for an additional 7 weeks. Throughout the trial, feces and blood were collected weekly from individual animals to determine fecal egg count (FEC) and blood packed cell volume (PCV). Fecal cultures were made weekly from pooled samples to determine treatment effects on GIN larval development. All goats were slaughtered at the end of the trial, with adult worms in the abomasum and small intestine of each goat recovered, counted, and identified to species. Feeding SL hay to goats significantly (P

July-born F1 Boer x Spanish (BoerX), Nubian, and Spanish buck kids (n = 18) were used in an experiment to evaluate the use of lespedeza hay in goat diets. Bucklings were weaned at 60 d of age and maintained on pasture and in pens, before being assigned to the experiment at 6 months of age. Kids were randomly assigned to six pens and stratified by breed. The two diets were ad libitum: (1) sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours) G. Don; LESP] hay, or (2) alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.; ALF) hay. All animals received a 16% crude protein (CP) corn/cottonseed-based supplement offered at 0.5% of body weight (BW) per head/d. Total dry matter intake (DMI) was higher (P 0.10) in ADG (mean 79 g/d). Bucks offered the ALF-based diet had higher (P < 0.001) plasma concentrations (mg/dl) of blood urea nitrogen (BUN; 21.1 versus 10.7) and glucose (67.7 versus 59.5) and lower (P < 0.001) creatinine (0.53 versus 0.62 mg/dl) compared to kids offered the LESP-based diet. Blood glucose concentrations were highest (P < 0.001) for Nubian (66.3 mg/dl) and lowest for Boer cross (60.9 mg/dl); Spanish was intermediate (63.6 mg/dl). Creatinine levels were similar among breeds (mean 0.57 mg/dl). More research is needed to evaluate goat breed, forage species, stage of forage maturity, condensed tannins, and supplementation effects on nutrient utilization by finishing goats.

The effect of grazing a forage containing condensed tannins (CT), sericea lespedeza (SL, Lespedeza cuneata, 46 g extractable CT/kg DM), on the total fecal egg production of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) and egg hatch percentage was compared with a control forage low in CT (rye/crabgrass (RC), 6 g extractable CT/kg DM) using Spanish wether goats (47.0 kg BW). A crossover experimental design was utilized with groups of five and six animals. Each group grazed one forage species in the first 15 day period and then were switched so they grazed the other forage species during the second 15 day period. The mean fecal egg count (FEC) and total fecal egg output (TFEO) were reduced (2500 versus 710 eggs/g, P

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata cv. Interstate 76) and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium cv. Aldous) were raised from seed in a glasshouse, transplanted into 5.7-l pots and placed into open-top chambers (OTC) on 6 June 1999. Following a 7-day adjustment period, each of six OTCs (duplicate OTCs per treatment) was ventilated with either air that had been carbon-filtered (CF) to remove ambient ozone (O3); non-filtered (NF), representative of ambient air; or enriched to twice-ambient O3 concentration (2X). Primary-growth forage was harvested on days 7, 32, 46, 59 and 72 following the start of fumigation, and regrowth forage from the first primary-growth harvest was harvested on days 36, 54 and 72 following the start of fumigation. Dry matter (DM) yield of either forage species did not differ among treatments except in the final regrowth period when yield of sericea lespedeza was greater for the NF than 2X O3 treatment. In vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) and concentrations of crude protein (CP), soluble phenolics (SP) and condensed tannins (CT) in primary-growth sericea lespedeza did not differ between treatments, but NF primary-growth forage had higher concentration of protein-precipitating tannins (PPT) than did 2X primary-growth forage. Concentrations of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) were higher in NF and 2X than in CF primary-growth sericea lespedeza. Similarly, concentrations of NDF and ADL were higher, and IVDMD was lower for NF and 2X than for CF regrowth sericea lespedeza. Concentrations of ADF and ADL were lower, whereas IVDMD, in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD) and concentrations of CP and SP were greater, in CF than in NF and 2X primary-growth little bluestem. Percentages IVDMD and IVNDFD and concentrations of CP and SP in NF primary-growth little bluestem were greater than those in forage exposed to 2X O3 treatment. No significant differences were observed among treatments in percentages IVDMD and IVNDFD, or concentrations of cell wall constituents or SP in little bluestem regrowth. Nutritive quality of little bluestem was decreased by < 2%, and that of sericea lespedeza by approximately 7% as a result of increased concentrations of cell wall constituents and decreased in vitro digestibility of NF and 2X compared with CF forages. Results indicate that existing and projected O3 levels can drive alterations in forage quality of select warm-season forages sufficient to have nutritional and economic implications for their utilization by ruminant herbivores.

Effects of varying strip widths of four species of cover crops on the growth of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) seedlings planted as a short-rotation bioenergy woody crop were studied. Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L. a winter annual grass); tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb a cool-season perennial grass); crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L. a winter annual legume); and Interstate sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don. a summer growing perennial legume), were planted using two different strip widths (1.22 and 2.44 m ) between trees on a 1.5×3 m spacing. The control had no competition. Height, ground-line diameter and volume index of trees were determined on a monthly basis. Lespedeza and tall fescue significantly reduced ground line diameter, height and volume index compared to ryegrass and the control. Crimson clover significantly reduced ground line diameter compared to the control and volume index more than ryegrass and the control. During first two growing seasons, there was no benefit from legumes as a cover crop over grasses. All cover crops except rye grass significantly reduced sweetgum biomass compared to control. The results indicate that cover crops lespedeza, tall fescue, crimson clover and ryegrass reduced biomass by approximately 41%, 37%, 27% and 15%, respectively, compared to the control. The 2.44 m strip width reduced sweetgum growth 40% relative to the control vs. 20% with the 1.22 m strip width. Strip width had a greater impact on diameter and volume index than height.

In a previous paper, the syntheses of potassium galactolespedezate ( 1 ) and potassium galactoisolespedezate ( 2 ), artificial leaf-opening substances useful for bioorganic studies of nyctinasty were reported. The fluorescent probe compounds, fluorescence-labeled galactoisolespedezate ( 3 ) and iodo-one ( 4 ), designed on the basis of 1 and 2 were prepared. Especially, compound 3 was bioactive at 5×10 −5 M, one-fiftieth as strong as the natural leaf-opening substance. This fluorescent probe would be useful for bioorganic studies of nyctinasty.

This study was designed to test whether the cultivation of cover crops between tree rows in short-rotation woody crop (SRWC) plantations could reduce erosion. Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L.) seedlings were planted as the SRWC at a 1.5×3 m spacing. Four cover crops, annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum L. a winter annual grass); tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea L. a cool-season perennial grass); crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L. a winter annual legume); and Interstate sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Don. a summer growing-perennial legume], were tested at two different strip widths (1.22 and 2.44 m) in comparison with complete competition control. Erosion was measured from 1 August, 1995 to 8 March, 1997 (585 days) by sediment accumulation near the fence where 72 PVC pipes were inserted into soil on a 4.65 m2 (50 ft3) grid area of each plot. The total rainfall recorded during this period was 2422.91 mm (95.3 in.). All cover crops reduced erosion over the complete competition free plot (control), although tall fescue performed poorly at the narrow strip width. There were no significant differences between grasses and legumes for erosion control. Winter annual crops provided significantly more erosion protection than summer growing-perennials. With the exception of tall fescue, narrow strip widths performed as well as wider strip widths. The results indicate that cover crops ryegrass, crimson clover, lespedeza and tall fescue controlled about 64, 61, 51 and 37% soil erosion respectively as compared to the control during the critical early years of stand development in SRWC hardwood plantations.

Potassium lespedezate (1) is the leaf-opening substance of a nyctinastic plant, Lespedeza cuneata G. Don. We have synthesized two sugar-derivatives of 1, potassium galactolespedezate (4) and mannolespedezate (6). Both 4 and 6 were quite effective for the leaf-opening of Cassia. mimosoides at 8 × 10−7 M, as strong as 1. However, 1 kept the leaf open only for a few days; on the other hand, 4 and 6 kept the leaf open after a week at that concentration. Additionally, remarkable difference was observed in the rate of enzymatic hydrolysis of natural and artificial leaf-opening sustance by using commercially available β-glucosidase Therefore, 4 and 6 would not be hydrolized in the plant body, and are potentially useful molecular probes for the studies of the control of the nyctinastic leaf-movement by a biological clock.

Potassium lespedezate (1) is the leaf-opening substance of a nyctinastic plant, Lespedeza cuneata G. Don. We synthesized two sugar-derivatives of 1, potassium galactolespedezate (2) and mannoisolespedezate (3). Both 2 and 3 were quite effective for the leaf-opening of L. cuneata. at 8 × 10−7 M, as strong as 1. However, 1 kept the leaf open only for a few days; on the other hand, 2 and 3 kept the leaf open after a week at that concentration. Thus, it is assumed that 2 and 3 could not be hydrolyzed by β-glucosidase in the plant body, and are therefore potentially useful molecular probes for the studies of the control of the nyctinastic leaf-movement by a biological clock.

Phyllanthurinolactone ( 1 ) and phyllurine ( 2 ) were isolated from Phyllanthus urinaria L. as bioactive substances for nyctinasty. Compound 1 was quite effective for leaf-closing of the plant at 1 × 10 −7 M in the daytime and 2 was quite effective for the leaf-opening at 2.5 × 10 −5 M, whereas both 1 and 2 were not effective for other nyctinastic plants even at 1 × 10 −4 M. The concentration of 1 increased before leaf-closure in the plant body, whereas that of 2 was constant through a day. Thus, the leaf-movement of P. urinaria L. is proposed to be controlled by the change in the balance of concentration between 1 and 2 , which is regulated by a β-glucosidase, similar to the case of Lespedeza cuneata G. Don.

The nyctinastic leaf-movement of plants is controlled by an endogenous biological clock. In a nyctinastic plant, Lespedeza cuneata G. Don, this movement is controlled by the balance of the concentration between the leaf-closing and -opening substances. Quantitative HPLC analysis revealed that the change in the concentration of this leaf-opening substance is inversed through a day, and the deactivation of this substance is performed by a glucosidase whose activity is controlled by a biological clock. The leaf-movement of nyctinastic plants is caused by the balance of two leaf-movement factors, which is controlled by the enzymatic transformation.

Potassium d -idarate ( 1 ) was isolated from Lespedeza cuneata G. Don as a bioactive substance for nyctinasty. The compound was quite effective for leaf-closing of the plant at 1 × 10 −6 M in the daytime and caused leaf-closing movement on the leaf of Cassia mimosoides L. Inversely effective two leaf-movement factors, 1 and potassium lespedezate ( 2 ), were isolated from the same plant. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.

Sericea lespedeza [ Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont de Courset) G. Don.] is a deep-rooted legume that is well adapted to the acid, eroded soils found throughout the southeastern region of the U.S.A. A field experiment aimed at measuring biomass yield and biomass composition of 81 genotypes of sericea lespedeza harvested once every season was conducted. Results indicated substantial differences for biomass yield among sericea lespedeza genotypes. However, dry matter percentage was the same. Genotype R194-79-290-9 had the highest mean biomass yield (9.0 Mg ha −1 ) and, consistently, ranked among the top four during the four years that this study was conducted. Other genotypes that also exhibited a good performance over the four years were the cultivar Serala (7.8 Mg ha −1 ) and the breeding line 75-2-3 (7.8 Mg ha −1 ). Differences in yield stability over time among genotypes were observed, hence, long term performance would need to be considered in a breeding program. These results suggested that sericea lespedeza genotypes with a consistently high biomass yield can be selected. No significant differences were found among genotypes for crude protein concentration. Crude protein concentrations were about 25% lower than those previously reported. Significant differences among genotypes for neutral detergent fiber, hemicellulose, and holocellulose concentration were observed. However, no significant differences for acid detergent fiber, lignin, cellulose concentration, and holocellulose yield were measured. In summary, there is variability and potential to select for biomass yield and quality traits that are considered important for biofuel production.

Potassium lespedezate (3) and potassium isolespedezate (4) were isolated from the nyctinastic plant Lespedeza cuneata L.G. Don. These compounds (3 and 4) were quite effective for leaf-opening of the plant Cassia mimosoides L. at 8×10-7 mol/l. The interaction between the leaf-closing substance (2) and leaf-opening substances (3 and 4) shall govern in circadian rhythm of Cassia plants.

Van Sambeek, J.W., Ponder, F., Jr. and Rietveld, W.J., 1986. Legumes increase growth and alter foliar nutrient levels of black walnut. For. Ecol. Manage., 17: 159-167. Differences in herbaceous competition, growth, soil, and foliar nutrient levels were compared for black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) saplings growing on an upland and a bottomland site in southern Illinois, with covers of five different herbaceous legumes or naturally occurring forbs. Hairy vetch ( Vicia viUosa Roth. ) increased walnut height and diameter growth on both sites when compared to walnut growing in the naturally revegetated plots. Growth trends in the other four covers were mixed. All five legumes suppressed growth of other herbaceous vegetation for one or more summers. Only hairy vetch increased soil nitrate nitrogen after one growing season on both sites. After three growing seasons, crownvetch (CoroniUa varia L.) and sericsa lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata (Dumont) G. Dons.) have increased soil nitrate nitrogen on the upland plantation. Walnut foliar nitrogen concentration was the highest for trees growing in hairy vetch and crownvetch covers after three growingssasons.

From 1980 to 1983 we monitored seasonal variation in leaf quality of three species of prairie plants; characteristics selected are known to influence feeding by herbivores. Leaf water and protein content generally declined with age in each species. Total and protein-binding phenolics declined with age in Andropogon gerardii , peaked in summer in Lespedeza cuneata , changed little or increased with age in Penstemon digitalis and were negatively correlated with protein content in Lespedeza and Penstemon . The alkaloid (boschniakine) content of Penstemon leaves showed consistent seasonal declines and was positively correlated with leaf protein but negatively correlated with leaf phenolics. Patterns in the phytochemistry of Penstemon fit the predictions of the plant apparency model, but those of Andropogon and Lespedeza do not. Seasonal patterns in the phytochemistry of these plants are most likely the product of still largely unknown physiological constraints on primary and secondary metabolism and the risks and costs of herbivory through time.

Three pioneer plant communities - a reclamation mix of Festuca arundinacea (tall fescue), Eragrostis curvula (weeping lovegrass), Lolium sp. (ryegrass) and Lespedeza cuneata (sericea lespedeza), a native species community derived from a forest topsoil seed bank, and a combination of native species plus the reclamation mix - were established on a thin layer of topsoil over mine spoils in microplots. The seed bank produced 84 taxa, including 5 tree species, 7 shrubs or woody vines, 14 grasses and 53 forbs identifiable at least to genus. The seedbank treatment produced the greatest aboveground biomass. Adding seed of reclamation species to the seed bank resulted in a community which had less total biomass, less total biomass in native species and fewer established native species with lower populations and biomass than the native species community without reclamation species. Forest topsoil seedbank materials as a propagule source could significantly increase the diversity and productivity of a pioneer community on surface mine spoils even in combination with reclamation species.