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The objective of this study was to assess the effect of cutting time on the nutritional composition and dehydration rate of stargrass, as well as the nutritional value of the hay as a function of storage time. Two plant cutting times were analyzed: at 13:00 (H13) and 17:00 (H17). After cutting, the dehydration rate of both the plant and its fractions until baling was monitored. The bales were checked for nutritional composition and digestibility after 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. At the time of cutting, a difference was observed for the concentrations of ethanol-soluble carbohydrates, which were higher for H17 (90.3 g kg-1) compared to H13 (52.9 g kg-1). Leaf dehydration rates were higher in the H17 treatment. Cutting time had no influence on the nutritional value of the hay. With storage time, there was an increase in the levels of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber, and a reduction in the content of ethanol-soluble carbohydrates. It was concluded that cutting at 17:00 allows for a greater accumulation of soluble carbohydrates in the plant. Cutting time does not change the time required for dehydration and the nutritional value of the hay. Storage time reduces soluble components and increases fibrous constituents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to relate the occurrence of visible losses in silage (effluent, spoiled top-layer and during feedout) with silage-making practices, physical and chemical characteristics of silage, and milk composition in Brazilian dairy herds. One-hundred and eight silos from 95 farms, in the State of Parana, were visited for data collection. Data were analyzed by Fisher's Exact and Pearson Correlation Test. Effluent loss was higher in silages with the lowest dry matter content. Using unwalled clamp (drive-over piles) silos, neglecting a protection over the plastic film, and unloading silage with a bucket increased the occurrence of top spoilage. Feedout losses were higher in farms where: the crop was harvested with self-propelled machines; the particle size was larger, and the silage density was lower. There was no relationship between visible losses and silage composition or milk composition, except for milk fat content that, unexpectedly, there was a positive correlation with spoiled silage in the top-layer. Silage losses are reduced by adopting good practices during silage production and feedout. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Tropical Grasslands / Forrajes Tropicales is the property of International Centre for Tropical Agriculture - CIAT and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Agricultural Sciences / Revista Brasileira de Ciências Agrárias is the property of Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Saúde e Produção Animal (RBSPA) is the property of Revista Brasileira de Saude e Producao Animal (RBSPA) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Forages with a greater energy to protein ratio increase dairy cow N use efficiency. We studied binary mixtures of one legume and one grass species that can increase the ratio of energy availability to protein degradability under frequent clipping. Timothy (Phleum pratense L.), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), tall fescue [Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub], orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), meadow bromegrass (Bromus biebersteinii Roem. & Schult.), and meadow fescue (Festuca elatior auct. Amer.) were seeded with either alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), or birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). Carbohydrate and protein fractions (Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System), other nutritive attributes, and dry matter (DM) yield were determined at the first two harvests of the first production year at two sites in eastern Canada. Alfalfa mixtures had a greater ratio of water-soluble carbohydrates (WSC) to crude protein (CP) and of readily degradable carbohydrate fractions to readily degradable protein fractions than the average of all mixtures; however, they had lower digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and DM, greater fiber concentration, and similar yield. Mixtures with meadow fescue and tall fescue had a greater WSC/CP ratio, yield, and fiber concentration than the average of all mixtures. Mixtures of meadow fescue with any legume species, especially with alfalfa, provided the best combination of a high ratio of WSC/CP (0.70), high yield, and average digestibility. The feasibility of maintaining this desired composition throughout the growing season and for several cropping years remains to be determined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum: Animal Sciences is the property of Universidade Estadual de Maringa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The experiment was conducted aiming to compare the efficiency of the methods rising plate meter (RP), sward stick (ss), ruler and capacitance meter (CM), used to estimate herbage mass on pastures. The instruments were used in stargrass pasture (Cynodon nlemfuensis Vanderyst var. nlemfuensis) under continuous stocking, variable stocking rate, and sward heights. The design was completely randomized with two replicates and the treatments were sward heights: 5, 10, 15, and 20cm. The sward height at paddock was maintained by stocking rate adjustments using Nellore heifers (Bos indicus). The swards were evaluated monthly, from November 7th, 2007 to April 26th, 2008. The effectiveness of each method to quantify the herbage mass was evaluated by the regression equation. The capacitance meter did not show consistent results. The values of coefficient of determination for the evaluation of herbage mass were low and less than 0.63 with the ss, RP and the ruler. Measurements of herbage mass on swards of stargrass under continuous stocking can be performed preferably with the RP, or with the ss and the ruler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]