The interaction of maternal photoperiod history and four diets were tested by measuring body growth, reproductive development, and pelage development in 9-week-old juvenile meadow voles. Meadow vole dams were housed in long daylengths (LD; 14 h light/day), short daylengths for 2 weeks (SD; 10 h light/day), or short daylengths for 26 weeks (PR; photorefractory) prior to mating. Immediately follo...

We have performed several studies to determine the electrochemical properties of Cu(II) binding by alfalfa biomass using carbon paste alfalfa-modified electrodes. Experimental conditions such as alfalfa-carbon paste concentrations, solution pH, and metal preconcentration times were determined. Results of the electro-chemical studies have shown that an increase in response was observed by increa...

Five crossbred wethers (58 kg) fitted with cannulas in the rumen, duodenum, and ileum were used in a 5 x 5 Latin square design to study effects of feeding combinations of alkaline hydrogen peroxide-treated wheat straw (AHP-WS) and alfalfa hay at restricted intakes on site and extent of nutrient digestion. Additionally, flows and disappearance of N and amino acids (AA) in the small intestine wer...

management of a companion crop is critical to successful establishment of perennial forages (Albrecht and Hall, Weed control during alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) establishment is 1995). a primary concern of forage producers. Companion crops and clearWeed management is important for decreasing comseeding with an herbicide are commonly used methods for establishing alfalfa. This study evaluated an...

this study was conducted to evaluate consumption inputs, production costs, nutrient composition and performance in production of alfalfa hay and alfalfa silage. therefore, data on alfalfa hay production were collected from 75 farms in zanjan province, using a face to face questionnaire in the year 2012. a systematic random sampling method was used. then, two farms managed by silage harvesting s...

This experiment was carried out to study the effect of a directly fed exogenous fibrolytic enzyme on intake and digestion of DM, OM, protein, NDF, ADF, and hemicellulose of alfalfa and ryegrass hay by sheep. Four diets were randomly assigned to four ruminally cannulated lambs using a 4 x 4 Latin square design, repeated in time, with a factorial arrangement (2 x 2) of diets: 1) alfalfa hay; 2) a...

Alkaline salts (e.g., NaHCO3 and Na2CO3) causes more severe morphological and physiological damage to plants than neutral salts (e.g., NaCl and Na2SO4) due to differences in pH. The mechanism by which plants respond to alkali stress is not fully understood, especially in plants having symbotic relationships such as alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Therefore, a study was designed to evaluate the me...

Alfalfa is the primary forage crop in Wisconsin and is a key element in the state’s dairy industry. The yield of new varieties is greater than that of Vernal and other older varieties due to genetic gains made by breeders over the years. Much of the yield advantage of new varieties may be attributed to efforts to breed for resistance to a wide variety of major pathogens of alfalfa such as Verti...

The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of calcium salt of long-chain fatty acids (CSFA) and alfalfa on beef cattle in the late fattening. 48 Holstein bulls were selected and randomly divided into 4 groups, feeding four dietary that Leymus chinensis with (LC) or with no (LN) 2.4% CSFA, and alfalfa replaced 50% Leymus chinensis with (AC) or with no (AN) 2.4% CSFA. The results indicat...

Five feeding studies were conducted with 141 lactating Holstein cows comparing macerated and control alfalfa silage harvested at two cuttings in each of 2 yr. Overall, silage made from macerated alfalfa contained more ash (suggesting improved soil contamination); greater fiber and lower nonprotein nitrogen (NPN) content suggested greater fermentation in the silo. In a digestion study, two diets...