Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is one of the most important perennial forage crops on cultivated fields in the world. Agronomical interests for this crop are based on its numerous advantageous characteristics such as (1) high yield potential and suitable feeding value, (2) different methods of utilisation green mass, hay, silage, greenchop, briquette, pellets, etc., (3) favourable environmental i...

Previous research has shown that eastern gamagrass (EGG; Tripsacum dactyloides L.) will survive winter climatic conditions common throughout central Wisconsin, and will produce yields of dry matter (DM) ranging approximately from 7,000 to 10,000 kg/ha annually when managed with a 1-cut harvest system. The objective of this research was to determine whether the fibrous nature of this perennial w...

A study involving a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was conducted to evaluate effects of hybrid (Pioneer 3335 and 3489), maturity (half milkline and blacklayer), and mechanical processing (field chopper with and without on-board rollers engaged) on intake and digestibility of corn silage. Forty Angus steers (322 +/- 5.2 kg BW) were assigned to the eight silage treatments (five ste...

The impact was studied of buffer pH (5.8, 6.2, and 6.8) on in vitro digestion kinetics of NDF from alfalfa hay, bromegrass hay, corn silage, and alfalfa and bromegrass hays with raw corn starch added to approximate a ration containing 30% NDF. Ash-free NDF was determined at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36, 48, 72, and 96 h of fermentation. Kinetic parameters were estimated by nonlinear regression usin...