to study the effect of planting rates and harvest time on forage quality of maize in maize-cowpea intercropping, an experiment was conducted at the research farm of zabol university, during 2007 and 2008. the experiment was arranged in a 7×2 factorial one in complete randomized block design with 4 replications. the two factors consisted of seven planting ratios of maize and cowpea (100:100, 100...

Alfalfa losses and quality changes begin as soon as the mower contacts the standing crop and these losses continue until the preserved feed is consumed. Harvest losses are caused by plant respiration, rain, and mechanical damage by equipment. Loss from plant respiration is relatively small when the crop is dried quickly under good drying conditions, but under slow drying conditions it can be up...

This factorial study examined the potential of slaughtered cattle as a source of rumen fluid (RF) to test the impact of 0, 90, 180 g/kg forage (Amount) of 2 supplements (Low protein of 12% =LP; high protein of 25% =HP) on in vitro rumen degradation of grass nuts (Grass) and barley straw (Straw) over various times. RF was collected from three slaughtered cattle (Animal) on three separate occasio...

take potential (Van Soest, 1994). The concentration of NDF is heritable in several forage species, and rates of gain Voluntary intake is generally considered to be the single most from selection for reduced NDF concentration of herbimportant factor limiting animal performance on high-forage diets. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) is the laboratory variable most closely age are reported to be as hi...

multi-environment trials play a significant role in selecting the best cultivars to be used at different locations. the objective of this study was to identify grain and forage yields stability of grass pea advanced lines across different locations. the 14 advanced lines of grass pea, developed by the international center for agricultural research in dry areas (icarda), were tested at three dif...

Plant Species and Variety Forage quality refers to digestible nutrient content (i.e., energy, protein), palatability and digestibility of the forage plant. Legumes (alfalfa, medics, cloves, vetch) are the highest quality group of forage grown in pastures. They are high in protein, energy (digestibility), and minerals. They also “fix” nitrogen fertilizer, making them very economical to grow. Inc...

Before making a comparison of grass-fed vs. grainfed beef it is necessary to first define these two beef types. An animal is considered grass-fed, according to the USDA Grass Fed Marketing Claim Standards, when grass and forage are the “feed source consumed for the lifetime of the ruminant animal, with the exception of milk consumed prior to weaning. Animals cannot be fed grain or grain by-prod...

Two temperate corn (Zea mays) hybrids (Pioneer 3320 and Northrup King 508), two tropical corn cultivars (Pioneer X304C hybrid and Florida SYN-1 experimental open pollinated cultivar), the sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) x sudangrass (Sorghum sudanense) hybrid DeKalb SX-17, and the sorghum hybrid DeKalb FS25E were compared for effect on nematode densities and forage yield in three plantings (one singl...

Microtheca spp. (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) are insect pests primarily related to Brassicaceae crops. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil, they are found on forage turnip, Raphanus sativus L. var. oleiferus Metzg., which is commonly grown during fall/winter seasons. This work reports the predation of Microtheca spp. larvae by Toxomerus duplicatus Wiedemann, 1830 (Diptera: Sy...