The objective was to determine the effect of forage quality on apparent total tract digestibility and ruminal fermentation in cattle versus sheep. Five yearling English crossbred (Hereford × Angus) steers (440.4 ± 35.6 kg of initial BW) and 5 yearling whiteface (Rambouillet × Columbia × Debouillet) wethers (44.4 ± 4.6 kg of initial BW), each fitted with a ruminal cannula, were randomly assigned...

Abstract Animal production has been associated with environmental impacts, but meat and dairy demand continuously increases. Grazed hayfields have responsible for enteric methane emissions, also identified as great C stocks. Sustainable intensification, or balance between sustainability productivity, is sought we need to better understand the trade-offs design appropriate management strategies....

Defoliation management can significantly affect subsequent grassland’s forage productivity and sustainability. To assess the type persistence of native warm-season grass (NWSG) yield responses to changes in defoliation intensity, a five-year harvest trial was conducted, randomized complete block design, at Virginia State University’s research farm. Yield newly established indiangrass (Sorghastr...

A four-year trial was initiated in January 2000 to evaluate forage production, basal cover, and persistence of endophyte-infected tall fescue (IF; Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), endophyte-free tall fescue (FF), or orchardgrass (OG; Dactylis glomerata L.) overseeded into dormant common bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] for spring-calving cows. The FF and OG pastures were managed with eit...

Extending grazing into the winter, as opposed to feeding of harvested forages, can increase the sustainability of ranching in the western US. This study was conducted to determine the economic value of grazing stockpiled forage kochia (Kochia prostrata [L.] Scrad.) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum [Fisch. Ex Link] Schultes) during the fall and winter. Changes in cow body weight, bod...

Trade-offs between predation risk and forage fundamentally drive resource selection by animals. Among migratory ungulates, trade-offs can occur at large spatial scales through migration, which allows an "escape" from predation, but trade-offs can also occur at finer spatial scales. Previous authors suggest that ungulates will avoid predation risk at the largest scale, although few studies have ...

One of the challenges to increase milk production in a large pasture-based herd with an automatic milking system (AMS) is to grow forages within a 1-km radius, as increases in walking distance increases milking interval and reduces yield. The main objective of this study was to explore sustainable forage option technologies that can supply high amount of grazeable forages for AMS herds using th...