Quantifying the damage of red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on grassland production in southeastern Slovenia

The influence of red deer (Cervus elaphus) grazing on grassland production for forage conservation at the forest border during the vegetation period was studied on three locations (Mala gora, Cvišlerji, and Mačkovec) in the Kočevje region (SE Slovenia). The experiment lasted from the 25th of March until the 8th of October 2002. Portable cages were used to exclude red deer from grazing the herbage. At four sampling dates in the season, herbage air dry matter (DM) yield was measured at three different observations (cage-protected plot, cage-protected plot only two to three weeks before sampling date, otherwise freely grazed (removed), and unprotected plot). The results from the experiment showed that red deer grazed on grassland through the entire season and that the regeneration capability of sward was the highest in summer, middle in spring and smallest in autumn. On unprotected plots, an average reduction of 50% of herbage DM yield was found with the most damaged sites also up to 80% reduction.     

不同刈割强度对牧草地上部和地下部生长性状的影响

研究了不同刈割强度对牧草地上部和地下部生长状况的影响.结果表明,适度刈割可提高牧草地上部植株的再生能力.刈割后牧草再生叶片的叶绿素总量变化不大,而叶绿素a/b比值有所增加,轻刈割和重刈割的牧草叶绿素a/b比值分别增至1.59∶1和1.52∶1、不刈割为1.22∶1,有利于增强植物的光合作用.与不刈割处理相比,在刈割初期,重刈割处理下柱花草根系总长、总表面积和平均直径分别下降了54.9%、66.5%和27.2%,根系活力显著下降;但在中后期,刈割处理的牧草地下部根系形态指标活力可恢复到更高的水平.从一年两次收获的累计生物量来看,以轻刈割最高,为3 179.8 g·m^-2,重刈割次之,为3 006.1 g·m^-2,不刈割最低,为2 936.98 g·m^-2,说明一年两次刈割可以提高牧草产量.     

Landscape,soil and meteorological influences on canopy dynamics of northern flooding Pampa grasslands,Argentina

Question: How do meteorological variations at seasonal, interannual scales differentially affect the canopy dynamics of four contrasting landscape units within a region? Location: Flooding Pampa, Buenos Aires, Argentina. 5000 km². Central point: 35°15′S, 57°45′W. Methods: We used a 19‐year series of the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) derived from NOAA‐AVHRR PAL (Pathfinder AVHRR Land) images and meteorological data provided by a nearby weather station. The NDVI was used as surrogate of canopy photosynthetic status. The relationship between annually integrated NDVI and meteorological conditions was explored by stepwise multiple regressions for each defined unit. PC A was performed to compare units and growing seasons on a multivariate basis. Results: Mean seasonal NDVI curve was similarly shaped among landscapes. However, the absolute values differed widely. There was high interannual variation so that the mean seasonal pattern was seldom observed in any particular year. Annually integrated NDVI of all landscapes was negatively associated with summer temperature and positively with previous year precipitation. It was also directly related with current year winter precipitation in two landscapes and with summer precipitation in the others. NDVI response to September and March precipitation accounted for some of the differences in interannual variation among landscapes. Conclusions: Our results revealed a strong intra‐regional variation of canopy dynamics, closely linked to landscape (vegetation‐soil) and water availability (mainly in summer and during the previous year). These links may be used to predict forage production rates for livestock.     

新选育饲草玉米品系饲用营养价值初步研究

对利用一年生大刍草和四倍体多年生大刍草分别与玉米杂交选育出的一年生饲草玉米(SC1)和多年生饲草玉米(SC3)生物产量和饲用营养成分进行分析,结果表明:SC1和SC3鲜草年产量分别达115 620kg/hm2、174 045kg/hm2,是普通玉米的4～6倍;SC3的粗蛋白质(CP)和无氮浸出物(NFE)含量最高,分别为17.57%、48.73%,粗纤维(CF)含量最低,为21.65%,其粗脂肪(EE)和灰分(CA)含量分别为4.30%和7.75%;SC1的营养成分含量分别为:(CP)14.73%、(CF)26.09%、(NFE)45.29%、(EE)4.78%和(CA)9.11%;化学营养类型分析表明SC1与SC3分别属NC型和N型,都是高产高饲用价值的新型饲草.     

Diet selection of sheep shifted from quality to quantity characteristics of forages as sward availability decreased

Understanding the dynamic inter-relationship between grazing animals and the pasture sward is critical for sustainable grazing management. A field study was conducted to investigate the relationships between the quantity and quality characteristics of forages and diet selection of 30-kg Mongolian ewes in different seasons in Bromus inermis improved meadow steppe. Using a residual herbage mass method (1 000 kg/ha in spring, 800 kg/ha in summer and 600 kg/ha in autumn) to adjust stocking rate, three seasonal rest grazing strategies (spring rest, summer rest and autumn rest) combined with continuous grazing were studied. In each season, diet selection of sheep, quantified by diet composition and selectivity index, was estimated using a plant wax marker technique. Quantity (dry weight proportion, coverage, frequency, density and height) and quality (CP, NDF, ADF and DM digestibility) characteristics of forages consumed by sheep were determined simultaneously. Our results showed that in spring with the highest sward availability (herbage mass), diet selection of sheep could be predicted by the positive linear relationship between quality characteristics of forages and their selectivity index. In summer, the diet selection could be predicted by both positive linear relationship between quality characteristics and selectivity index, and the relationship between quantity characteristics and diet composition. While in autumn with the lowest sward availability, it could be predicted by the positive linear relationship between quantity characteristics and diet composition. During the whole grazing season, the diet composition of B. inermis (40.4%) and Leymus chinensis (35.1%) were larger than that of Potentilla bifurca (9.5%) and Carex (15.1%) and the selectivity index of P. bifurca was the highest (0.62), followed by Carex (0.17) and B. inermis (0.05), and L. chinensis (?0.29) was the lowest. The two parameters of diet selection above were positively related to their quantity and quality characteristics, respectively. These results suggested that the influence of quality characteristics on diet selection of sheep decreased gradually as a result of the decline in sward availability, while the influence of quantity characteristics increased. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of diet selection of sheep examining the trade-offs between quantity and quality characteristics of forages. The knowledge of diet selection of sheep and the corresponding prediction regressions acquired in this study could give the basis for designing appropriate grazing management strategies.     

我国牧草种质资源创新研究进展

本文总结了几十年来我国牧草种质资源创新研究的方法和成果,详细阐述了种内杂交、远缘杂交、射线辐射、离子束注入、太空搭载、化学诱变及基因转化等不同技术方法在牧草种质资源创新中的应用,并对我国牧草种质资源创新的应用前景进行了讨论,以期为促进我国牧草种质资源创新和育种研究的进一步发展提供参考。     

我国红壤区土壤钼、硼、硒元素特征及其对牧草生长影响研究进展

实行肥料科学配施与红壤培肥管理是山区草业发展的重要技术环节．我国南方红壤区土壤普遍存在着硼、钼、硒元素缺乏现象,合理施用钼、硼、硒微量元素肥料对豆科与禾本科牧草的植株生长以及提高产草量和种子产量有明显的促进作用．文中概述了我国红壤区土壤中钼、硼、硒元素的存在形态、化学特征、内在变化、可给性及含量状况,探讨了施用3种微量元素肥料对牧草生长过程有效养分吸收与累积的影响及其相应生理功能,综述了牧草植物缺乏钼、硼、硒元素的特征症状、诊断方法及其矫治措施．     

Assessment of a brown midrib (BMR) mutant gene on the nutritive value of sudangrass using in vitro and in vivo techniques

The brown midrib (BMR) gene has been reported to reduce the lignin concentration in plants, which contributed to increased fiber digestion in ruminants. Three studies were completed to compare the digestibility of a BMR mutant of sudangrass (sorghum bicolor subsp. Drummondii) versus a non-BMR (‘Piper’) variety when included in diets fed to sheep (Study 1), to complete a rumen in vitro assessment of sheep and lactating cow diets (Study 2), and to compare digestibility when included in the diet fed to lactating dairy cows (Study 3). Four wether sheep were used in a 2 × 2 Latin square experiment (Study 1) with total fecal collection to determine total tract apparent digestibility of pelleted Piper (P) and BMR (P-BMR) sudangrass hays. Forage pellets consisted of either P-BMR or P hay with added urea to meet the maintenance crude protein (CP) requirement of the sheep. Digestibility of organic matter (OM; P<0.01), dry matter (DM; P<0.01), acid detergent fiber (ADF; P<0.05), and neutral detergent fiber (aNDFom; P<0.07) was higher for P-BMR than P sudangrass. In vitro rumen digestibility of aNDFom using cattle rumen fluid was higher at 24 (P<0.01), 48 (P<0.01) and 72 h (P<0.01) of fermentation for P-BMR versus P (Study 2). Four lactating Holstein dairy cows (251 ± 30 days in milk) and fitted with ruminal and duodenal cannulae were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment. Total mixed rations (TMR) contained 180 g/kg DM shredded sudangrass hay and 180 g/kg sliced alfalfa hay, but the proportion of P to P-BMR sudangrass varied as 100:0, 66:34, 34:66, or 0:100. Yields of milk and milk protein were highest at the 66:34 level (Quadratic: P=0.06 and 0.07, respectively), but composition of milk fat, protein and lactose, as well as DM intake, did not differ (Study 3), probably because forestomach and total tract apparent digestion of aNDFom and OM did not differ due to sudangrass source.     

Strategies of plant breeding for improved rumen function

In general, breeding programmes directed at the improvement of forage have concentrated on easily measurable phenotypes such as yield, digestibility, resistance to lodging, etc. Selection programmes have improved forage production but historically have addressed relatively few quality considerations. In addition, selection for quality has been limited by availability of suitable analytical techniques. With the current emphasis on quality rather than quantity and the desire by the public for greater understanding about where their food comes from, quality considerations should be a greater target in future breeding programmes. This review briefly covers previous improvements in quality of grazed and silage forages and considers how new technologies might be employed to realise targets for future improvements. In particular we address the concept that interactions between rumen micro‐organisms and ingested plant material in the rumen are not static but are in fact dynamic. This has implications for post‐ingestion biology and feed utilisation.