The effect of harvesting time (morning vs. afternoon) on the chemical composition and nutritional value of sun-drying alfalfa, clover and barley forages

پژوهشهای علوم دامی ایران

Article 6, Volume 13, Issue 1 - Serial Number 45, March 2021, Pages 77-90   

Document Type: Ruminant Nutrition

DOI: 10.22067/ijasr.v13i1.84019

Authors

Sakineh shokripoor¹; javad bayatkouhsar^{* 2}; Farzad Ghanbari³; Reza Rahchamani⁴

¹Animal Science Department, Fculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, Ganbad Kavous Universty, Iran.

²Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous.

³Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Gonbad Kavos University, Gonbad Kavos, Iran

⁴Animal Science Department, Faculty of Agriculture Science and Natural Resources, Gonbad Kavous, University, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction[1] Forages are grown mainly for feeding livestock, especially in dairy cows, because adequate roughage is needed in diets to provide good rumen function. However, as more roughage is fed, the energy density of the diet is reduced. So, the production of high quality forage is very important for dairy producers. High quality forage has direct effects on animal production efficiency, including weight gain, milk production, and reproductive success. Producing and conserving of high quality forage is a challenge because several factors can be affected forage quality including plant species, soil fertility, maturity at harvest, and harvesting (mowing, field curing, baling or chopping) and storage methods and other factors (weeds, insects and diseases). Fiber and energy contents are the most important in forage quality measures. As the fiber level increases, the energy content generally decreases. Therefore, improving forage quality can be achieved by managing forage carbohydrate content. Carbohydrates are the primary source for ruminants and contribute 60 to 70% of the net energy used for milk production and are classified as structural and non-structural. As usual, structural carbohydrates defined as neutral detergent fiber (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and portion of the pectin) and non-structural carbohydrates consist of the sugars, starches and pectin. Non-structural carbohydrates are a highly digestible energy source and together with degraded protein, are needed by the rumen for microbial growth and digestion. Plants accumulate sugars during the day via photosynthesis, but incur a net loss at night via dark respiration. This diurnal cycling reflects the concentration of total nonstructural carbohydrates in forages. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of morning versus afternoon cutting time on chemical composition, gas production parameters and digestibility of sun-drying alfalfa, clover and barley forages.
Materials and Methods About 5-7 cm above the soil stage, alfalfa, clover and barley were harvested in two times, at 06:00 AM and 18:00 PM. Whole Alfalfa and clover plants were harvested at the first bud stage of development and whole barley plant at the medium dough stage of maturity used. Their nutritive value was evaluated through the determination of chemical compositions and in vitro gas production techniques. Samples were tested in an in vitro gas production method (96 h incubation) and batch rumen culture system (24 h incubation). Rumen fluid was collected before the morning feed from three fistulated Dalagh male sheep (45 ± 1.5 kg live weight fed on a forage diet at a concentration of 40:60). In vitro gas production was measured in triplicate and for each replicate; a sample of 200 mg DM was used. The bottles were then filled with 30 ml of incubation medium that consisted of 10 ml of rumen fluid plus 20 ml of buffer solution and placed in a water bath at 39 °C. Gas production was recorded at 2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. Total gas values corrected for blank incubation and gas values expressed in ml g^-1 of DM. The asymptotic gas production system (A) and rate of gas production (c), organic matter digestibility (OMD), metabolizable energy (ME) and short chain fatty acids (SCFA). A medium similar to one developed for gas production was used for batch rumen culture system to measure pH, and NH₃-N and in vitro digestibility. The pH of the media was measured after 24 h incubation. After 24 h incubation, the contents of each glass bottle were empty, strained through four layers of cheesecloth and then 10 ml of strained rumen fluid was acidified by 10 ml of 0.2 N HCl for determination of NH₃-N using the distillation method. Finally, all contents remaining in the bottles were filtered through nylon bags, oven dried at 60 °C for 48 h and analyzed for IVDMD and IVOMD.
Results and Discussion Results showed that cutting time affected chemical composition of alfalfa and clover forages significantly (p < 0.05), but had not effect on barley forage. Afternoon cutting forages had lower content of NDF and ADF and higher levels of starch and WSC compared to morning cutting forages. There were no significant differences between afternoon and morning cutting forages on gas production parameters (P > 0.05). However, Afternoon cut forages had higher gas production potential than morning cutting forages. Results showed that harvest time had significant effect on DMD (66 vs 59) and OMD (64 vs 58.5) of barley forage. Although, time harvesting had no effect on MCP, EMCP and PF (P>0.05), but Afternoon cut forages had higher MCP, EMCP and PF than morning cutting forages.
Conclusion Generally, it was concluded that with considered all factors that affected quality and nutritive value of forages, delaying forage harvest until late afternoon could result in improve nutritive value of forage.

Keywords

Alfalfa; Chemical composition; Clover; Barley; Harvest time; Nutritional value

References

1-         AOAC (Association of Official Analytical Chemists). 2000. Official methods of analysis, 17^th ed. Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Washington, DC.

2-         Beuvink, J. M. W., and S. F. Spoelstra. 1992. Interactions between substrate, fermentation end products, buffering systems and gas production upon fermentation of different carbohydrates by mixed rumen microorganisms in vitro. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 37: 505–509

3-         Blummel, M., and E. R. Orskov. 1993. Comparison of gas production and nylon bag degradability of roughages in prediction feed intake in cattle. Animal Feed Science Technology, 40:109-119.

4-         Blümmel, M., H. Steingass., and K. Becker. 1997. The relationship between in vitro gas production, in vitro microbial biomass yield and N incorporation and its implications for the prediction of voluntary feed intake of roughages. British Journal of Nutrition, 77: 911-921.‏

5-         Brito, A. F., G. F. Tremblay., A. Bertrand., Y. Castonguay., G. Bélanger., R. Michaud., and R. Berthiaume. 2008. Alfalfa cut at sundown and harvested as baleage improves milk yield of late-lactation dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 91: 3968-3982.‏

6-         Brito, A. F., G. F. Tremblay., H. Lapierre., A. Bertrand., Y. Castonguay., G. Bélanger., R. Michaud., C. Benchaar., D. R. Ouellet., and R. Berthiaume. 2009. Alfalfa cut at sundown and harvested as baleage increases bacterial protein synthesis in late-lactation dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science, 92: 1092–1107.

7-         Broderick, G. A., and J. H. Kang. 1980. Automated simultaneous determination of ammonia and total amino acids in ruminal fluid and in vitro media. Journal of Animal Science, 63: 64–75.

8-         Burns, J. C., D. S. Fisher, and H. F. Mayland. 2007. Diurnal shifts in nutritive value of alfalfa harvested as hay and evaluated by animal intake and digestion. Crop Science, 47: 2190-2197.‏

9-         Burns, J. C., H. F. Mayland, and D. S. Fisher. 2005. Dry matter intake and digestion of alfalfa harvested at sunset and sunrise. Journal of Animal Science, 83: 262-270.

10-      Dahmardeh, M., A. Ghanbari, B. A. Syahsar, and M. Ramrodi. 2010. The role of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) and Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) on yield and soil chemical properties. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5: 631-636.

11-      Dryhurst, N. and C. D. Wood. 1998. The effect of nitrogen source and concentration on in vitro gas production using rumen micro-organisms. Animal Feed Science Technology, 71: 131-143.‏

12-      Fisher, D. S., H. F. Mayland, and J. C. Burns. 2002. Variation in ruminant preference for alfalfa hays cut at sunup and sundown. Crop Science, 42:231-237.

13-      Fisher, D. S., H. F. Mayland and, J. C. Burns. 1999. Variation in ruminants' preference for tall fescue hays cut either at sundown or at sunup. Journal of Animal Science. 77: 762-768.‏

14-      Fisher, D. S., J. C. Burns and H. F. Mayland. 2005. Ruminant selection among switch grass hays cut at either sundown or sunup. Crop Science, 45:1394-1402.

15-      Fisher, D. S., J. C. Burns. K. R. Pond, R. D. Mochrie, and D. H. Timothy. 1991. Effects of grass species on grazing steers: I. Diet composition and ingestive mastication. Journal of animal science, 69: 1188-1198.‏

16-      Fisher. D. S., J. C. Bums and H. F. Mayland. 1998. Ruminant preference for alfalfa hay harvested in the afternoon. Journal of Animal Science, 76:194 (Abstract).

17-      Getachew, G., E. J. Depiters, and P. H. Robinson. 2002. In vitro gas production provides effective method for assessing ruminant feeds. California Agriculture, 58: 54-58.

18-      Getachew, G., M. Blu¨mmel, H. P. S. Makkar, and K. Becker. 1998. In vitro gas measuring techniques for assessment of nutritional quality of feeds: a review. Animal Feed Science Technology, 72: 261–281. ‏

19-      Haddi, M. L., S. Filacorda, K. Meniai, F. Rollin, and P. Susmel. 2003. In vitro fermentation kinetics of some halophyte shrubs sampled at three stage maturity. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 104: 215-225.

20-      Hedge, J. E. and B. T. Hofreiter. 1962. In: Carbohydrate Chemistry 17 (Eds Whistel RL and Be Miller, JN) Acadmic Press, New York.

21-      Huntingdon, J. A. and D. I. Givens. 1995. The in situ technique for studying the rumen degradation of feeds: A review of the procedure. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews. Series B, Livestock Feeds and Feeding (United Kingdom).

22-      Huntington, G. B. and J. C. Burns. 2007. Afternoon harvest increases readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration and voluntary intake of gamagrass and switch grass baleage by beef steers. Journal of Animal Science, 85:276-284.‏

23-      John, J. W. and A. H. van Gelder. 1999. Influence of protein fermentation on gas production profiles. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 76: 251-264.‏

24-      Kim, D.1995. Effect of plant maturity, Cutting, growth stage and harvesting time on forage quality. Ph.D. Diss. USU, Logan, UT.

25-      Lamb, J. F., C. C. Sheaffer, and D. A. Samac. 2003. Population density and harvest maturity effects on leaf and stem yield in alfalfa. Agronomy Journal, 95:635-641.

26-   Liponi, G. B., L. Casini, S. De Vincenzi, and D. Gatta. 2009. Digestibility and nitrogen balance of diets based on faba bean, pea seeds and soybean meal in sheep. Italian Journal of Animal Science, 8(2): 353-360.

27-      Makkar, H. P. S. 2005. In vitro gas methods for evaluation of feeds containing phytochemicals. Animal Feed Science and Techmology, 123: 291-302.

28-      Mansuri, H. A. Nikkhah, M. Rezaeian, M. Moradi Shahrbaback, and S. A. Mirhadi. 2003. Determination of roughages degradability through in vitro gas production and nylon bag techniques. Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 34: 495-507.

29-      Mayland, H. F., G. E. Shewmaker, P. A. Harrison, and N. J. Chatterton. 2000. Nonstructural carbohydrates in tall fescue cultivars: Relationship to animal preference. Agronomy Journal, 92: 1203-1206.‏

30-      Mayland, H. F., J. C. Burns, D. S. Fisher, and G. E. Shewmaker. 2001. Near infra-red measurement of nonstructural carbohydrates in alfalfa hay.‏ International Grassland Congress, pp: 404-405.

31-      McDonald, P., A. R. Henderson, and S. J. E. Heron. 1991. The Biochemistry of Silage 2^nd ed. Chalcombe Publications. Marlow, UK.

32-      Melvin, J. F. 1965. Variation in the carbohydrate content of Lucerne and the effect on ensilage. Australasian Journal of Agriculture, 16: 951-959.

33-      Menke K. H. and H. H. Steingass. 1988. Estimation of the energetic feed value obtained from chemical analysis and in vitro gas production using rumen fluid. Journal of Animal Research and Development, 28: 7-55.

34-      Menke, K. H., L. Raab, A. Salewski, H. Steingass, D. Fritz, and W. Schneider.1979. The estimation of the digestibility and metabolizable energy content of ruminant feeding stuffs from the gas production when they are incubated with rumen liquor in vitro. The Journal of Agricultural Science, 93: 217-222.‏

35-      Miller, L. A., J. M. Moorby, D. R., Davies, M. O. Humphreys, N. D. Scollan, J. C. MacRae, and M. K. Theodorou. 2001. Increased concentration of water‐soluble carbohydrate in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.): milk production from late‐lactation dairy cows. Grass and Forage Science, 56: 383-394.‏

36-      Mirlohi, A., N. Bozorgvar, and M. Bassiri. 2000. Effect of nitrogen rate on growth, forage yield and silage quality of three sorghum hybrids. Journal of Water and Soil Science, 4: 105-116. (In Persian).

37-      NRC. 2001. Nutrient Requirement of Dairy Cattle. 2001. Seventh revised edition; National Research Council;National Academy Press; Washington, D.C., USA.

38-      Orr, R. J., P. D. Penning, A. Harvey, and R. A. Champion. 1997. Diurnal patterns of intake rate by sheep grazing monocultures of ryegrass or white clover. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 52: 65-77.‏

39-      Orskov, E. R. and I. McDonald. 1979. The estimation of protein degradability in the rumen from incubation measurements according to rate of passage. Journal of Agricultural Science, 92: 499-503.‏

40-      Putnam, D. H., S. Mueller, D. Marcum, C. Frate, C. Lamb, M. Canevari, and F. Dension. 1998. Diurnal changes in alfalfa forage quality. In Proceedings, 28th California/ NV Alfalfa Symposium. December (pp. 3-4).

41-      SAS. 2003. SAS User’s Guide: Statistics, Version 9.1 Edition. SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA.

42-      Shewmaker, G. E., H. F. Mayland, C. A. Roberts, P. A. Harrison, N. J. Chatterton, and D. A. Sleper. 2006. Daily carbohydrate accumulations in eight tall fescue cultivars. Grass and Forage Science, 61: 413–421

43-      Smith, R. H. and M. H. Bass. 1972. Relationship of artificial pod removal to soybean yields. Journal of Economic Entomology, 65: 606-608.‏

44-      Sommart, K., D. S. Parker, P. Rowlinson, and M. Wanapat. 2000. Fermentation characteristics and microbial protein synthesis in an in vitro system using cassava, rice straw and dried ruzi grass as substrates. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences, 13: 1084-1093.

45-      Tefera, S. 2008. Chemical composition and in vitro ruminal fermentation of common tree forages in the semi- arid rangelands of Swaziland. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 142: 99-110.

46-      Thayumanavan, B. and S. Sadasivam, 1984. Physicohemical basis for the preferential uses of certain rice varieties. Plant Foods for Human Nutrition, 34: 253-259.‏

47-      Theodore, M. K., B. A. Williams, M. S. Dhanoa, A. B. McAllan, and J. France. 1994. A simple gas production method using a pressure transducer to determine the fermentation kinetics of ruminant feeds. Animal of Feed Science Technology, 48: 185–197.

48-      Van Soest, P. J. 1994. Nutritional ecology of the ruminant. Cornell University Press.‏

49-      Van Soest, P. V., J. B. Robertson, and B. A. Lewis. 1991. Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science, 74: 3583-3597.

50-      Wilson, J. R., H. Denium, and E. M. Engels. 1991 Temperature effects on anatomy and digestibility of leaf and stem of tropical and temperate forage species. Netherlands Journal of Agricultural Science, 39: 31-48.

Yari, M., R. Valizadeh, A. A. Naserian, G. R. Ghorbani, P. R. Moghaddam, A. Jonker, and P. Yu. 2012. Botanical traits, protein and carbohydrate fractions, ruminal degradability and energy contents of alfalfa hay harvested at three stages of maturity and in the afternoon and morning. Animal Feed Science and Technology, 172: 162-170