Brangus cows (n = 29) were used in three experiments to evaluate the effects of parity (multiparous vs. primiparous) and potential genetic merit for milk production (high vs. low) on forage intake during late gestation, early lactation, and late lactation. Cows were selected for milk production based on their sire's EPD for milk production (MEPD). Cows had ad libitum access to (130% of previous...

Astragalus fridae Rech. F. is a native and endemic species in Iran. Considering the circumstances of this species in the country and the world and the importance of conservation of genetic resources, the awareness of A. fridae forage quality seems necessary. For this purpose, forage samples of A. fridae were taken at four phenological stages including vegetative growth, flowering, seed setting ...

Performance and production of growing cattle (Bos taurus) on Coastal Bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] pasture are affected by forage allowance, but possible interactions with fertilizer nutrient source (i.e., inorganic vs. organic) and time have not been well described. We evaluated the effects of 3 nutrient sources with equivalent N rates: 1) inorganic, 2) crimson clover (Trifolium i...

Warm-season grasses, also called C4, are the predominant forages for ruminant production in Florida. The C4 grasses grow well under high temperatures and generally cultivated between 25 N and 25 S of the equator. The C4 grasses are more efficient in fixing carbon dioxide than other grasses; however, they have a specialized thick-walled parenchyma bundle sheath around each vascular bundle, and m...

Understanding behavioral strategies employed by animals to maximize fitness in the face of environmental heterogeneity, variability, and uncertainty is a central aim of animal ecology. Flexibility in behavior may be key to how animals respond to climate and environmental change. Using a mechanistic modeling framework for simultaneously quantifying the effects of habitat preference and intrinsic...

Ways of promoting integration of herbaceous forage legumes into a napier grass fodder system were evaluated with the aim of increasing forage quantity and quality on smallholder dairy farms in central Kenya. The herbaceous legumes Desmodium intortum cv. Greenleaf (ILRI 104), Macrotyloma axillare cv. Axillare (ILRI 6756) and Neonotonia wightii cv. Tinaroo (ILRI 9794) were intercropped with napie...

Forage availability is sometimes limited because of poor growing conditions or because of insufficient land base on individual farms. In addition, forage fiber can limit feed intake, particularly for high producing cows, and forage quality is highly variable. Therefore, there is continual interest in alternatives to forages in diets for dairy cows. Decreasing the forage content of diets require...

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) is used as medicinal plant in many Asian countries and has been reported to have forage quality similar to alfalfa. Fenugreek is an annual crop and may have the potential to diversify forage production systems in the central High Plains. This study evaluated forage dry matter (DM) production and the nutritive value of three fenugreek cultivars as influen...