erates frequent defoliation in monoculture (Peterson et al., 1994) or in binary mixture with grass (Kim, 1996) Improved dry matter (DM) production of cool-season grass monoand is suitable for hay or pasture production in this cultures may result from either N fertilization or the addition of legumes such as kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum M. Bieb.) or birdsregion (Sheaffer and Marten, 1991; She...

Grass-based milk production is a major contributor to Irish agricultural output. The study characterized the pool using stable isotope ratio analysis of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and sulphur. Authentic raw samples were collected from 50 farms on five occasions over 13 months. Mean values −27.11, 6.79, −3.27 6.16‰ obtained for δ13C, δ15N, δ18O δ34S, respectively. δ13C reflected high level grass i...

Studies relating reproduction to food availability are usually restricted to food quantity, but ignore food quality and the effects of habitat structure on obtaining the food. This is particularly true for insectivorous birds. In this study we relate measures of reproductive success, time of reproduction and nestling size of water pipits (Anthus sp. spinoletta) to biomass, taxonomic composition...

Barrier islands are complex and dynamic systems that provide critical ecosystem services to coastal populations. Stability of these systems is threatened by rising sea level and the potential for coastal storms to increase in frequency and intensity. Recovery of dune-building grasses following storms is an important process that promotes topographic heterogeneity and long-term stability of barr...

Grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus) is one of the most important freshwater fish that is native to China, and crisp grass carp is a kind of high value-added fishes which have higher muscle firmness. To investigate biological functions and possible signal transduction pathways that address muscle firmness increase of crisp grass carp, microarray analysis of 14,900 transcripts was performed. Co...

Beef represents a major dietary component and source of protein in many countries. With an increasing demand for beef, the industry is currently undergoing changes towards naturally produced beef. However, the true differences between the feeding systems, especially the biochemical and nutritional aspects, are still unclear. Using transcriptome and metabolome profiles, we identified biological ...

The effects of grass maturity on the mean retention time of liquid and particles, digestibility and duodenal nutrient flows were measured by feeding second cuts of perennial ryegrass to 3 fistulated lactating dairy cows over 2 successive periods (late June and mid-July, 28 and 49 d regrowth, respectively). Fresh forage was given ad libitum with 12% (dry matter (DM) basis) concentrate. The incre...

Twenty-four yearling Boer × Spanish wethers were used to assess effects of different forages, either fresh (Exp. 1) or as hay (Exp. 2), on feed intake, digestibilities, heat production, and ruminal methane emission. Treatments were: 1) Sericea lespedeza (SER; Lespedeza cuneata), a legume high in condensed tannins (CT; 20% and 15% in fresh forage and hay, respectively), 2) SER supplemented with ...