Twelve early lactation Holstein cows (4 fistulated) were used in replicated 4x4 Latin squares with 4-wk periods to determine the effective neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content of wet corn gluten feed and to measure the effect of forage particle size on ruminal mat consistency and passage rate of wet corn gluten feed. Diets were 1) 23.3% NDF (17.4 percentage units of NDF from alfalfa silage), 2...

The potato leafhopper (PLH) is the most serious insect pest of alfalfa in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. PLH injury to alfalfa can result in leaf yellowing (“hopperburn”), plant stunting, loss of yield and forage quality, and reduced alfalfa stand persistence. Leafhopper populations are a perennial problem in new alfalfa seedings, and they frequently increase to damaging levels on the second ...

An extensive series of studies have been conducted during the past 20 years indicating the beneficial effects of alfalfa and other plant fiber-containing materials in counteracting the toxic effects of a number of drugs, chemicals, and food additives when administered at high doses to animals fed highly purified, low-fiber diets (1-9). The protective factor or factors in these fiber-containing ...

Fall dormancy (FD) in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) can be described using 11 FD ratings, is widely used as an important indicator of stress resistance, productive performance and spring growth. However, the contrasting growth strategies in internode length and internode number in alfalfa cultivars with different FD rating are poorly understood. Here, a growth chamber study was conducted to inve...

Meloidogyne chitwoodi developed and reproduced more rapidly than M. hapla in potato roots at 15, 20, or 25 C when both species of nematodes were inoculated simultaneously at 250 or 1,000 juveniles of each. At 30 C significantly more M. hapla than M. chitwoodi females were found at the lower inoculum level after 41 days. More M. chitwoodi than M. hapla juveniles were extracted from soil at 15, 2...

The pathogenicity of two populations of the northern root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne hapla Chitwood, population 1 (P1) from alfalfa and population 2 (P2) from sainfoin, was studied on both alfalfa and sainfoin for 25 weeks. Alfalfa and sainfoin plants inoculated with P2 had significantly (P </= 0.05) higher mortality than plants inoculated with P1. Plant stands over all weeks for the uninoculat...

OBJECTIVE To measure pH, volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, and lactate concentrations in stomach contents and determine number and severity of gastric lesions in horses fed bromegrass hay and alfalfa hay-grain diets. ANIMALS Six 7-year-old horses. PROCEDURE A gastric cannula was inserted in each horse. Horses were fed each diet, using a randomized crossover design. Stomach contents ...

Zinc concentrations in alfalfa hay were varied using a N-Zn liquid fertilizer as a foliar applicant (.34 or .68 kg Zn/ha) or as a soil fertilizer (4.07 kg Zn/ha). Mean concentrations of Zn across five cuttings of alfalfa in 2 yr were 18, 27, 41 and 21 mg Zn/kg DM for control, low foliar, high foliar and soil treatments, respectively. Each treatment was fed in ad libitum amounts to eight crossbr...

It is well established that the use of alfalfa in diets for monogastric animals is limited by its high fiber content. However, alfalfa is a natural source of xanthophylls and gives poultry products a desirably yellow color. In addition, alfalfa saponins may contribute to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the meat and egg yolk. We have investigated the potential utilization of β-glucanases and...