Skip to main content
ARS Home » Northeast Area » University Park, Pennsylvania » Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #392942
Research Project: Sustainable Intensification of Integrated Crop-Pasture-Livestock Systems in Northeastern Landscapes

Location: Pasture Systems & Watershed Management Research

Title: Evaluation of diverse cool-season grass mixtures with red clover on ruminal fermentation in continuous culture

Author
item SNIDER, MIRIAM - University Of Vermont
item MULAKALA, BHARATH - University Of Vermont
item DRIEMEL, ASHLEY - University Of Vermont
item ZIEGLER, SARA - University Of New Hampshire
item DARBY, HEATHER - University Of Vermont
item Soder, Kathy
item BRITO, ANDRE - University Of New Hampshire
item GREENWOOD, SABRINA - University Of Vermont

Submitted to: American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/1/2022
Publication Date: 6/25/2022
Citation: Snider, M.A., Mulakala, B.K., Driemel, A.W., Ziegler, S.E., Darby, H.M., Soder, K.J., Brito, A.F., Greenwood, S.L. 2022. Evaluation of diverse cool-season grass mixtures with red clover on ruminal fermentation in continuous culture[abstract]. American Society of Animal Science Annual Meeting. Pg 1.

Interpretive Summary: No Interpretive Summary is required for this Abstract Only. JLB.

Technical Abstract: Dual-flow continuous culture fermenters were used to evaluate the impacts of forage mixtures on ruminal fermentation. Diets (DM basis) contained 40% red clover combined with 1) 60% orchardgrass (OG); 2) 30% orchardgrass + 30% meadow fescue (MF); 3) 20% orchardgrass + 20% meadow fescue + 20% Kentucky bluegrass (KYBG); or 4) 15% orchardgrass + 15% meadow fescue + 15% Kentucky bluegrass + 15% perennial ryegrass (PRG). Treatments were randomly assigned to fermenters in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. Each 10-d period included a 7-d adaptation and 3-d sampling period. Diets (110 g DM/d) were added across 4 feedings/d (33% each, 0700 h and 1600 h; 17% each, 0820h and 1720 h). Fermenter pH was recorded continuously for 10-d. Methane was measured on d 7-10 at 0630 and 1530 h. Effluent samples were collected on d 8-10. Results were analyzed using PROC GLIMMIX of SAS with significance at P = 0.05. Apparent digestibility of DM, OM, NDF, and ADF was greatest (P = 0.05) for fermenters receiving KYBG, followed by PRG. Apparent DM and OM digestibility for OG and MF were lower than KYBG by 18.0% and 19.6%, respectively. Fermenters receiving KYBG spent the greatest amount of time under pH 5.8 (avg. 15.5 h/d; P = 0.0004). Acetate:propionate and acetate + butyrate:propionate ratios were greater for fermenters receiving KYBG (4.09 and 4.71) and PRG (4.03 and 4.65; P < 0.0001). Water soluble carbohydrate concentration of effluent was lowest for KYBG (0.80 mg/ mL; P = 0.05). Methane output for KYBG (116.8 mg/dL; P < 0.0001) was greater than that of OG (13.7 mg/dL), MF (31.7 mg/dL), or PRG (11.9 mg/dL) which did not differ from one another. These results suggest that diets containing KYBG and PRG were more digestible with PRG having the added benefit of decreased methane output.