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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Madison, Wisconsin » U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center » Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409650
Research Project: Improving Sustainability of Dairy and Forage Production Systems for the Upper Midwest

Location: Environmentally Integrated Dairy Management Research

Title: Canopy layer and plant fraction affect the nutritive value of stockpiled limpograss

Author
item BERNARDINI, MARILIA - University Of Florida
item DUBEUX, JOSE - University Of Florida
item TRUMPP, KEVIN - University Of Florida
item ANSANELLO, HELENA - University Of Florida
item ODUOR, KENNETH - University Of Florida
item Jaramillo, David
item BRETAS, IGOR - University Of Florida
item DANTAS QUEIROZ, LUANA - University Of Florida
item CRUZ, PRISCILA - University Of Florida
item PORTUGUEZ, JAVIER - University Of Florida
item RUIZ-MORENO, MARTIN - University Of Florida
item GARCIA, LIZA - University Of Florida
item VENDRAMINI, JOAO - University Of Florida
item DILORENZO, NICOLAS - University Of Florida

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/29/2023
Publication Date: 10/29/2023
Citation: Bernardini, M., Dubeux, J., Trumpp, K., Ansanello, H., Oduor, K., Jaramillo, D.M., Bretas, I., Dantas Queiroz, L., Cruz, P., Portuguez, J., Ruiz-Moreno, M., Garcia, L., Vendramini, J., Dilorenzo, N. 2023. Canopy layer and plant fraction affect the nutritive value of stockpiled limpograss. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Annual Meeting Abstracts. ASA-CSSA-ASSA Meeting, St. Louis, MO, Oct. 29- Nov. 2, 2023.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Limpograss (Hemarthria altissima) is warm season grass that has been well adopted in South Florida because of its tolerance to flatwood soils that are poorly drained. Limpograss can be used for stockpiling as it exhibits superior cool season growth and maintains adequate digestibility for longer periods compared to other warm-season grasses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritive value of upper leaf, upper stem, lower leaf, and lower stem of stockpiled ‘Gibtuck’ limpograss, under grazing management. The experiment was conducted from October 2022 to January 2023. Hand-plucked samples were collected every 21 days from 16 random locations within each pasture by clipping to 5-cm stubble heights. Samples were separated into upper leaf, upper stem, lower leaf, and lower stem. All samples were dried at 55oC for 72h until constant weight and weighed to determine the proportion of each fraction (leaf or stem). Crude protein concentration varied throughout the season, ranging from 63.7 g/kg in October to 55.7 g/kg in January. Within layer, crude protein had a greater variability, ranging from 38.5 g/kg in the lower stem to 83 g/kg in upper leaf. The crude protein concentration for the whole plant was 54.2 g/kg. The in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentration decreased throughout the season, from 570 g/kg in November to 446 g/kg in January. Within layers, the IVDOM varied from 420 g/kg in the lower leaf to 580 g/kg in the upper stem. Under stockpiling, limpograss maintained leaf and stem digestibility at adequate concentrations for grazing beef steers, and can be an alternative for extending the grazing season in North Florida.