Grass and Forage Science最新文献

{"title":"Species Composition Influences Zinc and Selenium Uptake in Multispecies Grasslands","authors":"Omotola Obasoro,&nbsp;Jane Shackleton,&nbsp;Cornelia Grace,&nbsp;Jean Kennedy,&nbsp;Ron de Goede,&nbsp;Ellis Hoffland","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12720","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12720","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The aim of this study was to assess and analyse the effect of species richness on zinc (Zn) and selenium (Se) uptake and concentrations in grasslands while investigating the potential role of grass species in facilitating their uptake in mixtures. We conducted a grassland experiment at both pot and field scales. In the greenhouse pot experiment, three grasses, four legumes and five forb species were grown as monocultures and mixtures along a species richness gradient. In the field experiment, we compared a monoculture of <i>Lolium perenne</i> sward with two multispecies mixtures (comprising grasses, legumes and forbs). At harvest, Zn and Se uptake values were determined for all the monocultures and mixtures in both experiments. Zinc and Se uptake increased with increasing species richness (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). Higher Zn and Se uptake in the multispecies mixtures was primarily due to high aboveground biomass production and/or high shoot Zn and Se concentrations of some of the component species in the mixtures. However, there was insufficient evidence supporting the facilitation of Zn and Se uptake by grass species. To optimise Zn and Se uptake by multispecies mixtures, it is suggested that the choice of forage species should be based on biomass production potential as well as Zn and Se concentrations of the component species in the mixture.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12720","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171439","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of an Assessment Method for Host Resistance of Alfalfa to Root Rot Caused by Rhizoctonia solani","authors":"Muhammad Abdullah Akber,&nbsp;Shiyu Chu,&nbsp;Xiangling Fang","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12724","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12724","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i>) is the most important forage legume crop in China. Root rot disease caused by <i>Rhizoctonia solani</i> is associated with severe yield and economic losses in alfalfa. Using alfalfa varieties with resistance is considered the most effective and sustainable way to manage the disease in alfalfa. However, there is still a lack of effective methods to evaluate the host reactions of alfalfa to <i>R. solani</i>. Ensuring consistent and effective disease assessment through visual estimation of host resistance is often challenging when studying soil-borne plant pathogen infections. This study firstly developed an assessment method based on the treatment of inoculum density at 0.1%, 0.25%, and 0.5% (w/w), inoculation methods of millet seed-based and mycelial suspension inoculums, and seedling ages at two and eight weeks. Nine alfalfa varieties were then used to confirm the assessment method. Results showed that the millet-seed-based inoculation method, combined with a 0.5% inoculum density, resulted in the highest disease severity of 78% in roots and 70% in shoots, with a biomass reduction of 86% in roots and 74% in shoots. Seedlings inoculated two weeks post-germination exhibited higher susceptibility than those inoculated eight weeks post-germination. The selected inoculation method, inoculum density and seedling age effectively differentiated the resistance of alfalfa varieties, with Gannong 9 and WL366 exhibiting strong resistance to <i>R. solani</i>, while Gongnong 1 and Common were the most susceptible. Besides, both harvesting time points (four weeks and eight weeks after pathogen inoculation) effectively differentiated the resistance levels among varieties. The method includes preparing millet-seed-based inoculum, infecting two-week-old alfalfa seedlings with 0.5% inoculum density, and harvesting at four or eight weeks by assessing disease severity and plant growth parameters. This study provides a method for evaluating the host resistance of alfalfa to <i>R. solani</i> under controlled environmental conditions with the aim to screen and breed alfalfa varieties with resistance for effective management of root rot.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144171443","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Toward Standardisation of Methodologies and Biodiversity Measures for Describing the Microbiome Structure and Diversity of Silages","authors":"Fred Eduardo Hernández-Perea,&nbsp;Eneas Aguirre von Wobeser,&nbsp;Yaxk'in Coronado,&nbsp;Mayra de la Torre","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12723","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12723","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Ensiling is a widely adopted fermentation method for forage preservation that relies on the dynamic succession of microorganisms; ultimately, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) dominate a successful fermentation. This review conducts a meta-analysis of studies published from 2019 to 2024 and identifies critical gaps in methodological standardisation. The majority of studies focus on traditional temperate forages, while nonconventional tropical forages and agro-industrial residues remain underexplored. In light of climate change and rising temperatures, understanding the impacts of high-temperature ensiling on microbial communities is crucial, as these conditions may increase the alpha diversity of the resulting silage and enhance heterofermentative fermentation. Comparison between studies is impeded by variations in silage technology, DNA extraction protocols, and bioinformatic pipelines. We propose the development of MOCK communities to be shared among laboratories for their inclusion in silage DNA extractions, for rigorous assessments of DNA lysis efficiency, and a shift toward high-resolution clustering approaches (e.g., amplicon sequence variants and, when appropriate, a 99% cutoff). Moreover, the use of Hill numbers is encouraged as a robust alternative for expressing alpha diversity. This review not only synthesises current best practices for microbiome analysis in silages but also provides recommendations for reproducibility and consistency in future research, thereby aiding decision-making to optimise fermentation outcomes.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144148259","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chemical Characterisation and Biorefinery Efficiency of Timothy Grass and Pulp Silages","authors":"N. Ayanfe,&nbsp;M. Franco,&nbsp;T. Jalava,&nbsp;T. Stefański,&nbsp;M. Rinne","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12722","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12722","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigated the effects of increased dry matter concentration by screw-pressing or wilting and additive application on fermentation quality of primary growth (PG) and first regrowth (ReG) timothy grass. Additionally, the nutritional quality of the liquid produced during the screw-pressing of pre-ensiled and ensiled biomasses was assessed. Two experiments were conducted: PG grass (Experiment 1) was ensiled fresh (Intact) and following liquid extraction via screw-pressing of fresh biomass (Pulp), whilst ReG included wilted biomass in addition to Intact and Pulp (Experiment 2). Biomasses were ensiled without any additives (Control), with lactic acid bacteria inoculant (LAB), or with a formic acid-based additive (FA). The PG biomasses were ensiled in vacuum bags and ReG in laboratory-scale cylindrical silos for 3 months. The silages were subjected to screw-pressing, and the chemical composition of the liquid was analysed. In both experiments, the Pulp had reduced water-soluble carbohydrates and ash compared to the Intact biomass, but crude protein concentration was not affected. In Experiment 2, pulping and wilting improved ensilability. Silages in both experiments exhibited good fermentation quality, with low pH and ammonia nitrogen concentration. Additionally, FA further reduced protein degradation. Wilting restricted silage fermentation, resulting in slightly elevated pH and reduced lactic acid production, alongside decreased ethanol production. Additives improved fermentation quality in different ways; LAB decreased the pH in wilted silages, and FA initiated fibre hydrolysis, leading to an increase in water-soluble carbohydrate concentration, which surpassed levels present in the raw material. In Experiment 2, ensiling increased liquid yield and protein capture into the liquid fraction compared to fresh biomass. Screw-pressing silage treated with LAB increased crude protein concentration in the liquid whilst FA reduced it. Different processing methods demonstrated possibilities to vary feedstock composition for biorefineries, which can be optimised based on the target end products.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12722","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144140417","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiological and Canopy Traits of Two Perennial Arachis Species in Response to Clipping Height","authors":"Theyson D. Maranhão,&nbsp;Fagner J. Gomes,&nbsp;Junior I. Yasuoka,&nbsp;Bruno C. Pedreira,&nbsp;Cristiam Bosi,&nbsp;Patricia M. Santos,&nbsp;Rogério Furlan Junior,&nbsp;Carlos G. S. Pedreira","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12721","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12721","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>‘Belmonte’ pinto peanut (PP; <i>Arachis pintoi</i> Krapov. W. C. &amp; Greg cv. Belmonte) and ‘Florigraze’ rhizoma peanut (RP; <i>Arachis glabrata</i> Benth cv. Florigraze) are two perennial peanut species used as forages in tropical and subtropical regions. They contrast in their physiology and productivity, but information is lacking on how this contrast impacts responses to stubble height. Our objective was to assess the impact of stubble height on the physiological and productive responses as expressed by the total herbage accumulation and leaflet accumulation rate, leaf photosynthesis rate and stomatal conductance of PP and RP. Herbage was harvested every 42 days at 4- and 8-cm stubble heights during both warm and cool seasons under irrigation, for a total of 1096 days in Piracicaba, Brazil. In the warm season, RP had a lesser leaflet photosynthesis rate than PP (<i>A</i>, 33 vs. 36 μmol CO₂ m⁻² leaf s⁻¹), as well as lesser stomatal conductance (<i>gs</i>, 0.64 vs. 0.88 mol H₂O m⁻² leaf s⁻¹). Belmonte pinto peanut had herbage accumulation rate (HAR) 52% greater than RP (53 vs. 35 kg ha⁻¹ d⁻¹). In the cool season, RP also exhibited lesser <i>A</i> (25 vs. 34 μmol CO₂ m⁻² leaf s⁻¹), and lesser <i>gs</i> (0.64 vs. 0.91 mol H₂O m⁻² leaf s⁻¹). The 4-cm stubble resulted in greater leaflet accumulation rate and herbage accumulation rate and under the 8 cm stubble there was greater CO₂ assimilation, potentially improving long-term regrowth. Leaflet physiological responses of RP limited HAR, especially during the cool season. Belmonte pinto peanut performed better than RP at our location regardless of stubble height and season. These responses support PP as a better option for pasture diversification in sustainable animal production systems in southeastern Brazil.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135844","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Vivo Reductions in Methane and Urinary Nitrogen by Perennial Non-Bloating Temperate Legume and Forb Functional Forages Produced in the Mountain West United States","authors":"Jennifer W. MacAdam,&nbsp;Juan J. Villalba,&nbsp;Sebastian Lagrange,&nbsp;Elizabeth K. Stewart,&nbsp;Lance R. Pitcher,&nbsp;Kathryn A. Slebodnik,&nbsp;Jeanette M. Norton,&nbsp;Jennifer R. Reeve,&nbsp;Yunhua Zhang,&nbsp;Andrea I. Bolletta,&nbsp;Jerrad F. Legako,&nbsp;Rachael G. Christensen,&nbsp;Sara R. Hunt","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12719","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12719","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ruminant livestock production is the greatest source of agricultural greenhouse gas (GHG) production, largely due to enteric methane (CH₄) emissions. While the optimised feed rations used in confinement dairy and beef finishing operations can reduce CH₄ emissions of individual animals compared with cattle on forage diets, the profitability of beef cowherds and grazing-based dairies rests on controlling the input costs, most notably feed. Grazing is the least costly feed source, and we have studied the management of non-bloating, nutrient-dense perennial forages with the goal of maximising benefits to ruminants, the environment, producers, and consumers. The naturally alkaline soils, dry climate, long sunny days, and cool nights of the Mountain West United States are favourable for the productivity and persistence of perennial legumes. While alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) is the highest-value cash crop in the western United States, it is not routinely used for grazing due to the likelihood of bloat. Relative to cattle grazing cool-season grass pastures, cattle grazing sainfoin (<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Scop.), birdsfoot trefoil (<i>Lotus corniculatus</i> L.), and cicer milkvetch (<i>Astragalus cicer</i> L.) had greater intake, production, and lower urinary nitrogen. As a function of intake, the enteric CH₄ emissions of cows, heifers, and calves grazing these legume pastures were reduced 25%–63% compared with the same cattle on grass pastures, and heifers grazing legume pastures had CH₄ emissions no different from heifers on total mixed rations. We integrate these observations of temperate perennial forage legumes and forbs with the wider literature to identify promising traits and species.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12719","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144135845","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nutritional Dynamics of Iranian Pasture Flora: Implications for Animal Health and Productivity","authors":"Mohsen Kazemi,&nbsp;Ali Ariapour","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12718","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12718","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Iran possesses vast reserves of medicinal-rangeland plants, long recognised for their therapeutic and nutritional benefits in both human and animal applications. This article focuses on the potential of several key medicinal-rangeland plants, including <i>Glycyrrhiza glabra</i> L., <i>Echinophora platyloba</i> DC., <i>Hypericum perforatum</i> L., <i>Astragalus membranaceus</i> Fisch. ex Bunge, <i>Thymus vulgaris</i> L., <i>Achillea millefolium</i> L., <i>Lallemantia royleana</i> (Benth.) Benth., <i>Gundelia tournefortii</i> L., <i>Silybum marianum</i> (L.) Gaertn., <i>Chenopodium album</i> L., <i>Polygonum aviculare</i> L., <i>Melilotus officinalis</i> (L.) Lam., and <i>Urtica dioica</i> L., in enhancing animal health and productivity. These plants are rich in bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, polysaccharides, and essential oils, which contribute to their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory properties. Their inclusion in animal diets has been shown to improve nutrient digestibility, enhance immune response, reduce oxidative stress, and promote overall health. However, the presence of antinutritional factors such as saponins, tannins, and oxalates necessitates careful management to maximise benefits while minimising risks. This review highlights the potential of these plants as sustainable feed additives, emphasising the need for further research to optimise their use in animal nutrition.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144108783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quantifying the Contributing Potential of European Grasslands to Food Protein and Organic Manure in a Circular Food System","authors":"Catherine Pfeifer,&nbsp;Ramon Winterberg,&nbsp;Florian Leiber","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12713","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12713","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This paper evaluates the role of grasslands in a circular food system in Europe by assessing the animal-sourced food and manure production potential of a grass-fed dual-purpose cattle system. A computational model integrated grassland yield estimates, livestock productivity data, and nitrogen balance calculations. Two scenarios, varying in calf fattening duration, were analysed to explore their impacts on livestock numbers, protein production, and nutrient cycling, with the aim of assessing different levels of meat production from grassland. Transitioning to a solely grass-fed dual-purpose cattle system reduces bovine numbers across most European countries. However, despite fewer animals, dual-purpose production can increase bovine protein production in some countries, such as France and Ireland, compared to current levels. This is because dual-purpose cattle produce both milk and meat, with milk providing a higher protein conversion efficiency from grassland than meat. As a result, countries currently producing more meat than milk can partially offset the loss in protein resulting from the reduction in animal numbers. Dual-purpose cattle alone generally cannot meet current animal-sourced protein demands, especially in regions where bovine production depends heavily on concentrate feeds. They may only in some countries provide sufficient animal-sourced food to meet the nationally defined requirements of a healthy diet or generate enough manure to maintain soil fertility without additional nutrient input. Future research should aim to improve the accuracy of grassland yield estimates across Europe and develop context-specific livestock strategies to address these challenges.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12713","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143856936","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effect of Fibrolytic Enzymes and Regrowth Ages on Fermentation Profile and Nutrient Composition of Mombasa Grass and Elephant Grass Silages","authors":"Gabriel Ferreira de Lima Cruz,&nbsp;Odilon Gomes Pereira,&nbsp;Wagner Sousa Alves,&nbsp;Rafael Lelis de Freitas,&nbsp;Edson Mauro Santos,&nbsp;João Luiz Pratti Daniel,&nbsp;Evan Cole Diepersloot,&nbsp;Luiz Felipe Ferraretto,&nbsp;Karina Guimarães Ribeiro","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12714","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12714","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Two experiments were carried out to evaluate whether the addition of cellulase and/or xylanase enzymes interacts with regrowth age (RA) in mombasa grass (<i>Megathyrsus maximus</i>) and elephant grass cv. BRS Capiaçu (<i>Cenchrus purpureus</i>) to alter nutritive composition and fermentation profile. Mombasa and elephant grass plots were mowed and harvested at two different RAs (7- and 11-week for mombasa grass; 12- and 16-week for elephant grass). After forages were chopped, they received one of the following additive treatments: no additive (control), xylanase enzyme (300 mg/kg DM; XYL), cellulase enzyme (1 g/kg fresh matter; CEL) and cellulase + xylanase enzymes (same dosages as before; MIX), in a factorial arrangement of 4 (additives) × 2 (regrowth ages), with three replicates. Greater lactic acid and lower acetic acid, butyric acid and N<span></span>NH₃ concentrations were observed for CEL in mombasa grass silage. Nevertheless, CEL decreased aerobic stability in elephant grass silages and increased effluent production in both species. For mombasa grass silages, lower fermentation loss and more extensive fermentation were observed for early harvest, while the opposite was observed for elephant grass silages. Cellulase improves the fermentation profile of Mombasa grass silage. The combined application of these enzymes does not appear to warrant recommendation. Further research is warranted to evaluate the synergetic effects of cellulase with chemical, absorbent and microbial additives.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12714","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143853019","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Herbage Nutritive Value in Extensively Grazed Grassland as Affected by Botanical Composition, Sward Heterogeneity and Grazing Intensity","authors":"Franziska Clausecker,&nbsp;Johannes Isselstein,&nbsp;Kilian Obermeyer,&nbsp;Martin Komainda","doi":"10.1111/gfs.12715","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/gfs.12715","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Extensive grazing management is an effective strategy to conserve biodiversity. Grazing intensity directly affects sward heterogeneity, resulting in the formation of short and tall vegetation patches, which influence the botanical composition and nutritive value of herbage. Understanding the seasonal dynamics of herbage nutritive value under different grazing intensities is essential to optimise animal performance. Herbage nutritive value data were collected over three years (2019–2021) in the long-term ‘FORBIOBEN’ experiment in Central Germany to analyse the effects of patches, grazing intensity and season. The trial was a one-factorial experiment on grazing intensity in a randomised block design with three replicates, each represented by a one-hectare paddock. Grazing intensities—moderate, lenient and very lenient—were managed based on target compressed sward heights of 6, 12 and 18 cm, respectively. Results show that herbage nutritive value was significantly affected by the patches, sometimes in interaction with season. Short patches contained in general 32.6% higher crude protein and 14.6% lower fibre concentrations than tall patches and also remained seasonally more stable, while in tall patches the phenological development of the plants was ongoing. The higher the grazing intensity the greater was the area covered by short patches per paddock. Thus, when accounting for patch proportions, a higher grazing intensity resulted in significantly improved herbage nutritive value compared to more lenient grazing. To accurately assess herbage nutritive value in areas of extensive grazing management, it is therefore recommended to account for patch-specific variability and to know the patch proportions which result from the grazing intensity.</p>","PeriodicalId":12767,"journal":{"name":"Grass and Forage Science","volume":"80 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/gfs.12715","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143835917","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}