HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Free Full Text (PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Baron, V. S. Articles by Okine, E. K. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Baron, V. S. Articles by Okine, E. K. Agricola Articles by Baron, V. S. Articles by Okine, E. K. Related Collections Forage Management Grazing Management Crop Systems

Production Papers

Carrying Capacity, Utilization, and Weathering of Swathed Whole Plant Barley

^a Western Forage/Beef Group, Agric. and Agri-food Canada, Research Centre, 6000 C & E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada T4L 1W1
^b Western Forage/Beef Group, Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, Research Centre, 6000 C & E Trail, Lacombe, AB, Canada T4L 1W1
^c Dep. of Agriculture, Food, and Nutritional Sciences, Univ. of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5

^* Corresponding author (baronv{at}agr.gc.ca)

Received for publication June 7, 2005. Winter grazing of swathed whole-plant small grain crops can reduce costs for beef producers, but little is known about levels of carrying capacity, utilization and weathering losses of nutritive value and their year-to-year variability. The objective of the present study was to determine carrying capacity, utilization and weathering losses to nutritive value in relation to beef cow (Bos taurus) requirements during winter grazing of swathed whole-plant spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) in a field-scale trial. Pregnant beef cows (685 kg wt.) limit-grazed swathed whole-plant barley (November–February, 1997–2001) at daily available forage levels approximating 2% of body weight at Lacombe, AB. Carrying capacity was affected by barley yield, utilization rate, and average daily dry matter consumption. Carrying capacities ranged from 481 to 879 cow-d ha^–1, utilization from 75.5 to 92% and daily dry matter consumption rates ranged from 8.6 to 12.9 kg cow-d^–1. Weathering losses of nutritive value, as indicated by the difference between that of the standing crop and the mean of grazing season swath, were slight compared to a much larger difference between grazing season swath and residue. Generally, the nutritive requirements for maintenance of beef cows (NRC, 1996) could be readily met by swathed barley.

Abbreviations: ADF, acid detergent fiber • AUM, animal-unit month, DE, digestible energy • IVDOM, in vitro digestible organic matter • ME, metabolizable energy • NDF, neutral detergent fiber • NRC, National Research Council • TDN, total digestible nutrients