ABSTRACT Drylands worldwide are predominantly used for animal husbandry and provide critical ecosystem services such as forage provision and carbon sequestration. Sustainable livestock grazing management in these ecosystems relies on accurate forage dynamics assessments. Forage dynamics largely result from the characteristics of the plant populations composing the community, the traits of domestic herbivores and the management strategies that influence consumption and selectivity. However, traditional forage evaluations often focus on total productivity, plant cover or biomass measurements, overlooking plant‐size population structures that control forage dynamics as perceived by grazers. We developed species‐specific allometric equations for dominant perennial grasses of the Patagonian steppes to estimate aboveground biomass categories related to the provision of forage and other ecosystem services—including total, green, senescent, standing‐dead and crown biomass—based on plant size. Then, we applied the equations to assess the effects of sheep grazing intensity on population plant‐biomass structures and forage biomass in commercial‐sized paddocks. The non‐destructive allometric method was highly accurate ( R 2 ranged 0.77–0.90; p < 0.001 for green and total biomass models), allowing efficient biomass estimations across different plant morphologies under varying grazing pressures. Notably, grazing intensification did not affect total grass green biomass, but significantly reduced forage biomass by 70% ( p < 0.001) due to the substantial population decline in sheep‐preferred species, highlighting the differential impacts of selective grazing on specific biomass components. By enabling a finer understanding of plant–animal interactions and species‐specific biomass dynamics, our method supports informed management strategies to sustain critical ecosystem services in Patagonian steppes and other drylands grazed by selective herbivores.
ABSTRACT Seed multiplication of perennial grasses outside their area of adaptation is common practice globally. This also applies to timothy ( Phleum pratense L.), the most important forage grass in Arctic Norway (67°–71° N). Early research suggests little risk for loss of winter hardiness if seed multiplication of Arctic timothy is limited to one or two generations in the south, but recent experiences by North Norwegian farmers suggest otherwise. A study was conducted in which original seed of two northerly adapted timothy varieties ‘Engmo’ (an old landrace originating at 69° N) and ‘Noreng’ (a synthetic variety consisting of 10 clones of ‘Engmo’ and four clones of the South‐Norwegian variety ‘Grindstad’) was multiplied for one, two or three generations at 70° N, 64° N and 58° N. Plants raised from the different generations at each site were subjected to freezing tests to determine LT 50 and ice encasement (IE) tests to determine LD 50 , both tests followed by the weighing of regrowth of surviving plants. On average for generations and compared with the original seed, we found no changes in freezing tolerance or IE tolerance after seed production at 70° N, but significant losses in freezing tolerance of both varieties after seed production at 64° N and in particular at 58° N. The fact that major shifts occurred already in the first generation and were later, at least to some extent, reversible and influenced by the winter before each seed harvest raises the possibility that epigenetic memory of environmental conditions was transferred to the seed progeny in addition to the classical genetic effects.
ABSTRACT French serradella ( Ornithopus sativus Brot.) is an annual pasture legume typically grown on acidic soils, but its potential for production in low‐rainfall, neutral to alkaline sandy soils of southern Australia is poorly documented. A series of experiments across low‐rainfall mixed‐farming regions assessed the adaptive advantages of French serradella relative to other annual pasture legumes grown in crop‐pasture rotations. Measurements included above‐ground dry matter (DM) production, groundcover, seed yield, nitrogen fixation, herbage quality, and suitability for dry sowing. French serradella showed strong adaptation to deep sandy soils across a pH range of 5.5 to 7.8, achieving groundcover, forage quality and nitrogen fixation rates comparable with most improved annual pasture legumes. Its resistance to powdery mildew limited the extent of this disease in pasture mixtures containing annual medics. Across landscape positions, French serradella dominated the dunes, showing a preference for light‐textured, deep sands with a neutral pH, in contrast to annual medics ( Medicago spp.) that dominated the alkaline, finer‐textured mid‐slopes and swales. Serradella's deeper rooting system and responsiveness to late‐season rainfall allowed longer persistence in the season than shallow‐rooted annual Medicago species. Serradella and a strand medic cv Seraph (sown as mixed pastures) regenerated from soil seed banks following grain cropping, highlighting the persistence and significance of these species in ley farming systems. Dry sowing of serradella pods was most effective in soils where compatible rhizobia were already established from prior lupin cultivation and when sowing coincided closely with rainfall events, indicating higher rhizobia survival. Our findings indicate that French serradella can be a complementary or an alternative pasture species to subterranean clover and medics, particularly in sandy and low‐rainfall mixed farming systems, depending on soil constraints. However, further work is required to refine inoculation strategies, pasture mixtures and grazing management and to evaluate the reliability of responses under variable environments.
ABSTRACT Semi‐natural grasslands are among the most plant‐rich ecosystems worldwide, providing multiple ecosystem services but requiring site‐specific management for their conservation. This study assessed short‐term dynamics of plant biodiversity, herbage production, pastoral value and soil CO 2 emissions under contrasting management regimes in Bromopsis erecta ‐dominated grasslands (2016–2018). A randomised complete block design tested three regimes: customary management (CST, two cuts per year), intensive utilisation (INT, four to six cuts per year) and abandonment (ABN, no cuts). Changes in species composition relative to CST were mainly associated with ABN, which increased the cover of Brachypodium rupestre , Dactylis glomerata and Cerastium arvense , while leading to a general decline in species associated with mowing. Diversity indices showed significant interactions with year and management: target species number differed only in the third year between INT and ABN, while richness and H′‐index were lower in INT than in CST and ABN in the first year, reversing by the last year. Herbage production in ABN reached 6.8 t dry matter ha −1 in the third year (+180% vs. CST; +117% vs. INT), whereas pastoral value ranged broadly (13.4–57.1) with no significant differences among regimes. Cumulative soil CO 2 emissions were highest in the first year (31.12 t CO 2 ha −1 year −1 ) and declined to 17.5–19.3 t CO 2 ha −1 year −1 in subsequent years, without significant management effects. Overall, short‐term intensive utilisation does not negatively affect herbage production or soil CO 2 emissions, although slight increases in annual mesophilic species may signal a shift towards nutrient‐rich communities. Even short‐term abandonment shows no major trade‐offs, suggesting flexible management can support both biodiversity and farmer livelihoods while maintaining key ecosystem services.
ABSTRACT Ribwort plantain is gaining attention as a potential forage species to enhance sustainability in temperate pasture‐based dairy systems. This study investigated the effects of moderate plantain inclusion in perennial ryegrass swards on dairy cow milk yield and composition, milk fatty acid profile and nitrogen use efficiency under intensive grazing management in Northern Ireland. Over two grazing seasons, 60 and 44 high‐performing Holstein‐Friesian cows were allocated to perennial ryegrass (PRG) swards or mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards (PRG‐PL), respectively in year 1 and 2. Sward composition remained consistent across both years, with PRG‐PL swards averaging 30% plantain. Results indicated that inclusion of plantain had no significant impact on milk yield, body condition score, milk nitrogen use efficiency or animal grazing behaviour ( p > 0.05). However, mixed perennial ryegrass–plantain swards exhibited improved herbage utilisation (78.9% and 83.1% respectively, for PRG and PRG‐PL swards). PRG‐PL swards had a higher mineral ash ( p < 0.001) and ADF ( p < 0.01) content, but a lower NDF ( p < 0.001), WSC ( p < 0.05), GE ( p < 0.001), DOMD ( p < 0.001) and DM ( p < 0.001) compared to PRG swards. Notably, inclusion of plantain significantly altered the milk fatty acid profile, increasing concentrations of beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids, including omega‐3 (n‐3) ( p < 0.05) and omega‐6 (n‐6) ( p < 0.001) fatty acids, while decreasing conjugated linoleic acids ( p < 0.01). These changes may offer potential nutritional advantages in dairy products. Although persistency of plantain remains a challenge in Northern Hemisphere climates, moderate inclusion in mixed swards proved agronomically viable and did not compromise cow productivity. This study provides evidence that incorporating plantain into PRG swards can enhance certain milk quality traits without negatively impacting milk yield or milk nitrogen use efficiency.
ABSTRACT The integration of bioactive‐rich forage species into multi‐species grassland systems represents a promising strategy to enhance ruminant productivity and mitigate environmental impacts. Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) provide a range of biofunctional properties, including the reduction of enteric methane (CH 4 ) emissions, urinary nitrogen excretion and parasite burdens. However, effective implementation in real‐world grazing systems is constrained by high variability and often marginal concentrations of active compounds, as well as limited knowledge and control over the functional doses required for consistent biological effects. This article highlights these major challenges and discusses strategies such as promoting agroecological diversity, introducing exotic or aromatic species and developing monitoring tools and breeding approaches for stable bioactive traits. A holistic, transdisciplinary approach, bridging plant ecology, animal nutrition and farming practices, is essential to unlock the full potential of bioactive‐rich forages for climate‐smart and sustainable livestock systems.
ABSTRACT Water scarcity and soil salinisation are becoming increasingly severe in desert regions. With extreme changes in global climate, desert plants are at an increased risk of drought and salt stress, as well as combined salt‐drought stress. Desert plants have developed a series of adaptive mechanisms to withstand the multiple effects of drought and salt stress. In this review, we summarise the physiological, morphological, and genetic adaptations of desert trees, shrubs, and herbs under drought stress, salt stress, and combinations thereof. Physiological adaptations include osmotic regulators such as proline, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, whereas antioxidant enzymes include superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase. These adaptive mechanisms are primarily reflected in the phenotypic plasticity of roots, stems and leaves. Genetic adaptations to salt and drought stress include the expression of regulatory and functional genes that increase drought and salt tolerance. Based on a comprehensive compilation and analysis of relevant literature, we expect future research to focus on the details of drought and salt tolerance mechanisms in desert plants. This type of research can offer a scientific basis for the restoration of desert plants and the maintenance of stable ecosystems.
Fusarium species are increasingly recognised as important components of grass‐based forage systems due to their ecological versatility, dual lifestyles, and ability to produce mycotoxins harmful to livestock. Although historically underexplored in pastures, growing evidence reveals their presence in both cultivated forage grasses and natural grasslands, raising concerns about forage quality, pasture establishment and persistence, feed safety, and the role of these systems as reservoirs of pathogenic and/or toxigenic fungi. This review synthesises global knowledge on the occurrence, ecological functions, and toxigenic potential of Fusarium species in these systems. It begins with a conceptual overview of key traits, including taxonomy, pathogenicity, endophytism, inoculum sources, and mycotoxin production, which are essential to understanding their behaviour in diverse environments. We then compile and compare global reports of Fusarium detection in cultivated forage grasses and natural grasslands, highlighting species diversity, distribution patterns, and host associations. Based on this evidence, we discuss available management strategies and, where specific tools are lacking, propose context‐adapted approaches informed by knowledge from more extensively studied cropping systems. Finally, we identify critical knowledge gaps and propose future research directions to support early detection, risk assessment, and sustainable management. By integrating biological, ecological, and applied perspectives, this review aims to enhance the sustainability of forage production and safeguard both animal and human health.
Intercropping grasses and legumes could be an important strategy for sustainable food production in tropical weathered soils. This study aimed to assess the impact of intercropping systems comprising maize and grass with or without a legume for silage production and overseeded black oat overseeded for lamb grazing on crop production, root development and soil fertility under no-till (NT). The cropping systems consisted of maize intercropped with palisade grass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) with or without pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) in the summer/autumn and black oat (Avena strigosa) overseeded in row or broadcast with superficial incorporation in the winter/spring. Maize forage mass for ensiling, maize grain yield, crop straw on the soil surface, root development and soil fertility were assessed. Despite an atypical period of drought in the first year, the addition of the legume to the intercropping system increased forage accumulation for silage, maize grain yield and crop straw by 13%, 8% and 53%, respectively, and ensured adequate soil cover for the cycling of soil nutrients for the subsequent crops. Harrowing to incorporate broadcast black oat negatively impacted silage production, maize yield and root development and stimulated C mineralization. It suggests that adjusting the density of intercropped species is a potential management strategy for tropical regions subject to drought, but further studies are needed.
White clover (Trifolium repens L.) adoption on commercial farms is promoted by improving agronomic performances and persistence in new varieties. Morphological characters are measured annually through statutory 'spaced plant' assessments (DUS-distinct, uniform and stable), but only to establish variety identity for market release. The opportunity to utilise this plant trait approach to indicate agronomic potential was investigated. Five white clover varieties were examined as isolated plants inserted into perennial ryegrass (PRG; Lolium perenne L.) plots, managed at 150 kg N/ha under a simulated rotational grazing protocol from 2024 to 2025. Isolated plant morphological characters (leaf, petiole, peduncle and stolon) were measured seasonally and compared to their respective spaced plant records. Isolated plant morphology was several orders of magnitude smaller than spaced plants and displayed significant (p < 0.001) seasonal variations, with general declines from autumn to spring and recovery thereafter. Large varietal plasticity was evident in all characters (p < 0.001). However, isolated versus spaced plant variety ranking was conserved for leaf size, petiole length/thickness plus stolon thickness, with less repeatability for peduncle length/thickness, internode length, flowering propensity. Two parallel varietal evaluation experiments (simulated and animal grazing), were conducted on these five clovers, conventionally sown with PRG at 150 kg N/ha. This agronomic data was correlated with isolated plant morphologies and revealed that leaf size, petiole characters and stolon thickness maintained close positive associations with clover proportion and production, particularly in summer and autumn. Plant area changes aligned with clover content but not yield. In spring, many morphological associations with yield were negative when most varieties did not maintain leaves at the canopy surface. Light penetration proportion to soil was greatest in spring and least in autumn, when larger leaf sizes of all plants intercepted more light, that is, created most shade. Some varieties developed thicker stolons and more growing points in spring suggesting greater robustness but did not yield more. This study identifies several traits that breeders could modify to enhance agronomic performance but needs further work to quantify relationship strength and repeatability before adoption by variety evaluators.
Agricultural intensification has resulted in the loss of plant species richness in European grasslands. Multi-species seed mixtures (MSSM) are one strategy to fulfil key requirements of sustainable pasture management, enhancing biodiversity and reducing the need for inputs like fertiliser nitrogen. Why farmers decide for or against using MSSM remains unclear. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted an online survey exploring European farmers' intention to use MSSM on pastures (n = 688). Using a structural equation model based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, we found that the perceived behavioural control, which shows the individual's perceived own ability to use MSSM, significantly affected farmers' intention. Within the perceived behavioural control, the compatibility of MSSM with the farm infrastructure was the most important item. Furthermore, the perceived behavioural control correlated strongly positively with the farmers' attitude towards the behaviour and the subjective norm, which reflects the farmers' concern about the views of persons important to them. Additional Kruskal-Wallis tests and pairwise post hoc Wilcoxon tests pointed to significant differences in the intention between specific groups when categorised by stocking rate, agroclimatic zone, country, educational level and organic vs. conventional management. The awareness of MSSM had a large effect on the intention, and current users (49% of respondents) showed the highest intention to use it further. To foster the uptake by farmers, various MSSM suitable for different farm infrastructures and climatic conditions are needed. Payments for successful establishment of MSSM could support their use. To enhance the awareness of MSSM, the European Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems are promising.
Drought is increasing in severity and duration across the United States, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. Previous research has shown that drought has strong impacts in drier versus more mesic regions for aboveground productivity. Less research exists on belowground responses and whether they will be similar to those observed aboveground. Our study aimed to (1) measure resistance and (2) resilience of belowground responses to drought and (3) determine if these responses were uniform or differed among four grassland sites spanning a 375 to 892 mm precipitation gradient in the Central US in a 30 day greenhouse experiment. We measured several key belowground responses: inorganic nitrogen, potential extracellular enzyme activity and microbial community composition (16S/ITS). We found that the wettest grassland site (mesic tallgrass prairie) was the most sensitive to the short-term drought, showing decreases in alpha diversity for fungi, differences in beta diversity for fungi and decreases in all soil enzymes measured. This may indicate that microbial communities at wetter sites are less adapted to drought and thus exhibit stronger changes in function or composition. Post-drought, there was evidence for increased enzyme activity for most enzymes at all sites, but these differences were quickly resolved after 2 weeks, indicating high resilience to short-term drought irrespective of grassland type. This research elucidates the differential responses of belowground ecosystems to short-term drought across a precipitation gradient, highlighting the importance of understanding soil microbial dynamics for predicting ecosystem resilience in the face of increasing drought severity.
The increasing climate variability in tropical regions demands management goals that allow for shorter rest periods without compromising pasture persistence. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of four pre-grazing light interception (LI) levels on the structural, productive, and nutritional responses of 'Zuri' guinea grass over two growing seasons. The experiment followed a randomized block design with four treatments (80%, 85%, 90%, and 95% LI) and four replications (16 paddocks of 0.045 ha). The pastures were managed using the mob stoking grazing method. LI was measured using a ceptometer and used directly as a management target. The response variables were analysed using mixed models (PROC MIXED, SAS). Significant interactions between LI & times; year (p < 0.05) were observed for canopy height, FM, FA, FAR, and TD. Linear increases in canopy height, FM, and FA with higher LI were more pronounced in the second year. With an LI of 80%, FM, FA, and TD decreased in the second year, indicating lower structural and productive stability. In contrast, pastures managed with LI between 85% and 95% maintained a stable canopy structure between years, with increased production. Morphological composition and nutritional value were affected only by the LI (Low Intake): increasing the LI reduced the percentage of leaves, crude protein, and digestibility, while increasing the stem, dead matter, and fibre content. LI targets of 85% and 90% provide a balance between grazing frequency, forage quality, and structural stability, representing flexible and sustainable management strategies under varying climatic conditions.
Testing animal performance under grazing is fundamental to determine the potential of recently released, high-yielding Urochloa decumbens hybrids. The objective was to evaluate the weight gain of young bulls grazing on pastures of U. decumbens cultivars Basilisk, BRS Carin & aacute;s, and BRS Porait & ecirc;, as well as to assess the nutritive value and plant-part composition of the forage. The experiment was conducted over 2 years in a clay soil, using a randomized block design with three replicates. Pastures were managed under continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate (SR), aiming to maintain a canopy height of 25 cm. In contrast to the leaf blade and stem, the amount of dead material increased from the rainy to the early dry season, with Basilisk showing a greater mean value (1314 kg DM/ha), followed by Porait & ecirc; (1150 kg DM/ha) and Carin & aacute;s (1127 kg DM/ha) (p < 0.10). Carin & aacute;s and Porait & ecirc; had slightly greater crude protein (CP) (114 g/kg) compared to Basilisk (105 g/kg), particularly during the first year. Animals grazing Carin & aacute;s had greater average daily gain (ADG) (0.62 kg LW) compared to Porait & ecirc; (0.54 kg LW), and similar performance to Basilisk (0.59 kg LW). In terms of live weight gain per area (GA), Carin & aacute;s outperformed the other cultivars, reaching 406 kg LW/ha/year, compared to 359 and 358 kg LW/ha/year for Basilisk and Porait & ecirc;, respectively, due to the greater ADG and the increased SR observed during the rainy season. Carin & aacute;s and Porait & ecirc; have potential for promoting cattle growth, owing to their comparable forage quality and plant-part composition to Basilisk. However, the superior live weight gain per area observed for Carin & aacute;s demonstrates its greater carrying capacity, without compromising individual animal performance.
Grasslands provide essential minerals to support livestock farming systems. Grassland plants provide minerals cost-effectively and help prevent nutrient-related diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrient inputs and sward type on the mineral concentration of herbage. A long-term experiment with a permanent grassland (PG) sward was partially reseeded (i.e., half the plots) as a multi-species sward (MSS) to enable a comparison to PG. The PG and MSS plots were cut three times each year to represent a typical silage system. Nutrient treatments had a increasing effect on the mineral concentrations, apart from the concentration of Fe. Slurry rate increased the concentration of P, K, Cu and Zn, but a decreasing effect on the concentration of Ca. Slurry type effects varied in nature. Pig slurry increased the concentration of P, Na and Zn compared to the cow slurry, but the concentration of K and S was higher for cow than pig slurry. There was a lack of consistent sward type effect; however, the concentration of Ca, Na and Zn was higher for MSS compared to the PG sward. For all minerals there were large and significant year effects, although for macrominerals the highest concentration was in the autumn harvest cut. Thus, variability in mineral offtake was climate-dependent and is an ongoing challenge for grassland management. The MSS sward herbage had a decreased Tetany Index value compared to PG swards, which is positive for livestock health. These results identify opportunities to effect mineral composition via simple management practices which can improve the sustainability of grasslands.
Tall fescue (TF, Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) pasture productivity declines substantially during summer months due to elevated temperatures and reduced precipitation, presenting significant challenges to forage-based livestock systems. This study evaluated whether strategically timed nitrogen (TF+N, (TF, Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh cv. BarOptima Plus E34) application or intercropping with the warm-season legume sunn hemp (SH, Crotalaria juncea (Linnaeus.); TF+SH) could enhance summer herbage accumulation, nutritive value, and cattle performance in TF pastures. Ground-based ultrasonic canopy sensors and satellite-derived vegetation indices (PlanetScope imagery) were integrated with machine learning models to predict biomass dynamics throughout the grazing season. Tall fescue fertilised with nitrogen significantly improved crude protein (CP) concentrations (12%-13% TF-N vs. 16%-17% TF+N; p < 0.001) and increased total seasonal forage yields, raising carrying capacity by approximately 29% (p = 0.0038) and body weight gain by 36% (p = 0.0128) compared to unfertilised controls. Sunn hemp improved late-summer forage quality with the greatest in vitro true digestibility during August and September (p < 0.0001) but did not increase cattle gains due to its short grazing window. Overall, strategic nitrogen application remains the most effective practice for sustaining TF productivity in stocker systems. However, sunn hemp intercropping provides a partial substitute to synthetic nitrogen inputs that may fit specific animal marketing strategies.
Brazil is known for its extensive livestock production in pastures, supporting the world's second-largest herd of cattle and being the leading beef exporter. However, livestock farming in Brazil has frequently been associated with soil degradation and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. We evaluated the effects of using plant growth-promoting (PGPR) elite strains of Azospirillum brasilense and Pseudomonas fluorescens to improve pastures of Urochloa ruziziensis (Ruzi grass) and Megathyrsus maximus (Zuri guineagrass). A 2-year field study was performed with both grasses to assess the effects of inoculation on soil enzyme activity, root traits, forage mass and nutritive value. In the first year, inoculation was via seed treatment; in the second, foliar spraying was used on the same treatments. Inoculation of U. ruziziensis with A. brasilense and P. fluorescens improved root traits related to water and nutrient uptake, including root dry weight, length density, volume, and root-hair incidence. A. brasilense increased U. ruziziensis forage accumulation by 10.3%, while M. maximus increased 9.2% with P. fluorescens. Remarkable increases were observed for U. ruziziensis inoculated with A. brasilense in the nutrient content and for M. maximus inoculated with P. fluorescens, with average increase by 21.4% for N, 22.8% for P, and 10% for K. These results demonstrate the potential of PGPR to enhance tropical pasture production but highlight the need to study specific host genotype-PGPR interactions. Given the limited global efforts in sustainable tropical pasture strategies, PGPR may provide a feasible alternative to increase production efficiency.
Assessing the effectiveness of grazing management and anti-methanogenic dietary supplements on tropical pastures is crucial for sustainable livestock production and methane (CH4) mitigation. This study aimed to: (1) compare forage mass, plant part composition, and nutritive value of 'Mulato II' hybrid brachiariagrass (Urochloa spp.) managed under continuous (C) or rotational stocking with lenient (RL) or moderate (RM) defoliation at 20 and 30 cm; and (2) evaluate the effects of these strategies combined with supplementation (Control, Nitrate + elemental sulfur [NS], soybean oil [SO], corn bran [CB], and SO + CB) on fermentation kinetics and CH4 production. The C20 and RL20 treatments showed superior nutritive value-631 g kg(-1) of neutral detergent fibre (NDF), 144 g kg(-1) of crude protein (CP), and 591 g kg(-1) of NDF degradability (NDFd)-and the highest Partition Factor (PF), but produced more CH4 (6.3 mL g(-1) dNDF). Conversely, RM30 forage had greater NDF (662 g kg(-1) DM), less CP (100 g kg(-1) DM), and lower NDFd (550 g kg(-1)), resulting in the least methane production (5.5 mL g(-1) dNDF). All supplementations reduced CH4 compared to the control. Additive effects in SO + CB increased NDFd (614 g kg(-1)) and reduced CH4 by 29.5% without affecting ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N). NS had greater NH3-N (54 mg dL(-1)) and reduced CH4 by 93.2% but decreased NDFd (505 g kg(-1)). Optimising forage quality (C20 and RL20) combined with NS or SO + CB provides the best integrated mitigation strategy.
The current study evaluated the relocation effect on whole-plant corn silage (WPCS), inoculated or not, on fermentation profile, aerobic stability (AS), nutrient digestibility, and lamb's performance. Corn was ensiled in 40 experimental silos (210 L) using a completely randomised design. Silos were stored for 90 day and the treatments were: silage without inoculants (WI) and without relocation (SISR), WI silage and relocation (SIR), silage inoculated with Lentilactobacillus buchneri and relocation (LBR), and silage inoculated with L. buchneri + Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and relocation (LBLPR). Silages were exposed to air for 24 h, repacked and stored another 90 day. Twenty-four Santa In & ecirc;s lambs (17.4 +/- 2.0 kg) were used for digestibility and 36 (20.9 +/- 2.0 kg) for performance assays. The SISR group had higher filamentous fungi, yeast, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts. SIR had lower filamentous fungi and LAB counts and lactic acid (LA) concentrations than LBR and LBLPR. LBLPR had a higher LAB count and LA concentration than LBR. The AS and time, in h, for the maximum temperature (TM) of the silages and diets were lower in the SISR. SIR had a lower AS than LBR and LBLPR, whereas LBR had a lower AS than LBLPR. Except for non-fibrous carbohydrates, nutrient intake was higher for SIR than SISR diets. The treatments didn't affect digestibility, nitrogen balance, or performance. The performance of lambs fed relocated WPCS was not affected when the silage was exposed for 24 h during relocation, independent of microbial inoculation.
