Description
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of N fertilization on the quality of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton (Panicum) and the subsequent intake thereof. Hand cut samples increased in N (1.8 - 2.7%) and NO3-N content (0.75 - 1.54%) and decreased in WSC (14.6 - 13.9 g/kg) content, but with no changes in IVDOM as N fertilization levels raised from 0 to 150 kg N/ha respectively. No changes occurred in the NDF and ADL values. The animal selected N, and IVDOM values were higher and NDF value lower than the hand cut samples, which was expected due to selective grazing. The lower WSC content together with a higher N as well as NO3-N level in the highly fertilized treatments, could have been responsible for a lower flow of microbial protein to the duodenum, which could have been partly responsible for the lower DOMI at such levels. Fertilization levels of 125 kg and higher can cause negative animal production results of P. maximum, (cv. Gatton) during autumn, due to a drop in intake and too high levels of NO3-N, which may cause ill health.
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Intake and Quality of Panicum Maximum (CV. Gatton) Receiving Different Levels of Nitrogen During Autumn
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of N fertilization on the quality of Panicum maximum cv. Gatton (Panicum) and the subsequent intake thereof. Hand cut samples increased in N (1.8 - 2.7%) and NO3-N content (0.75 - 1.54%) and decreased in WSC (14.6 - 13.9 g/kg) content, but with no changes in IVDOM as N fertilization levels raised from 0 to 150 kg N/ha respectively. No changes occurred in the NDF and ADL values. The animal selected N, and IVDOM values were higher and NDF value lower than the hand cut samples, which was expected due to selective grazing. The lower WSC content together with a higher N as well as NO3-N level in the highly fertilized treatments, could have been responsible for a lower flow of microbial protein to the duodenum, which could have been partly responsible for the lower DOMI at such levels. Fertilization levels of 125 kg and higher can cause negative animal production results of P. maximum, (cv. Gatton) during autumn, due to a drop in intake and too high levels of NO3-N, which may cause ill health.
