Publication Date

1989

Description

During mid-summer through early autumn, limpograss ( Hemarthria altissima) herbage may have crude protein con­centration below 7 %, and performance of growing cattle on limpograss pasture is often low (Sollenberger et al., 1988). Overseeding with Aeschynomene americana may improve for­ age intake and nutritive value. Deferred grazing of an aeschynomene-limpograss association has potential to provide high-quality forage into mid-autumn. Because grass and legume do not have similar growth rates, changes in canopy structure may occur during late season which influence forage utilization by grazing cattle. The objective was to compare plant canopy characteristics to diet composition and ingestive behavior of grazing cattle after regrowth periods of 4 to 13 wk following late summer seeding of aeschynomene.

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Effect of Regrowth Interval Upon Canopy Structure and Utilization of Aeschynomene-Limpograss Pastures

During mid-summer through early autumn, limpograss ( Hemarthria altissima) herbage may have crude protein con­centration below 7 %, and performance of growing cattle on limpograss pasture is often low (Sollenberger et al., 1988). Overseeding with Aeschynomene americana may improve for­ age intake and nutritive value. Deferred grazing of an aeschynomene-limpograss association has potential to provide high-quality forage into mid-autumn. Because grass and legume do not have similar growth rates, changes in canopy structure may occur during late season which influence forage utilization by grazing cattle. The objective was to compare plant canopy characteristics to diet composition and ingestive behavior of grazing cattle after regrowth periods of 4 to 13 wk following late summer seeding of aeschynomene.