Forages

Question 1

Forages are feedstuffs containing greater than _____ crude fiber

Answer 1

18%

Question 2

Forages make up the first 3 feed classes in the IFNS of feed classification including ________, _________, and _________

Answer 2

• forages fed fresh (pastures, green chop)
• hays and hulls (dry forages)
• silages (forages stored by anaerobic fermentation)

Question 3

Forages have the (greatest/least) variation in nutrient content of all feedstuffs

Answer 3

greatest

Question 4

Nutritional value varies according to: (4 things)

Answer 4

• forage species used
• stage of maturity of forage at harvest
• harvest and storage process
• parts actually consumed by animal (leaf vs stem; most digestible vs least digestible)

Question 5

Forage cell wall (NDF) is the largest determinant of ________

Answer 5

forage intake

Question 6

Calculation method of Relative Feeding Value

Answer 6

• estimate digestible dry matter (%DDM)
• estimate dry matter intake (DMI)

RFV = (DDM x DMI)/1.29

Question 7

Cool season grasses (C3 plants) photosynthesize best at _________ (temp.)

Answer 7

65 - 75 degrees F

Question 8

Cool season grass examples

Answer 8

orchardgrass
timothy
ryegrass
tall fescue

Question 9

warm season grasses (C4) maximize their photosynthesis at _______ and are ______ more efficient at capturing solar energy than C3 plants

Answer 9

90 - 95 degrees F

40%

Question 10

warm season grass examples

Answer 10

switchgrass
big bluestem
bermuda grass

Question 11

factors affecting grass growth rate

Answer 11

day length
temperature
rainfall
grass type (cool vs warm)

Question 12

general characteristics of grasses

Answer 12

• 10-18% CP on average
• higher in cell wall NDF but lower in lignification of cell wall compared to legumes
• better suited for pastures
• more suitable for repro cycle of beef cattle and sheep

Question 13

What is bloat?

Answer 13

failure of the eructation process

Question 14

risk factors of bloat?

Answer 14

lush forages contain proteins that lead to gas bubble formation

Question 15

treatment and prevention of bloat?

Answer 15

• stimulate chewing
• stomach tube or rumen trocar
• feeding dry hay prior to pasture turnout

Question 16

legumes do not require ________

Answer 16

nitrogen fertilization -

capable of fixing their own nitrogen from the atmosphere through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria

Question 17

legumes have ______ protein ( ______%) and ______ calcium ( _____%)

Answer 17

high protein (15-25%)
high calcium (1.5-2%)

Question 18

examples of legumes

Answer 18

alfalfa
red clover
white clover
birdsfoot trefoil

Question 19

legumes don’t graze well because

Answer 19

it causes lodging and bloat problems but can work well in grass-legume mixtures

Question 20

legumes are lower in cell wall content than grasses BUT cell wall is more highly ______ making the fiber less digestible

Answer 20

lignified

Question 21

advantages of using mixtures of grasses and legumes

Answer 21

• less N fertilizer is required for grasses
• efficient use of space
• less risk of bloat

Question 22

disadvantages of using mixtures of grasses and legumes

Answer 22

• variability in nutrient composition

- over time one species predominates

Question 23

types of pastures

Answer 23

permanent
rotational
strip
rangeland
stockpiled

Question 24

Range Land

Answer 24

land that contains native grasses and shrubs that is suitable for grazing

Question 25

why is range land not suitable for intensive agriculture

Answer 25

• inadequate rainfall
• inadequate soils
• poor drainage
• poor fertility
• too steep for row crop farming

Question 26

advantages of permanent pasture

Answer 26

• animals have continuous access
• low labor input
• equivalent to rotational grazing during early system

Question 27

disadvantages of permanent pasture

Answer 27

• quality is not maintained during the growing season
• animals become very selective
• relatively low stocking rates

Question 28

Managed Intensive Rotational Grazing (MIRG)

Answer 28

• system where pastures are managed for optimal digestibility and yield to maximize animal productivity per unit land
• involves rotation of animals through paddocks every 21-28 days where animals spend no more than 1-2 days per paddock

Question 29

advantages of rotational grazing

Answer 29

• maintaining forages in a vegetative state

- maximize animal performance

Question 30

disadvantages of rotational grazing

Answer 30

requires repeated nitrogen filtration unless legume mixtures are used

Question 31

strip grazing

Answer 31

• variation on rotational grazing except that a strip of a large field is opened on 12-48 hr intervals
• more efficient use of pasture, less permanent fencing

Question 32

Green chop

Answer 32

forages that are harvested mechanically, transported to the feed manager and fed fresh

Question 33

advantage of green chop

Answer 33

reduced weather and field losses as compared to pasture systems

Question 34

disadvantages of green chop

Answer 34

• energy and labor intensive
• stage of maturity problems
• rain problems, hauling water accumulated on forage during wet weather

Question 35

Hay has to be dried to ______ moisture for safe storage without mold

Question 36

examples of perennials

Answer 36

orchardgrass
kentucky bluegrass
timothy
smooth bromegrass
tall fescue

Question 37

examples of annuals

Answer 37

wheat
rye
oats