The use of sorghum silage in feeding weanling horses: Body development

Could a Legume-Switchgrass Sod-Seeding System Increase Forage Productivity?

Nowadays, the lack of cattle feed, particularly green fodder, has become a key limiting factor in the agricultural economy. Switchgrass appears to offer a viable solution to the feed shortage. An improved cultivation practice might be needed to boost switchgrass forage production all season long. This study was conducted to quantify the positive effects of introducing different legume crops (vetch and pea), optimally fertilized, on the production and quality of mixed harvested switchgrass-legumes hay in late spring (May) and switchgrass hay harvested once more in early fall (September). The studied intercropping systems, independently of the legume species used, increased forage productivity (almost threefold), reaching 7.5 t ha^-1 and quality characteristics, with protein content almost rising threefold, reaching 12.5%. The aforementioned practice can assist the perennial crop (switchgrass) in providing a high hay production during the early fall harvest, even without fertilization. The overall annual economic benefit for the farmers may be increased by 90-720 € per ha, depending on the prevailing weather conditions. Overall, it may be concluded that the suggested cropping system produces a significantly higher yield of cattle feed compared to traditional monocultures, improving the agricultural economy while reducing the negative effects of modern agriculture on the environment.

Apparent Digestibility of Nutrients, Blood Parameters and Body Development of Dewormed and Not Dewormed Weanlings

Weanlings undergo rapid body development in the first year of life and, in this period, are more susceptible to helminth infection that can impair their growth. The objective of this study was to compare the apparent digestibility of nutrients, blood parameters, and body development of deworming and not deworming weanlings. Fourteen Mangalarga Marchador weanling colts, on a farm in Northern Minas Gerais, Brazil, were divided into two groups: dewormed (D) and not dewormed (ND) groups. The weanlings were kept separately for 3 months in two pastures of Cynodon nlemfuensis cv. African Star Grass. They also were supplemented with Cynodon dactylon cv. Tifton 85 predried hay ad libitum and 1.5 kg.100 kg^-1 of body weight (BW) of corn-based concentrate. Eggs per gram of feces (EPG) of the weanlings were measured monthly. Group D was dewormed (200 mcg.kg^-1 BW ivermectin + 2.5 mg.kg^-1 BW praziquantel) whenever EPG was ≥500. Group ND weanlings were not treated. The weanlings were subjected to an apparent digestibility assay (total fecal collection procedure). Every month, the weanlings were weighed, evaluated for body condition score, and had withers height, croup height, body length, and thoracic circumference measured. Group ND was infected mainly by small strongyles. There was no difference between groups (P > .05) for morphometric measurements, dry matter intake, and digestibility coefficients, except for apparent digestibility of calcium, which was higher (P < .05) in group D. Small strongyles infection in six- to nine-month-old weanlings fed high grain, nutrient-balanced rations apparently did not affect growth, blood parameters, and apparent digestibility of nutrients.