Japanese Journal of Grassland Science

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In order to improve growth and seasonal productivity of bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum Flugge) during the low temperature season in southern Kyushu, growth attributes, forage yield and quality of a new genotype, "Tifton 9", which was bred in and introduced from the United States, was compared to current genotypes, "Pensacola" and "Nanou", for 4 years after the year of establishment. Observation and cutting of herbage were conducted every month in the second and third years and every 2months in the fourth and fifth years. "Tifton 9" showed superior growth and yielding ability during the low temperature season, resulting in stabilization of seasonal productivity and improvement of annual dry matter (DM) yield cut every month in the second and third years. In vitro DM digestibility (IVDMD) as forage quality did not differ among three genotypes and correlated negatively (P<0.05) with DM yield for both 1- and 2-month intervals. Other quality attributes did not differ among genotypes. The average values for IVDMD and concentrations of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber and acid detergent lignin in "Tifton 9" across whole cuttings in the fifth year were 49.4, 6.5, 70.5, 42.1 and 6.7%, respectively. Respective forage quality of "Tifton 9" is equivalent to a standard value among common tropical grasses.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the utility of corn whole crop pellet (CWCP) as a feed for cows. To compare the digestibility and nutritive value of CWCP with those of corn silage (CS), we fed two experimental diets consisting of 35% CWCP or CS and 65% alfalfa hay cube (AC) as basal diet on a dry matter (DM) basis to three goats. The digestibility of nutrients compositions except for crude protein in CWCP was higher (P\<0.05) than that in CS. The amount of estimated total digestible nutrients in CWCP was 78.4% on a DM basis. In feeding trial using four lactating dairy cows, no significant difference was observed in digestibility, except for ether extract, nitrogen balance and milk production between the diets containing 15% CWCP or beet pulp and part of barley on a DM basis. These results indicate that the nutritive value of whole crop corn is improved by processing to pellets, and thus CWCP can replace part of concentrate feed as 15% of the diets of lactating dairy cows.

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We developed a work system to harvest ear corn with a snapping header powered by a self-propelled forage harvester equipped with a corn crusher and prepared ear corn for silage with a roll baler for chopped material and a bale wrapper. The harvesting capacity was 2.1 ha/h with a harvesting loss of 1.1%. The ensiling capacity was 1.2 ha/h with a product loss of 2.3%. The system required workers to shovel chopped material back into the device because some material dropped from the surface of bales before wrapping. Bale weight was 488kg on average with a moisture content of 42% ; the average dry matter density was 355kg/m^3. Ear corn silage contained 48.1% starch and 28.9% non-digestible fiber. We confirmed that the snapping header harvested only ear corn based on the amount of starch in the silage. Determination of the fermentation quality of the silage after approximately one year in storage showed a pH of 4.0, the presence of lactic and acetic acid, and an amount of volatile basic nitrogen that was 2.3% to 5.6% of the total nitrogen. These results demonstrated that our ear-corn silage mechanical system can be of practical use.

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Supernumerary chromosomes were often observed in fescue. FISH using 45S rDNA probe was applied to confirm whether the chromosomes were B chromosomes or satellite chromosomes. The signals were detected on middle part of short arm in chromosome spreads without supernumerary chromosomes, on the other hand, they were detected on distal end of short arm in the spreads with supernumerary chromosomes. Moreover, DNA fibers showing the signals were observed between a chromosome and the supernumerary chromosome. These results indicate that the supernumerary chromosomes are not B chromosomes, but satellite chromosomes. The satellite chromosomes could be a cause of chromosome counting error in fescue, therefore, it is required scrupulous attention to characteristics of chromosome, especially satellite chromosomes, to count the number of chromosomes in fescue.

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