Forage For Advancing Livestock Production III

Forages in the form of pasture and hay support livestock industries in the Transition Zone but problems of forage quality, seasonal distribution of DM availability and animal utilization of forages limit system productivity. This project will work to improve the quality, availability, and use efficiency of forages for livestock in Kentucky and other parts of the transition zone. Forage systems involving several grasses and legumes are needed to minimize the negative impact of the large acreages of endophyte-infected tall fescue that remain in this region. Research is also needed to reduce storage losses and improve forage quality of forages stored for feeding during winter. Project efforts will also be directed at development and evaluation of endophyte-free and novel-endophyte tall fescue varieties. A complete feeding program requires a comprehensive understanding of not only forage/feed composition, but also an understanding of the animal's ability to use forage/feed for productive purposes. Variation in gut mass can affect net supply and use of energy substrates and amino acids by these tissues so this effort will include identification of factors controlling gut cell proliferation. Specific objectives of the project are: (1) to characterize management factors that impact the forage quality of grazed and harvested forages, (2) to increase variability for forage quality and agronomic traits in tall fescue and to characterize relationships among physical characteristics such as leaf tensile strength and forage quality, palatability and animal performance, (3) to develop quantitative data regarding amino acid and N exchanges in ruminant animals, and (4) to develop and maintain the capability for responding rapidly when animal health problems are identified in livestock in the state.