Abstract
Ethanol-soluble carbohydrates (ESCs) of cool-season grasses include mono- and disaccharides and sometimes short-chain fructans, which may exacerbate the risk of pasture-associated laminitis. A calibration for prediction of ESC concentrations by near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was developed from 323 samples of four cool-season grass species (orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, and perennial ryegrass) across 10 cultivars collected in central Kentucky in the morning and afternoon over two growing seasons. The calibration, which had accuracy above 95%, was used to predict ESC concentrations of 1,532 samples from the second growing season. ESC concentrations increased in the afternoon compared to the morning across all cultivars. In the majority of samples, ESC concentrations were not affected by nitrogen application to plots. Use of NIRS has the potential to evaluate management and cultivar effects on ESC concentrations in cool-season grass pastures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 103421 |
| Journal | Journal of Equine Veterinary Science |
| Volume | 101 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2021
Funding
We thank Gene Olson, University of Kentucky Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, for access to forage variety trial plots in 2014 and field assistance. We also thank Dr. Jong Duk Kim, Cheonan Yonam Agricultural College in South Korea, for making cultivar recommendations; and numerous student field workers. This project was funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kelly Kramer was funded through a USDA specific cooperative agreement. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| U.S. Department of Agriculture |
Keywords
- Cool-season grasses
- Diurnal
- Ethanol-soluble carbohydrates
- Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy
- Phenol-sulfuric acid assay
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Equine