Cereal forage

By approximately 8 weeks after birth, the mminant has developed a fully functional mmen capable of extensive fermentation of feed nutrients (4). The rate of development of the mminal environment depends on the amount of milk consumed by the neonate in relation to its growth requirements, the avadabihty and consumption of readily digestible feedstuffs, and the physical form of the feedstuffs (4). The mmen develops much faster with hay than with milk (36). Concentrates, ie, high cereal grain diets, increase the absorptive surface of the mmen but mminal size and musculature develops much more slowly with a concentrate diet than with a forage diet (4). 

Conventional livestock production systems can be very diverse and this diversity is influenced by economic, geographic, environmental and cultural factors. Conventional inputs for direct use in ruminant production include many types of plant feeds (i.e. forages, cereals, soybeans, etc.), industrial by-products (i.e. molasses, distiller s dried grain, meat bone meal, etc.), feed... 

For example, when cell walls of maize stem were treated with sodium hydroxide (0.1M) at 20°C for various times to release different amounts of phenolics, a highly significant correlation (r = 0.98) was found between the amount of phenolics released and wall biodegradability (measured by cellulase ) (5). It is of interest to note that alkali treatment of poor quality graminaceous forages (e.g., cereal straw) is used commercially to increase their biodegradability, and thus their feed value for the animal (1). 

Therefore in crop rotations with a low level of forage legumes and a high level of cereals, farmers have to improve crop competition through adequate choice of cultivars (Kopke 2000), optimised growing conditions and fertiliser banding. 

Cover crops, which include legumes and cereals, are grown specifically to protect the soil from erosion, enhance soil fertility, and suppress pests, including weeds (Lai et al., 1991). Cover crops are often grown not for harvest, but for soil enrichment. In some cases, a rye cover crop is harvested as forage, which provides additional feed for livestock producers (Curran et al., 1994b). Many different cover crops are used, but the most extensively used is winter or annual rye (Johnson et al., 1993). 

Uses herbicide for post-emergence control of many annual and perennial broadleaf weeds in lucerne, clovers, undersown cereals, grassland, forage legumes, soybeans, and groundnuts. 

Miller DF. Composition of Cereal Grains and Forages. Vol. 585. Washington, DC National Academy of Science, National Research Council 1958. 

Randall, E.L., Crude Fat, Hexanes Extraction, in Feed Cereal Grain and Forage (Randall/Soxtec/SubmersionMethod) Collaberative Study J.A.O.A.C., 1974, 57(5), 1165. 

Winton, A. and Winton, K. (1932). The structure and composition of foods. In "Vol. 1 Cereals, Starch. Oil Seeds, Nuts, Oils, Forage Plants" (John Wiley and Sons, Ed.), pp. 322-325. John Wiley and Sons, London. 

Hewitt, E. J., and Jones, E. W. (1948). Molybdenum as a plant nutrient. The effects of molybdenum deficiency on some vegetables, cereals and forage crops. Long Ashton Res. Sta. Ann. Rep., pp. 81-90. 

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