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Growth, Physiological Responses, and Evidence of Toxicity in Yearling Dairy Cattle Grazing Different Grasses¹

Departments of Animal Sciences and Agronomy, University of Kentucky and Crops Research Division, ARS, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Lexington 40506

ABSTRACT

Three different sets of six or eight experimental grazing plots of approximately 1.2 ha each were used in 12 seasonal grazing trials with yearling dairy cattle by the put-and-take method during 12 years to evaluate the nutritive qualities of pure seedings of grasses. All grasses were fertilized and managed for good animal performance. Incidence and symptoms of fescue toxicity were noted. In the first three trials, the average daily gains, in order, for orchardgrass, smooth brome-grass, Kentucky 31 and Gl-43 tall fescue were 0.57, 0.60, 0.37, and 0.11 kg. Dry matter intake on Gl-43 fescue was reduced. Dry matter digestibilities were similar. In the 4th and 5th trials average daily gain on 45-50 tall fescue was reduced. In Trials 7 and 8 respiration rates and rectal temperatures were increased on 45-50 and Kenwell tall fescue. In Trials 9, 10, and 11 the values for Kentucky synthetic orchardgrass, Kentucky 31 tall fescue, and a perennial ryegrass-tall fescue hybrid derivative were average daily gain 0.65, 0.76, and 0.36 kg; respiration rate 36, 36, and 56 per minute; and rectal temperature 39.5, 39.4, and 39.8 C. There were generally statistically significant differences between the fescues and the other grasses, though Kentucky 31 and Kenwell varieties had gains equal to the other non-fescue grasses in some years.

¹ Published with the approval of the Director of the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station as Journal Article no. 69-5-79.

² Present address: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg.

³ Agronomy Department, University of Kentucky, and Crops Research Division, ARS, U.S. Department of Agriculture.

⁴ Present address: American Cyanamid Inc., Princeton, New Jersey.

⁵ Present address: University of Tennessee, Knoxville.