The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of equation being used to estimate the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of whole crop rice silage (WCRS) in sheep. To compare the observed and estimated TDN contents [estimated TDN content=87.57-(0.737×ADF)], two varieties of WCRS from Nokyang (NS) and Samgwang (SS) as forage and food source, respectively, were used as a treatment. Nine female Corriedale sheep (average body weight: 49.2±6.3 kg) were used as the experimental animals. The ewes were fed according to their nutrient requirements at the maintenance level. To check the difference between the observed and estimated TDN contents, one sample non-parametric t-test was applied. The CP, NFE and CF contents of the NS were 43.6, 74.2 and 64.2%, respectively, and that of the SS were 46.2, 58.1 and 44.9%, respectively. The observed and estimated TDN contents of the NS were 63.5 and 61.5%, where there was no significant difference. The observed and estimated TDN contents of the SS were 48.9 and 59.0%, where there was significant difference (p<0.05) This research confirmed the validity of TDN estimation equation being used for estimation of TDN of WCRS as forage source, but further research is recommended on the equation for estimating TDN contents of WCRS as food source.

This study was designed to investigate the carryover effects of high-forage to concentrate (F: C) diet in bred heifers on feed intake, feed efficiency (FE) and milk production of primiparous lactating Holstein cows. The experiment was conducted for 589 days (d) from onset of pregnancy through to the end of first lactation. Twenty-four bred heifers (Body weight: BW= 345.8 ± 45.4 kg and 15 ± 1.2 mon of age) randomly assigned to two groups of 3 pens containing 4 heifers each and fed high forage (HF) diet with F: C ratio of 91.7: 8.3% and low forage (LF) diet with F: C ratio of 77.8: 22.2% throughout the pregnancy period. After calving, lactating cows were fed total mixed ration (TMR) based diet. No differences (p > 0.05) were observed in dry matter intake (DMI) of bred heifers and primiparous lactating cows in both HF and LF groups. The FE of mid-to-late lactation period was higher (p< 0.05) in HF than LF group. However, the HF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk yield, 4 % fat corrected milk (FCM) and energy corrected milk (ECM) than LF group during the 305 d lactation. The LF group showed higher (p < 0.05) milk fat, crude protein (CP), milk urea nitrogen (MUN), solid not fat (SNF) and somatic cell count (SCC) than HF group. It is concluded that restriction of F: C ratio to 91.7: 8.3% to bred heifers has the potential carryover effects to maintain higher milk yield and FE with no adverse effect on feed intake and milk composition of primiparous lactating Holstein cows.

This study was aimed to find yield prediction model of Italian ryegrass using climate big data and geographic information. After that, mapping the predicted yield results using Geographic Information System (GIS) as follows; First, forage data were collected; second, the climate information, which was matched with forage data according to year and location, was gathered from the Korean Metrology Administration (KMA) as big data; third, the climate layers used for GIS were constructed; fourth, the yield prediction equation was estimated for the climate layers. Finally, the prediction model was evaluated in aspect of fitness and accuracy. As a result, the fitness of the model (R2) was between 27% to 95% in relation to cultivated locations. In Suwon (n=321), the model was; DMY = 158.63AGD –8.82AAT +169.09SGD - 8.03SAT +184.59SRD -13,352.24 (DMY: Dry Matter Yield, AGD: Autumnal Growing Days, SGD: Spring Growing Days, SAT: Spring Accumulated Temperature, SRD: Spring Rainfall Days). Furthermore, DMY was predicted as 9,790±120 (kg/ha) for the mean DMY(9,790 kg/ha). During mapping, the yield of inland areas were relatively greater than that of coastal areas except of Jeju Island, furthermore, northeastern areas, which was mountainous, had lain no cultivations due to weak cold tolerance. In this study, even though the yield prediction modeling and mapping were only performed in several particular locations limited to the data situation as a startup research in the Republic of Korea.

This research was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding high and low forage diets with different forage sources on rumen fermentation characteristics and blood parameters of Holstein cows during the dry period. Eight Holstein cows were completely randomized assigned to two groups and repeated measurement was utilized in the analysis. Cows in two treatments were fed with diets with high (F:C = 70:30, 70F; forage source: mixed-sowing whole crop barley and Italian ryegrass silage, BIRG) and low (F:C = 55:45, 55F; forage source: tall fescue hay, TF) forage level. Rumen fluid pH was higher in 70F group. Levels of acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid showed a similar pattern: from the lowest value at 07:30 h to the highest at 10:30 h and then decreased in both groups. The ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in 55F group at 09:30 and 10:30 h. Rumen fluid NH3-N concentrations were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in 70F group at 09:30 and 10:30 h. Blood urea nitrogen was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in 70F group. It was concluded that BIRG based diet with a high forage level had no adverse effects on rumen fermentation, some blood chemical parameters, and immune system in dry Holstein cows and could be used as a forage source instead of imported TF.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Chromium-Methionine (Cr-Met) chelate feeding for different durations on growth and carcass characteristics in the late fattening stage of Holstein steers. Nine Holstein steers were randomly assigned to three dietary treatments (3 head per treatment) including Non Cr-Met chelate feeding (NCM, av. BW of 433.3 kg), Cr-Met chelate feeding for 2 months (2CM, av. BW of 459.6 kg), and Cr-Met chelate feeding for 4 months (4CM, av. BW of 490.0 kg), respectively. The feeding amount of Cr-Met chelate to an animal was limited to 400 ppb/day. Dry matter intake showed no differences among all the treatments (p>0.05). Average daily gain was also higher in the animals fed Cr-Met chelate diets than NCM (p<0.05). Carcass weights were also observed to be higher in Cr-Met chelate feeding treatments, especially in 4CM compared with other treatments (p<0.05). Although no significant differences were observed on back fat thickness and rib eye area(p<0.05), but 4CM showed much higher effects than NCM and 2CM. Marbling score meat color, fat color, texture, and maturity were not affected by treatments (p>0.05). The variations in meat quality were smaller in 4CM compared to other treatments. 4CM showed higher total and net income than other treatments (p<0.05). Therefore, the current study concluded that Cr-Met chelate supplementation for 4 months could increase daily gain, carcass characteristics, and profitability of Holstein steers in the late fattening stage.

조사료 재배 적지 기준 설정을 위한 연구의 일환으로, 국가적 사업으로 구축되어 있는 토양과 기후 데이터베이스를 이용하여, Italianryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam., IRG)를 대상으로 강원도에서의 재배 가능 지역을 분류하였다. 토양 데이터베이스는 국립농업과학원의 흙토람에서, 기상 데이터베이스는 국립농림기상센터에서 받았다. 토양 요인 항목으로는 토양물리성인 토성, 배수, 경사, 유효 토심 및 암반노출 등, 토양 화학성인 토양 산도, 토양 염류도 및 유기물 함량 등을 선정하고, 이들의 기준값 및 가중치를 설정하였다. 기후 요인 항목으로는 1월 일최저평균온도, 3~5월의 평균온도,9~12월의 5'C 이상 일수, 10월~익년 5월의 강수일수와 강수량을 선정하고 기준값 및 가중치를 설정하였다. 토양 요인의 관점에서 강원도에서 IRG의 재배가능지 및 재배최적지는 영동지방의 경우 고성, 속초, 양양, 강릉, 동해 및삼척이며 주로 경사가 완만한 해안 지역에 분포하고 있었다. 영서지방은 철원, 양구, 춘천,원주, 횡성, 평창 및 정선에 주로 분포하고 있었다. 단 영동지방의 경우 서쪽 급경사인 태백산맥은 재배불가지이며, 경사가 완만한 해안지역을 중심으로 재배가능지 이상이었다. 기후요인의 관점에서 강원도에서 IRG의 재배가능지 또는 재배최적지로 영동지방의 경우 고성,속초, 양양, 강릉, 동해 및 삼척의 해안 지역이해당되었다. 영서지방의 경우 대부분의 지역이 재배 불리 지역으로 분류되었다. 일부 춘천과원주에서 60점 이상인 지역에서는 재배 관리에신중을 기해야 한다.

This study was conducted to evaluate the nutritive value and the quality of ensiled kenaf after fermentation with three cultivars at three different times of harvesting. Experimental plot were allocated with three harvest date (Early;8/3, medium;8/15 and late;8/28) and three cultivars (Tainung-a, Everglade, Whitten). The DM (dry matter) yield increased with maturity in all three cultivars, especially in Whitten which showed the highest yield at each harvest time. The DM content in Whitten at late harvesting time was higher than other treatments (231 g kg 1DM). The CP (crude protein) contents of the kenaf silage of all three cultivars ranged from 151 to 164 g kg 1. Highest content of NDF (neutral detergent fiber) was observed in Everglade at medium harvesting date, but the ADF (acid detergent fiber) content was highest in Everglade at early harvesting date (p<0.05). All treatments produced a pH less than 4.0, which is sufficient for stable storage. The pH of Tainung-a was higher than other cultivars at all harvesting times (p<0.05). Whitten showed the higher content of lactic acid (25.8 g kg 1 DM) showed at early harvesting date than other cultivars (p<0.05), while the acetic acid content (21.1 g kg 1 DM) was higher in Tainung-a at medium harvesting date (p<0.05). No significant difference was observed in ammonia-Nand butyric acid concentrations among all treatments. These results indicate that a kenaf silage could be used as fodder for ruminants. Especially, the Whitten harvested at late growing stage showed promise as a forage silage crop under Koran environments.