Fatty acids (FAs) are of utmost importance in the peripartal period for the development of the central nervous and immune systems of the newborn. The transport of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ...through the placenta is considered to be minimal in ruminants. Nevertheless, the cow's FAs are the main source of FAs for the calf during gestation. This research aimed to investigate the influence of low-dose eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation during late gestation on the FA metabolism of cows and their calves. A total of 20 Charolais cows during the last month of their gestation were included in the feeding trial and were divided into a control group (CON) and an experimental group (EPA + DHA). The latter received a supplement in the amount of 100 g/day (9.1 and 7.8 g/cow/day of EPA and DHA, respectively). Supplementation of low-dose EPA and DHA alters colostrum and milk fatty acid composition through the elevation of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) without affecting milk fat and protein concentrations and oxidative status. Plasma composition in cows was significantly altered, while the same effect was not detected in calf plasma. No significant change in mRNA expression was detected for the genes fatty acid synthase (FASN) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase alpha (ACACA).
Role of mineral fertilizers is to complement the soils’ indigenous supply of minerals for crop plants nutrition. Among the mineral nutrients, nitrogen is generally considered as the most ...yield-contributing. Obtaining nitrogen from legumes is potentially more sustainable than from industrial sources. Crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum L.) has long been appreciated as cover crop grown for green manuring due to its capability for binding the atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available form. Green manuring effects of crimson clover for succeeding maize crop were tested in 2019 year on two locations of Northeastern Croatia differing in soil texture: 1) on the site A where the soil was compact and dominated by clay and 2) on the site B where the soil was loose and dominated by loam. The research was conducted in a year with favourable rainfall during maize vegetation. Results have shown that green manuring with crimson clover for maize as the main crop delivered somewhat lower maize grain and aboveground mass yields than the conventional full-dose mineral fertilization on deep fertile soils around Osijek (Northeastern Croatia). When compared to conventional agronomy, green manuring was associated with additional agrotechnical operations required for crimson clover cover crop establishment and its herbage incorporation into soil prior to seeding main maize crop. Research should be continued in more different environments (year × location combinations) in order to produce reliable evaluation of crimson clover’s green manuring services.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR spectroscopy) has been used in analytics for more than 50 years. The aim of this review is to present statistical indicators of the developed calibration models for ...predicting forage chemical composition by NIR spectroscopy, which have been published over the last 15 years. This paper presents statistics for predicting of forage dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, and pH value of forage at different pre-scan processing level (fresh, dried / ground forage) and different forage types such as grass monocultures, legumes, grass-clover mixtures (GCM), semi-natural pasture, straw, maize, hay, silage and haylage. Due to wider applicability of NIR calibration model for prediction of chemical composition of forage, the development of calibration includes forage originating from various agricultural production technologies, cultivation climates, varieties and vegetation seasons, etc. In order to develop more reliable calibration models for prediction of forage chemical composition, calibrations are developed for individual plant species, cultivars, harvest during the vegetation season, as well as for individual microclimates of cultivation. NIR spectroscopy has high potential for predicting the content of DM, CP, NDF, ADF, ash and pH value in forage.
The objective of this research was to determine the effects of cultivar and nitrogen fertilization on grain yield for human consumption and on the quantitative and qualitative value of straw as solid ...biofuel for combustion. The research was carried out in field trials established in the north-west of Croatia at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Agriculture, during two growing seasons. The research included three cultivars (Nirvana, BC Vigor and Ostro) and three nitrogen topdressing rates: N1 - no nitrogen topdressing, N2 - application of 25 kg nitrogen ha−1 by one topdressing and N3 - application of 50 kg nitrogen ha−1 by two topdressings.
The highest hulled grain yield was obtained with the cultivar Nirvana and the N3 treatment. High straw and straw energy yields were obtained with the N2 and N3 treatments. Higher straw and straw energy yields were obtained in the growing season with higher precipitation. The ultimate and proximate analysis showed that researched cultivars differed only in ash and moisture content. Nitrogen fertilization had a predominantly positive effect on the combustion properties of the straw, as the carbon and hydrogen content increased, and the oxygen and ash content decreased. The combustion properties also depended on the weather conditions and their interaction with cultivars and nitrogen fertilization. These results indicate that nitrogen fertilization, even at a minimal dose, is an obligatory agrotechnical measure for high yields and good combustion properties when spelt is grown for dual purposes.
•Spelt grain yield was influenced by the cultivar and by nitrogen fertilization.•Spelt straw yield and straw energy yield were influenced by nitrogen fertilization.•Spelt cultivars differed in the ash and moisture content of the straw.•Nitrogen fertilization had a positive effect on the straw combustion properties.
In this study, near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the contents of essential macro- and microelements in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) accessions of most widespread Croatian ...landraces. Total of 175 samples were used for the model development by modified partial least square (MPLS), principal component regression (PCR) and partial least square (PLS) techniques. Based on the coefficients of determination (R2), standard error of calibration (SEC) and error of prediction (SEP) the models developed were (i) nearly applicable for nitrogen (N) (0.89, 0.12 and 0.45 respectively), (ii) poor for iron (Fe), cinc (Zn), potassium oxide (K2O) and potassium (K), (iii) usable for phosphorus pentoxide (P2O5), phosphorus (P), phytic acid (PA) and manganese (Mn). The MPLS regression statistics suggested the most accurate models developed comparing with PLS and PCR. It was concluded that a wider set of common bean samples needs to be used for macro- and microelements prediction by NIRS.
U ovome je istraživanju korištena spektroskopija u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) za procjenu količine esencijalnih makro- i mikroelemenata u uzorcima najčešće uzgajanih kultivara graha (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) u Republici Hrvatskoj. Ukupno 175 uzoraka graha korišteno je za razvoj kalibracije uporabom modificirane metode najmanjih kvadrata (MPLS), metode regresije osnovne komponente (PCR) i metode najmanjih kvadrata (PLS). S obzirom na koeficijent korelacije (R2), standardnu grešku kalibracije (SEC) i standardnu grešku procjene (SEP), razvijeni kalibracijski modeli su (i) gotovo primjenjivi za procjenu dušika (N) (0,89; 0,12 i 0,45), (ii) slabo primjenjivi za procjenu željeza (Fe), cinka (Zn), kalijevog oksida (K2O) i kalija (K) te (iii) upotrebljivi za fosfor pentoksid (P2O5), fosfor (P), fitinsku kiselinu (PA) i mangan (Mn). Najpouzdaniji kalibracijski modeli razvijeni su korištenjem regresijskoga modela MPLS u usporedbi s kalibracijskim modelima dobivenim korištenjem PLS-a i modelima PCR-a. Zaključeno je da je za procjenu makro- i mikroelemenata spektroskopijom u bliskome infracrvenom području (NIRS) potrebno prikupiti veći broj uzoraka graha širih varijacija istraživanih makro- i mikroelemenata.
Sve veće oslanjanje na proizvodnju energije iz biomase rezultira povećanjem proizvodnje pepela, kao ostataka nakon izgaranja biomase. Primjena pepela u poljoprivredi postaje sve aktualnija kao ...alternativa odlaganju na odlagališta. Vrijednost pepela kao materijala za kalcizaciju, gnojiva ili poboljšivača tla, kao i mogućnost i količina primjene pepela u proizvodnji na oranicama ili travnjacima, ovise o sadržaju makro- i mikrohraniva, potencijalnoj neutralizacijskoj vrijednosti pepela te sadržaju teških metala (TM) i ostalih potencijalno onečišćujućih tvari. Pepeo iz biomase sadrži značajne količine hraniva (Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe), može se primijeniti kao materijal za kalcizaciju koji utječe na fizikalna i kemijska svojstva tla, mikrobiološku aktivnost tla i razgradnju organske tvari (OT) tla, te u konačnici povećava produktivnost poljoprivrednih kultura. Primjena pepela na travnjacima i proizvodnji voluminozne krme u količini 6-22 t ha-1 rezultira povećanjem produktivnosti krmnih vrsta, povećanjem udjela mahunarki i sijanih trava u tratini i povećanjem hranjive vrijednosti krme.
An increase in the reliance on biomass energy production results in an increased ash production, as a residue subsequent to the biomass combustion. As an alternative to the disposal of ash in landfills, the use of ash in agriculture is becoming increasingly important. The value of ash as a calcifying material, fertilizer, or soil improvement material, as well as a possibility of application and the amount of ash applied in forage production on an arable land or grassland, depend on the content of macro- and micronutrients, the potential neutralization value, and on the content of heavy metals and other potential pollutants. Biomass ash, which contains the significant amounts of nutrients (Ca, K, Mg, P, Fe), can be applied as a calcifying material affecting the soil’s physical and chemical properties, soil microbiological activity, and soil decomposition and ultimately increases crop productivity. The application of ash on grasslands and in the forage production in the amount 6-22 t ha-1 results in an increased productivity of forage species, the proportion of legumes in the sward, and the nutritional value of forage.
Kukuruzna silaža (KS) je jedna od glavnih energetskih komponenti obroka u hranidbi preživača. Usjev kukuruza je pogodan za siliranje i ima visoki prinos suhe tvari (ST) po jedinici površine i visoku ...hranidbenu vrijednost. Primijenjena tehnologija siliranja usjeva kukuruza može utjecati na hranidbenu vrijednost KS. Cilj ovog preglednog rada je prikazati rezultate ranijih istraživanja utjecaja visine košnje i zrelosti usjeva kukuruza za siliranje na kemijski sastav KS i kvalitetu fermentacije u silosu. S povećanjem visine košnje i zrelosti usjeva kukuruza za siliranje, sadržaj ST u KS raste do oko
400 g ST/kg svježeg usjeva, nakon čega se ne mijenja, sadržaj sirovih proteina (SP) raste ili ostaje isti, sadržaj pepela se smanjuje ili ostaje isti, sadržaj škroba raste, a sadržaj neutralnih detergent vlakana (NDV), kiselih detergent vlakana (KDV) i kiselog detergent lignina (KDL) se smanjuje ili ostaje isti. Visina košnje i zrelost usjeva kukuruza za siliranje ne utječu na pH vrijednost, sadržaj mliječne, octene i maslačne kiseline, ali povećavaju sadržaj etanola i smanjuju sadržaj amonijskog dušika (NH3-N) u KS.
Tehnologija siliranja krme u valjkaste bale ovijene plastičnom folijom je stara 50-ak godina. U Hrvatskoj se počela intenzivnije primjenjivati 90-ih godina prošlog stoljeća. Razvijena je mehanizacija ...koja ovu tehnologiju čini prihvatljivom, posebno za male i srednje proizvođače mlijeka i mesa. Cilj ovog stručnog rada je prikazati dosadašnje spoznaje u primjeni tehnologije siliranja krme u bale ovijene plastičnom folijom od košnje usjeva za siliranje do korištenja fermentirane krme u hranidbi. Ova tehnologija siliranja nadopunjuje ranije razvijene tehnologije siliranja jer je moguće silirati manje količine krme bez izgradnje silosa koje se mogu, u slučaju viška, ponuditi na tržištu. Brzo postizanje i održavanje anaerobnih uvjeta u silosu, kao osnovni preduvjet siliranja, je kritičan čimbenik i kod siliranja krme u valjkaste bale ovijene plastičnom folijom. Krma se prije baliranja mora provenuti na veći sadržaj ST (više od 40 %) i sjeckati na veću duljinu, pa je, radi veće količine kisika, u balama teže stvoriti anaerobne uvjete. Samo bale visokog sadržaja ST mogu zadržati svoj oblik, skladištiti se jedna na drugu bez oštećenja plastične folije. Kao rezultat, manje kiselina nastaje fermentacijom i viša je završna pH vrijednost sjenaže, moguća su izražajnija kvarenja krme tijekom skladištenja (veća opasnost od rasta i razvoja klostridija), a sjenaža je aerobno nestabilna. S tim u vezi, na kvalitetu fermentacije u bali i kvalitetu sjenaže se može utjecati čvrstim sabijanjem biljne mase u bubnju preše, ovijanjem balirane biljne mase kvalitetnijim polietilenskim folijama, većim brojem slojeva plastične folije (6-8 umjesto uobičajena 4-6) te zaštiti bala od oštećenja plastične folije tijekom skladištenja na prikladnim mjestima.
The technology of forage ensiling into bales wrapped in plastic film is about 50 years old. It began to be applied more intensively in Croatia in the 1990s. Mechanization has been developed that makes this technology acceptable, especially for small and medium-sized dairy and meat producers. The aim of this paper is to present the current knowledge in the application of feed ensiling technology in bales wrapped in plastic film from mowing crops for ensiling to the use of fermented feed in feeding. This ensiling technology complements previously developed ensiling technologies because it is possible to ensile smaller amounts of forage without building silos that can, in case of surplus, be offered on the market. Rapid achievement and maintenance of anaerobic conditions in the silo, as a basic prerequisite for ensiling, is a critical factor in ensiling forage into bales wrapped in plastic as well. Before baling, the forage is to be wilted to a higher dry matter (DM) content (more than 40%) and chopped to a greater length, so, due to the higher amount of oxygen, it is more difficult to create anaerobic conditions in the bales. Only bales of high DM content can keep their shape, stored on top of each other without damaging the plastic foil. As a result, less acid is formed by fermentation and the final pH of the haylage is higher, more pronounced spoilage of feed during storage is possible (higher risk of growth and development of clostridia), and haylage is aerobically unstable. In this regard, the quality of forage fermentation in the bale thus the quality of haylage can be affected by firm bale compaction, wrapping the bales with higher quality polyethylene films, more layers of plastic foil (6-8 instead of the usual 4-6) and bale protection from damage to the plastic film during storage in suitable places.
Siliranje cijele biljke kukuruza Bogičević, Milan; Božić, Lucija; Kolar, Sara ...
Krmiva,
01/2022, Volume:
62, Issue:
2
Journal Article, Paper
Open access
Silirana cijela biljka kukuruza (Zea mays L.) se uobičajeno koristi za hranidbu preživača, prvenstveno radi visoke pogodnosti biljke kukuruza za siliranje, visokog sadržaja energije i visokog prinosa ...suhe tvari (ST) po jedinici površine. Cilj ovog rada je prikazati tehnološke zahvate u proizvodnji kukuruzne silaže od odabira hibrida kukuruza za sjetvu, gustoću sklopa usjeva kukuruza za siliranje, zrelost usjeva kukuruza za siliranje, visinu košnje, prinos, duljinu sjeckanja, primjenu aditiva za siliranje, zatvaranje silosa te fermentaciju u silosu. Proizvodnja kukuruzne silaže se može potpuno mehanizirati, a usjev se kosi jedan puta godišnje, pa su niži troškovi radne snage i mehanizacije u usporedbi s npr. proizvodnjom travne silaže/sjenaže gdje se kosi i silira nekoliko otkosa krme tijekom vegetacijske sezone. Biljka kukuruza se silira nekoliko tjedana prije žetve kukuruza za zrno, pa se prema potrebi, određene površine pod kukuruzom za siliranje mogu žeti kasnije za proizvodnju zrna. Razvoj hibrida kukuruza je ključan u globalnim trendovima proizvodnje kukuruzne silaže, a izbor hibrida za sjetvu je najvažniji čimbenik profitabilne proizvodnje kukuruzne silaže. Prinos i hranidbena vrijednost kukuruzne silaže su ovisni o mikroklimatskim uvjetima uzgoja, svim agrotehničkim zahvatima uzgoja usjeva kukuruza te pravovremenoj i usklađenoj provedbi tehnoloških postupaka siliranja biljke kukuruza od košnje, punjenja i zatvaranja silosa do završetka fermentacije u silosu
The ensiled whole maize plant is commonly used for feeding ruminants primarily for the high suitability of maize plant for ensiling, high energy content, and high dry matter yield (ST) per unit area. The aim of this paper is to present the basic aspects of maize silage production related to the selection of maize hybrids for sowing, density of corn crop for ensiling, maturity of maize for ensiling, mowing height, yield, cutting length, application of silage additives, and closure of fermentation in a silo. Maize silage production can be fully mechanized and the crop is mowed once a year, so labor and mechanization costs are lower compared to, for example, grass silage/haylage production where several forage cuts are obtained over the vegetation season. The corn for ensiling is harvested a few weeks before the full maturity, and if necessary, certain areas under silage corn can be used for grain production. The development of maize hybrids is crucial in global trends in maize silage production, and the choice of hybrids is the most important factor in profitable maize silage production. Yield and nutritional value of corn silage depend on microclimatic growing conditions, all the agro-technology applied for crop growing and timely ensiling from harvesting, filling and closing the silo to the end of fermentation in the silo.
Maize silage (MS) is one of the most important energy forage used in ruminant diets because of its high energy content and good palatability. It can be fed as a sole feed or as a component of the ...ration for dairy and beef cattle. The aim of this paper is to review results published on maize crop maturity and cutting height in relation to yield and quality of MS with respect to dairy and beef cattle performance. As MS cutting height increases, dry matter yield (DM) decreases, but quality (MS) and animal performance increase, which is related to larger proportion of less digestible stalk remaining in the field. Higher cutting height of MS results in lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF) content, higher milk production and consequently lower milk fat (MF) content. MS maturity has a positive effect on animal performance up to a DM content of 280 – 330 g kg-1 fresh sample. Thereafter, DM intake, daily milk production (DMP) and crude protein content (CP) in milk mostly decrease or remain the same, as well as daily live weight gain (LWG) of beef cattle due to lower digestibility of organic matter (OM), starch and NDF in MS with higher DM content. It can be concluded that the cutting height and maturity of maize crop represent a kind of a compromise between DM and the starch content in MS, the fibre content necessary to maintain the function and health of the digestive system of ruminants, and the nutrient content of the feed to achieve maximum animal performance.
Kukuruzna silaža (KS) je jedno od glavnih energetskih krmiva koja se koriste u hranidbi preživača zbog visokog sadržaja energije i visoke palatabilnosti. Može se koristiti kao jedino krmivo ili kao komponenta obroka za mliječna i tovna goveda. Cilj ovog rada je dati pregled objavljenih rezultata istraživanja zrelosti usjeva kukuruza za siliranje i visine košnje na proizvodnost mliječnih i tovnih goveda. S povećanjem visine košnje usjeva kukuruza za siliranje smanjuje se prinos suhe tvari (ST) KS, povećava se kvaliteta KS kao i proizvodnost životinja uglavnom radi veće kvalitete KS. Veća visina košnje KS rezultira nižim sadržajem neutralnih detergent vlakana (NDV), većom proizvodnjom mlijeka i posljedično nižim sadržajem mliječne masti (MM) u mlijeku. Zrelost KS pozitivno utječe na proizvodnost životinja do sadržaja ST od 280 – 330 g kg-1 svježeg uzorka, nakon čega se dnevna konzumacija (ST), proizvodnja mlijeka i sadržaj SP u mlijeku uglavnom smanjuje ili ostaje isti kao i dnevni prirast goveda radi niže probavljivosti organske tvari (OT), škroba i NDV u KS većeg sadržaja ST. Može se zaključiti da visina košnje i zrelost usjeva kukuruza za siliranje predstavljaju svojevrsni kompromis između sadržaja ST i škroba u KS, sadržaja vlakana potrebnih za održavanje funkcije i zdravlja probavnog sustava preživača, te sadržaja hranjivih tvari u obroku za postizanje maksimalne proizvodnosti životinja.