• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.1779-1787
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• 2000

Southern and south-western Australia is a typical mediterranean environment, characterised by wet, cold winters and dry, hot summers. The evaporation rate varies significantly in summer, resulting in a high salinity of drinking water for grazing animals. In addition, a large amount of land in the cropping areas is affected by salt. Puccinellia, tall wheat grass and saltbushes have been planted to improve the soil condition and to supply feed for grazing animals. Animals grazing these areas often ingest an excessive amount of salt from soil, forage and drinking water which can reduce feed intake, increase the water requirement, depress growth and affect body composition as demonstrated in sheep. While the deer industry has been successfully developed in these regions, the potential impact of excessive salt intake on deer production is unknown. The salt tolerance has been well defined for sheep, cattle and other livestock species, but the variation between animal species, breeds within species, maturity status and grazing environments makes it impossible to apply these values directly to deer. To optimise deer production and effectively use natural resources, it is essential to understand the salt status of grazing deer and the impact of excessive salt intake on growth and reproduction of deer.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.161-168
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• 2000

The experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of extension of grazing duration in late autumn on grass growth in following spring, in order to improve the rate of self-sufficiency for roughage feed. Plant height, total biomass and litter production of herbage were increased when the grazing was finished early in late autumn. The proportions of clover and litter, and amounts of animal intake were decreased, with extended grazing duration in late autumn. But when the grazing was finished late in autumn, the contents of crude protein (CP, %) of herbage were increased, contents of acid detergent fiber (ADF, %), neutral detergent fiber (NDF, %) and crude ash (%) were decreased in pasture after grazing, therefore the contents of total digestible nutrients (TDN, %) and relative feed value (RFV) of herbage were improved. The early end grazing showed that plant height, total biomass and litter production of herbage in following spring were higher than those in late end grazing. However, increased yields were not significantly different among end grazing treatments (0.12-0.15 tonha), except for the final end grazing in late autumn (0.01 tonha). With extended grazing duration in late autumn, the contents of CP of herbage in following spring were increased, contents of ADF, were decreased, and RFV were improved. (Key words : Extension of grazing duration, Plant height, Biomass, Amount of intake, Increased yield, Crude protein, TDN) rll\ulcorner c# qiil x i 9 ~ 1 a% * (College of Natural Resources, Taegu Univ., Kyongsan, 71 2-714, Korea) * $4 4 qiil 34 qq(Co1lege of Liberal Arts & Sciences, Yonsei Univ., Wonju, 220-701, Korea) '* 8 * jL@%ft@ &@%(Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido Univ., Sapporo, 060 Japan)

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.10
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• pp.1383-1388
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• 2001

To explore the factors restricting animal performance in relation to sward structure under a strip-grazing system, measurements of sward factors, herbage intake and milk production at 3 levels of herbage allowance were made on perennial ryegrass (Latium perenne L.) sward for 3 experimental periods. About 29%, 36% and 52% of the biomass offered was removed by grazing in high $(42kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$, medium $(30kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$ and low $(18kg\;OM{\cdot}day^{-1}{\cdot}head^{-1})$ herbage allowance plots. Live leaf material was much more affected by grazing under different herbage allowance levels than dead material or leaf sheath. Grazing with a low herbage allowance decreased the proportion of live lamina by 93% and live lamina density by 96% before grazing. The density of dead material plus sheath was decreased by 17% after grazing at a low allowance, while it slightly increased or remained constant in the plots applied with high and medium allowances, respectively. The highly significant (p<0.01) correlations between herbage allowance and proportion (r=0.94) and density (r=0.91) of live lamina in residual sward after grazing were observed. Daily herbage intakes in the plots with high and medium levels of herbage allowance were not significantly different at $15.3kg\;OM{\cdot}head^{-1}$ in average, whereas with low level it decreased to $13.9kg\;OM{\cdot}head^{-1}$. Daily milk production was significantly (p<0.05) declined from $22.3kg{\cdot}head^{-1}$ (at high herbage allowance) to $19.7kg{\cdot}head^{-1}$ (at low herbage allowance). The data obtained clearly indicated that herbage intake and milk production were highly affected by the characteristics of residual sward, which were closely related to the level of herbage allowance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.711-715
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• 2013

To investigate the effect of restricted grazing time on behavior of Tan sheep on desert steppe, forty 4-months old male Tan sheep with an original body weight (BW) of $15.62{\pm}0.33$ kg were randomly allocated to 4 grazing groups which corresponded to 4 different restricted grazing time treatments of 2 h/d (G2), 4 h/d (G4), 8 h/d (G8) and 12 h/d (G12) access to pasture. The restricted grazing times had a significant impact on intake time, resting time, ruminating time, bite rate and movement. As the grazing time decreased, the proportion of time spent on intake, bite rate and grazing velocity significantly (p<0.05) increased, but resting and ruminating time clearly (p<0.05) decreased. The grazing months mainly depicted effect on intake time and grazing velocity. In conclusion, by varying their foraging behavior, Tan sheep could improve grazing efficiency to adapt well to the time-limited grazing circumstance.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.1453-1457
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• 2002

The experiment was conducted to find out the effect of 4 feeding systems on growth, feed intake, eating behavior, lactation performance, gestation period, post-partum heat period, conception rate and parasitic infestation of Black Bengal goat. Twenty four does of approximately 1 year of age were randomly selected for 4 treatment (feeding systems) groups having 6 replications in each. Treatments were stall feeding ($T_1$), tethering ($T_2$), restricted grazing ($T_3$) and grazing ($T_4$). $T_1$ group was housed continuously and adequate amounts of natural grass were supplied for ad libitum feeding. $T_2$ group was tethered for grazing natural grass from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. being moved at one hour intervals. Goats of $T_3$ group were allowed grazing from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. $T_4$ group was grazed from 8 a. m. to 4 p.m. Concentrate supplement was given at the rate of 150 g per day per goat for all of the treatment groups. Duration of experiment was 219 days. Daily live weight gain was significantly (p<0.05) higher in case of stall fed goats than that of others. DM intake also significantly (p<0.05) differed among the treatment groups and was 3.40 3.95, 3.76 and 4.05 per cent of their live weight for stall feeding, tethering, restricted grazing and grazing groups, respectively. Rate of rumination was significantly (p<0.05) higher in case of tethering group of goats than that of others. Birth weight of kids, milk yield, lactation period and post-partum heat period were significantly higher in case of stall fed goats than others. Tethering group showed significantly (p<0.05) higher litter size than others. Infestation rate of Fasciola was significantly (p<0.05) higher in the grazing group. In conclusion, it may be stated that among these feeding groups overall performance of stall fed goats was more satisfactory, and that the tethering group showed better performance than the others.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.32-37
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• 2005

Under a typical Mediterranean environment in southern Australia, the evaporation rate increases significantly in hot summers, resulting in highly saline drinking water for grazing animals. Also in the cropping areas, dryland salinity is a problem. Grazing animals under these environments can ingest excessive amount of salt from feed, drinking water and soil, which can lead to a reduction in growth rate. To understand the impact of high salt intake on grazing deer, two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of salt levels in drinking water on feed intake and growth rate of red and fallow weaner deer. The results revealed that fallow deer did not show any abnormal behaviour or sickness when salt level in drinking water was increased from 0% to 2.5%. Feed intake was not affected until the salt content in water exceeded 1.5%. Body weight gain was not affected by 1.2% salt in drinking water, but was reduced as salt content in water increased. Compared with deer on fresh water, the feed intake of red deer on saline water was 11-13% lower when salt level in drinking water was 0.4-0.8%. An increase in salt level in water up to 1% resulted in about a 30% reduction in feed intake (p<0.01). Body weight gain was significantly (p=0.004) reduced when salt level reached 1.2%. The deer on 1% salt tended to have a higher (p=0.052) osmotic pressure in serum. The concentration of P, K, Mg and S in serum was affected when salt level in water was over 1.0%. The results suggested that the salt level in drinking water should be lower than 1.2% for fallow weaner deer and 0.8% for red weaner deer to avoid any reduction in feed intake. Deer farmers need to regularly test the salt levels in drinking water on their farms to ensure that the salt intake of grazing deer is not over the levels that deer can tolerate.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.818-824
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• 2014

The nutrient composition of pasture, voluntary intake and digestibility of diet ingested by goats grazing on an introduced Leymus chinensis pasture were measured across spring (May), summer (July), autumn (October) and winter (March). In each season, 12 Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats (6 wethers and 6 does with an average live weight of $22.2{\pm}1.3$ kg and $19.5{\pm}0.8$ kg, respectively) were used to graze on a 2 hectares size paddock. Diet selection was observed and the plant parts selected by grazing goats and whole plant L. chinensis were sampled simultaneously. The alkane pair $C_{32}:C_{33}$ and $C_{36}$ were used to estimate intake and digestibility, respectively. The results showed that the plant parts selected by goats had higher crude protein (CP) and lower acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) than the whole plant, especially in the autumn and winter. The voluntary intake of dry matter (DM), CP, ADF, NDF, and metabolizable energy (ME) by goats was highest in summer (p<0.05). The goats ingested more CP, ME, and less ADF in spring than in autumn (p<0.05). The intakes of DM, CP, and ME were lowest in winter (p<0.05). There were significant differences in nutrient intake between wethers and does in each season, except for the ADF and ME intake per metabolic weight ($LW^{0.75}$). The nutrient digestibilities were higher in spring and summer, and decreased significantly during the autumn and winter (p<0.05). Goats, especially wethers, had a relative constant NDF digestibility across seasons, however, the apparent digestibility of CP in both wethers and does, decreased to negative values in winter. The grazing goats experienced relatively sufficient nutrients supply in spring and summer, and a severe deficiency of CP and ME in winter.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1717-1725
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• 2013

The objectives of this study were to compare visual observation and an electronic grazing time method and to evaluate the effects of nutritional plans on intake, grazing behavior and horizontal and vertical locomotion of young bulls in a tropical pasture. Thirty-nine Nellore young bulls with an average body weight of $345{\pm}9.3$ kg kept in pasture were used. The experimental treatments consisted of: restricted: animals kept in a plot with a low mass of forage receiving mineral mixture only; control: animals receiving mineral mixture only; HPHC: a high protein and high carbohydrate supplement; HPLC: a high protein and low carbohydrate supplement; LPHC: a low protein and high carbohydrate supplement; LPLC: a low protein and low carbohydrate supplement. GPS collars equipped with activity sensors were used. Information about head position, latitude, longitude and altitude were recorded. Daytime grazing behavioral patterns monitored by a continuous focal animal recording method was compared to behavior estimated by the activity sensor. Feed intake was estimated by a marker method. The Restricted group presented lower (p<0.05) intake of dry matter and TDN. However, difference in dry matter intake was not found (p>0.05) between non-supplemented and supplemented animals. Difference was not found (p>0.05) in daytime grazing time obtained by visual observation or the activity sensor method. The restricted group showed longer (p<0.05) grazing time (9.58 h/d) than other groups, but difference was not found (p>0.05) in the grazing time between Control (8.35 h/d) and supplemented animals (8.03 h/d). The Restricted group presented lower (p<0.05) horizontal locomotion distance (2,168 m/d) in comparison to other groups (2,580.6 m/d). It can be concluded that the use of activity sensor methods can be recommended due to their being similar to visual observation and able to record 24-h/d. While supplements with high carbohydrates reduce pasture intake, they do not change grazing behavior. Moderate supplementation (until 50% of protein requirement and 30% of energy requirement) of beef cattle on tropical pasture has no effect on daily locomotion.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.383-388
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• 2009

This study was conducted to investigate the dry matter intake, weight gain and the required area of grazing pasture for dairy goats. The experimental trials were conducted from April, 2007 to June, 2008 at the animal experimental station in Chungnam National University. The seed mixtures of grazing pasture were composed of orchardgrass (40%) + tall fescue (20%) + perennial ryegrass (10%) + alfalfa (15%) + red clover (15%). The grazing area was $5,000\;m^2$ which was composed of 4 paddocks (average $1,250\;m^2$/plot) and the goats were grazed twelve times by a rotational grazing system. The dairy goats (Saanen) were selected which had nearly the same body weight (average 31.1kg). The average chemical composition of herbage of mixture in grazing periods was crude protein (20.4%), NDF (65.3%) and ADF (31.1%) respectively and the in vitro dry matter digestibility was 68.9%. The average dry matter intake amount per head was 1.253 kg, and the intake amount per body weight was 3.01%. The average body weight gain during the grazing periods (184 days) was 17.4 kg, and the daily gain was 98 g. The required area of grazing pasture was calculated at $467.7\;m^2$ a dairy goat (weight 50 kg basis). This figure, being converted into animal unit (AU), corresponded to approximately 2.14 AU/ha.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.577-582
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• 1996

In order to investigate the relationship between daily herbage allowance (DHA) and daily herbage intake (DHI) on the points of leaf and stem masses, grazing experiments were carried out on the pasture of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.). The experiments consisted of four 3-days' grazing periods which were from August 14 to 17, August 17 to 20, October 12 to 15 and October 15 to 18 in 1990. The value of DHA was 32.1 to 84.3, and the value of DHI was 9.9 to 27.0. The index of leafiness (leaf to stem ratio, LSR) was 0.74 to 3.06. The relationship between DHI and DHA was quadratic. Both relationship of daily leaf intake (DLI) to daily leaf allowance (DLA) and that of daily stem intake (DSI) to daily stem allowance (DSA) were likely to be asymptotic forms, although DHI did not show any significant relationships to DLA nor to DSA. The relationship between DLI and LSR was quadratic, and a negative relationship was found between DSI and LSR. From the relationship of DLI to LSR and that of DSI to LSR, the relationship of daily intake of leaf and stem (DLSI) to LSR was derived as quadratic and the LSR value at which the maximum DLSI was attained was estimated. The DHA, DHI, DLA, DLI, DSA, DSI and DLAI were expressed as the same unit of g/kg live body weight/day.