http://hdl.handle.net/11019/427 Irish Journal of Agricultural and Food Research, Volume 48, 2009 2017-11-07T00:30:14Z http://hdl.handle.net/11019/658 Title: Soil cover of tubers and the percentage of green tubers at various inter-row widths Authors: Bernik, R.; Godesa, T.; Dolnicar, P.; Vucajnk, F. Abstract: In the years 2002, 2003 and 2004, a field trial was conducted involving three inter-row widths (66, 75 and 90 cm) and three potato cultivars (Agria, Bright and Carlingford). Increasing the inter-row width (IRW) increased both the cross-sectional area of the ridge and ridge height measured before the harvest. With an IRW of 66 cm the majority of tubers were located directly under the ridge surface (at a depth of < 5 cm), which resulted in the highest percentage of green tubers among the three IRW values. At the 90 cm IRW, in particular, the vast majority of tubers was distributed deeply in the ridge (at a depth of > 5 cm), thus generating the smallest percentage of green tubers. Compared to the other two cultivars, Carlingford produced tubers distributed at a larger ridge depth and subsequently yielded the lowest percentage of tubers covered with less than 5 cm of soil. On the other hand, Agria had a wider horizontal span of tubers than the other two cultivars. Description: peer-reviewed 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11019/657 Title: Prediction of cull cow carcass characteristics from live weight and body condition score measured pre slaughter Authors: Minchin, W.; Buckley, Frank; Kenny, David A.; Keane, Michael G.; Shalloo, Laurence; O'Donovan, Michael Abstract: A study was conducted to provide information on the degree of carcass finish of Irish cull cows and to investigate the usefulness of live animal measurements for the prediction beef breeds (albeit with a moderate R2 value compared to the carcass weight prediction) using objective, non-intrusive and easily measured live animal measurements, should be of benefit to farmers finishing cull cows in Ireland. of cull cow carcass characteristics. Live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) were recorded on cows entering an Irish commercial slaughter facility between September and November, 2005. Data pertaining to sire breed, age and carcass characteristics were collected and subsequently collated for each cow. For analysis, cows (n = 2163) were subdivided into three breed categories: dairy breed sired by Holstein/ Friesian (FR), sired by early-maturing beef breeds (EM) and sired by late-maturing beef breeds (LM). The proportion of cows slaughtered at the desired (TARGET) carcass standard (cold carcass weight ≥ 272 kg, carcass conformation class ≥ P+ and carcass fat class ≥ 3) was low (on average 0.30), but did differ (P < 0.001) between the dairy and beef breed categories (0.22, 0.47 and 0.53 for FR, EM and LM categories, respectively). Regression procedures were used to develop equations to predict cold carcass weight, carcass conformation score, carcass fat score and proportion in the TARGET category from LW and BCS. Equations predicting cold carcass weight had high R2 values for all breed categories (0.81, 0.85 and 0.79 for the FR, EM and LM, respectively). Equations predicting carcass fatness had moderate R2 values for the beef breed categories (0.65 and 0.59 for the EM and LM, respectively). Equations predicting carcass conformation and the TARGET category yielded lower R2 values. The successful prediction of carcass weight for all breed categories and of carcass fatness for the Description: peer-reviewed 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11019/656 Title: Potential food production from forage legume-based-systems in Europe: an overview Authors: Peyraud, J.L.; Le Gall, A.; Luscher, A. Abstract: Intensification of EU livestock farming systems has been accompanied by the development of maize silage and intensively fertilised grasses at the expense of forage legume crops. However in the new context of agriculture, the development of forage legumes constitutes one of the pillars for future livestock farming systems with high environmental and economical performances. Yield benefits of grass-clover mixtures are equivalent fertiliser N inputs of 150 to 350 kg/ha, and productive grass-clover mixtures can fix 100 to 380 kg N per hectare symbiotically from the atmosphere. Animal intake of legumes is high and the rate of decline of legume nutritional quality with advancing maturity is less than for grasses, especially in the case of white clover, which makes mixed pastures easier to manage. Animal performances at grazing are identical or higher on clover-enriched pastures. Due to their high protein concentration, conserved forage legumes fit well with maize silage. Forage legumes increase the concentration of beneficial α-linolenic acid in ruminant products. Environmental balance of forage legumes is positive. Increasing the proportion of white clover at the expense of mineral N fertilisation can reduce the risk of nitrate leaching. Because forage legumes only require solar energy to fix N from the air, they also reduce energy consumption and associated impacts. They contribute to reduce the global warming potential of livestock systems by reducing emission of enteric methane and nitrous oxide from pasture and crop production. As an element of arable crop rotations, grass-clover leys suppress pests, diseases and weeds, improve soil structure and prevent soil erosion and nitrate leaching. Nevertheless, forage legumes have some limitations: expensive to harvest, difficulties of conservation, management of the associations. To take full advantage of forage legumes in the future, new research and development are required as well as financial support from the EU. Description: peer-reviewed 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/11019/655 Title: Nutritive value of forage legumes used for grazing and silage Authors: Dewhurst, Richard J.; Delaby, L; Moloney, Aidan P; Boland, T.; Lewis, Eva Abstract: Legume forages have an important position in ruminant production in Western Europe and with further development can play an even larger role. Red clover for silage and white clover in grazed swards lead to enhanced growth rate and milk yield in comparison with pure grasses. Much of the production benefit of these legumes relates to enhanced intake since digestibilities are not markedly different to grasses. The higher intake of legume silages reflects differences in the cell structure of legume plants which combined with high fermentation rates means that they break down into small particles in the rumen, and leave the rumen more rapidly than perennial ryegrass. Ease of ingestion leads to high rates of intake, which explains higher intakes for grazed legumes. A further benefit of legumes is the reduced rate of decline in digestibility with advancing maturity. Whilst legumes have limited effects on gross milk composition or carcass characteristics, there are marked increases in levels of beneficial n−3 PUFA. Legumes have often led to a reduction in methane production from the rumen and again, this relates to both physical and chemical differences between forage species. The high rates of release of soluble protein and of breakdown to small particles from clovers and lucerne is associated with susceptibility to bloat, which is a limitation to further exploitation in grazing systems. The high concentration of rapidly degraded protein in legumes also leads to inefficient utilisation of dietary N and increased urinary N output. Research with tanniniferous forages, such as birdsfoot trefoil and sulla, demonstrates the potential for future legumes with reduced environmental and health effects, though these particular forage legumes are not well adapted to temperate regions of Western Europe that are the focus of this review. Description: peer-reviewed 2009-01-01T00:00:00Z