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Research on the Effect of Agri-Gro on Alfalfa Production
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Treatments:
The
grower's standard fertilizer program was used on both plots with
Agri-Gro added to one and Humic Acid added to the other.
Application:
Humic
Acid applied,
Crude Protein = 16.9, ADF = 38.5, NDF = 43.7, RFV = 125.4;
Agri-Gro applied, Crude Protein = 20.8, ADF = 29.4, NDF = 34.2,
RFV = 179.6
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Alfalfa on Butler Valley
Alfalfa grown in Bouse, Arizona
Cut early November 2000
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Guide to Forage Measurements:
- Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) — least digestable parts of the
plant, lower ADF is desired
- Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) — gives bulk to the diet and
limits intake, low NDF is usually desired
- Digestable Dry Matter (DDM) — estimates the percentage of forage
that is digestible. It is calculated from ADF using the equation:
DDM (%) = 88.9 - [ADF (%) x 0.779]
- Dry Matter Intake (DMI) — estimates the maximum amount of forage
dry matter a cow will eat. It is expressed as a percent of body
weight and is calculated from NDF using the equation: DMI = 120 ¸
NDF
- Relative Feed Value (RFV) — combines digestibility and intake
into one number to evaluate the quality of hay. RFV = [DDM x DMI],
1.29
Relationships among several estimators of alfalfa quality and
suggested livestock uses as determined by the University of
Nebraska-Lincoln.
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Analysis
Calculations |
| Uses |
|
ADF |
NDF |
DDM |
DMI |
RFV |
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|
--------%
of DM-------- |
%
of Body Weight |
| Prime
dairy, fresh and high producers |
|
<
31 |
<
40 |
>
65 |
>
3.0 |
>
151 |
| Good
dairy, young heifers, excellent for backgrounding |
|
31-35 |
40-46 |
62-65 |
2.6-3.0 |
125-151 |
| Good
Beef, older heifers, marginal For dairy cows |
|
36-40 |
47-53 |
58-61 |
2.2-3.5 |
103-124 |
| Maintenance
for beef or dry dairy cows |
|
41-42 |
54-60 |
56-57 |
2.0-2.2 |
87-102 |
| Poor
Quality* |
|
43-45 |
61-65 |
53-55 |
1.8-1.9 |
75-86 |
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| *Requires
supplementation with higher quality (energy) feeds as well as
possibly other nutrients for most animals. This quality hay
could be fed to dry beef cows under some circumstances. |
Following are documented forage test results from three successive
treatments using the Agri-Gro program on the Bill Miller farm in Burr,
Nebraska during May 1997.
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Treatment 1 |
Treatment 2 |
Treatment 3 |
| Crude Protein |
30.7> |
30.3 |
31.4 |
| ADF |
19.9 |
19.9 |
18.1 |
| NDF |
32.6 |
30.6 |
28.7 |
| RFV |
209.7 |
223.5 |
242.4 |
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(Note: Average RFV in the area is
170) |
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Results from 1998
forage analysis of fifth cutting alfalfa using a total Agri-Gro
program in Doniphan, Missouri.
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Crude Protein |
25.1 |
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Digestible Protein |
17.3 |
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Acid Det. Fiber (ADF) |
21.9 |
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Neut. Det. Fiber (NDF) |
26.5 |
Relative Feed Value
(RFV) |
252.0 |
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All testing conducted by: Soil and Plant Analysis
Laboratory,
Department of Agronomy,
Lincoln, NE 68583-0916,
402.472,1571.
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