Explore the vast range of titles available.

Cowpea is an important legume crop in Africa, valued highly for its grain and also haulms, which are a tradable commodity in fodder markets. Fodder market surveys in Northern Nigeria showed that groundnut haulms were priced higher than cowpea haulms, probably because of their superior nutritive value. The economic value of haulms has prompted cowpea breeders and livestock nutritionists to explore haulm fodder traits as additional selection and breeding criteria. Fifty cowpea genotypes cultivated across five locations in Nigeria in 2013 and 2014 were evaluated for food fodder traits. Significant ( < 0.05) genotypic dependent variations were observed in yields (kg/ha) of grains (537-1082) and haulms (1173-3368), though significant ( < 0.05) effects of location and year were observed. Grain and fodder yield had a tendency to be positively correlated ( = 0.26, = 0.07). Haulms were analyzed for nitrogen (N), fiber fractions, digestibility, and metabolizable energy content. Highly significant variations were observed in all genotypic and livestock nutrition traits, although location and year had significant effects. Trade-offs between grain yield and haulm fodder quality traits were largely absent and haulm acid detergent lignin and grain yield were even inversely correlated ( = -0.28, = 0.05), that is high grain yielders had decreased haulm lignin. However, haulm N and grain yield also tended to be negatively associated ( = -0.26, = 0.07). Haulm fodder quality traits and haulm yield were mostly positively correlated ( < 0.05). Broad sense heritabilities for grain and fodder yield were 0.50 and 0.29, respectively, while heritability for haulm fodder quality traits ranged from 0.61 to 0.67, providing opportunities for concomitant increase in grain yield and haulm fodder quality traits. Selection of the 10 highest ranking genotypes for grain yield, haulm yield, haulm N, and haulm organic matter digestibility showed selection groups overlapping, suggesting that multi-trait selection is feasible. Economical evaluation showed that choice of primary traits is context specific, highlighting the need for identifying and targeting appropriate genotypes to fit different production systems. Considering haulm quantity and quality as traits of economic value can increase overall plant value in mixed crop-livestock systems.

Fodder collection from natural stands generates income in peri-urban areas in the Sahel. Fodder banks show financial and ecological benefits, as increased demand requires sustainable tree management. Fodder production from two commonly used species, Gliricidia sepium (Jacq.) Walp. and Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. was evaluated for combinations of variety, year, period, height, and frequency of pruning. In the first experiment (1997–2000) fodder production increased with tree age, but in the second period (2012–2015) fodder production was declining in all treatments. Overall, the data suggest that for marketable fodder production a 3-month pruning interval is maintained for G. sepium and a 4-month interval for P. erinaceus.

Limited supply of quality feed is the most important factor limiting livestock productivity in many sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries. Having a systematic inventory of available feed resources, identifying main challenges and potentials for improvement is the first step towards designing development strategies to improve feed quality and quantity. The objective of this study was to review the available feed resources and their quality in West African Sahel across different agro‐ecological zones and to identify the research gaps and strategies to improve feed resource availability. The West African Sahelian zone is home to 135 million people who herd 173 million head of ruminant livestock. The main feed resources for grazing ruminants are pastures and crop residues; commercially formulated feeds are increasingly being used in poultry and pig production, particularly in peri‐urban areas. Feed resources for livestock are diverse and vary markedly across agro‐ecological zones in the West African Sahel and across seasons in terms of type, quantity, and quality. Given that crop residues are among the most important feed resources, there is need to invest in promoting adoption of proven methods for improving their quality and preserving it. Given poorly developed feed markets in the Sahelian rural areas and cities, strengthening the feed value chain is critical for improving the feed resource base in West Africa. Additional critically important needs are to increase awareness about the importance of feed quality, to create quality‐based feed marketing systems, and to appreciate and enhance women's roles in feed production. Core Ideas Productivity of livestock in West Africa Sahel is constrained by limited supply of quality feed. Feed quality is low, and availability varies seasonally, reducing livestock productivity. Rangeland, crop residues, and agro‐industrial by‐products are important feed resources in Sahel. Improving nutritive quality of crop residues, fodder preservation, and better feed marketing are needed. Identifying available feed resources is necessary for designing interventions for improvement.

Optimizing maize fodder production under water limited conditions is essential for sustainable livestock systems facing climate induced water stress and declining soil fertility. In this two-year field study, we investigated how deficit irrigation at different maize growth stages (VT-R3, R3-R6, VE-VT) in combination with potassium fertilization (0, 50 kg ha⁻¹) and bacteria inoculation (B-, B+) influences water use efficiency and the nutritional quality of maize fodder. Data was recorded on acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), crude protein (CP), ash, hemicellulose, biological yield, water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency. Irrigation timing exerted the strongest influence on most traits. Late season deficit irrigation (R3-R6) increased fiber accumulation (ADF and NDF), whereas early season deficit irrigation (VE-VT) consistently reduced fiber accumulation while improving crude protein content and irrigation water use efficiency. Full irrigation produced the highest biological yield, followed by early season deficit irrigation. Potassium fertilization enhanced crude protein content and water use efficiency, particularly under water limited conditions. Bacterial inoculation significantly improved crude protein concentration, biological yield, and both water use efficiency and irrigation water use efficiency, with more pronounced effects under deficit irrigation. Overall, the results indicate that early season deficit irrigation (VE-VT) combined with potassium supplementation and bacterial inoculation represents an effective integrated strategy to improve forage biomass production and water productivity in maize; however, these practices may also increase fiber fractions, potentially reducing digestibility and voluntary intake, and therefore require careful balancing of yield gains with forage quality.

China produces a large amount of corn straw after the harvest of staple grains every year. Fodder application of corn straw can reduce the waste of straw resources. Such usage also can guarantee the supply of high-quality coarse fodder for livestock and help the development of husbandry and the increase of production and income of farmers and herdsmen in China. Based on the requirements of livestock for straw feed consumption, the corn straw treatment process engineering was studied, and the overall structure, transmission scheme, and main working components of the corn straw crushing and rubbing filament machine were designed. The equipment was developed with three-dimensional modeling and solid design. Key components were verified through finite element analysis. Finally, a prototype was produced for testing. The experimental results showed that when the moisture content of corn straw was tested to be 20%, the percentage of filamentous straw of the equipment was 97.2%, and the calibrated unit power productivity could reach 82.8 kg/(kW · h).  Through experiments, all indicators of the equipment met the relevant technical standards of the straw crushing and rubbing filament machine, providing theoretical basis and technical support for the design of the straw crushing and rubbing filament machine.

A full genome sequence is presented of sugar beet Beta vulgaris , the first plant belonging to Caryophyllales to have its genome sequenced; spinach was sequenced to enable inter-clade comparisons, and intraspecific variation was analysed by comparative genomics of a progenitor of all beet crops and additional sugar beet accessions. Sweet talk: the sugar beet reference genome Industrial production of sugar from sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ) began in Europe in the early nineteenth century, and in the intervening 200 years the sugar content of the commonly used cultivars has increased from 8% to 18%. A high-quality reference genome sequence for sugar beet is published in this issue, together with that of the related spinach plant ( Spinacia oleracea ) and assembled genomes from four additional sugar beet breeding lines. Information held in these genome sequences will be useful for the characterization of genes involved in sugar production and identification of targets for breeding efforts, as well as towards its application as a sustainable energy crop. Sugar beet ( Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris ) is an important crop of temperate climates which provides nearly 30% of the world’s annual sugar production and is a source for bioethanol and animal feed. The species belongs to the order of Caryophylalles, is diploid with 2 n = 18 chromosomes, has an estimated genome size of 714–758 megabases 1 and shares an ancient genome triplication with other eudicot plants 2 . Leafy beets have been cultivated since Roman times, but sugar beet is one of the most recently domesticated crops. It arose in the late eighteenth century when lines accumulating sugar in the storage root were selected from crosses made with chard and fodder beet 3 . Here we present a reference genome sequence for sugar beet as the first non-rosid, non-asterid eudicot genome, advancing comparative genomics and phylogenetic reconstructions. The genome sequence comprises 567 megabases, of which 85% could be assigned to chromosomes. The assembly covers a large proportion of the repetitive sequence content that was estimated 4 to be 63%. We predicted 27,421 protein-coding genes supported by transcript data and annotated them on the basis of sequence homology. Phylogenetic analyses provided evidence for the separation of Caryophyllales before the split of asterids and rosids, and revealed lineage-specific gene family expansions and losses. We sequenced spinach ( Spinacia oleracea ), another Caryophyllales species, and validated features that separate this clade from rosids and asterids. Intraspecific genomic variation was analysed based on the genome sequences of sea beet ( Beta vulgaris ssp. maritima ; progenitor of all beet crops) and four additional sugar beet accessions. We identified seven million variant positions in the reference genome, and also large regions of low variability, indicating artificial selection. The sugar beet genome sequence enables the identification of genes affecting agronomically relevant traits, supports molecular breeding and maximizes the plant’s potential in energy biotechnology.

AIMS: Plant root traits affect soil biopore (BP) formation. Aims of this study were to measure the effects of fodder crop species with contrasting root traits and duration of cropping on BP density (BPD), and also to address the consistency of these effects over different years focusing on the effects of root decay. METHODS: Soil BPD was quantified after growing three perennial fodder crop species with contrasting root systems, namely, lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) for 1, 2, and 3 years with 2 years fallow in two repeated field trials from 2007 to 2014. RESULTS: Total BPD after taprooted fodder crops (421 ± 14 m⁻¹) was significantly higher compared with fibrous-rooted crops (337 ± 12 m⁻¹). Cropping duration did not affect soil BPD. On average, density of medium-sized BP (BPₘₑd; 2–5 mm) increased 14 % after 2 years of fallow, whereas BPD decreased by 5 % for coarse-sized BP (BPcₒᵣ; >5 mm) after the fallow. CONCLUSIONS: Taprooted fodder crops enhanced BP formation into subsoil. Accurate assessment of biopores (BPs) and their persistence must take account of the temporal dynamics, including effects of root decay.

Completion of genome sequences for the diploid Setaria italica reveals features of C 4 photosynthesis that could enable improvement of the polyploid biofuel crop switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum ). The genetic basis of biotechnologically relevant traits, including drought tolerance, photosynthetic efficiency and flowering control, is also highlighted. Foxtail millet ( Setaria italica ), a member of the Poaceae grass family, is an important food and fodder crop in arid regions and has potential for use as a C 4 biofuel. It is a model system for other biofuel grasses, including switchgrass and pearl millet. We produced a draft genome (∼423 Mb) anchored onto nine chromosomes and annotated 38,801 genes. Key chromosome reshuffling events were detected through collinearity identification between foxtail millet, rice and sorghum including two reshuffling events fusing rice chromosomes 7 and 9, 3 and 10 to foxtail millet chromosomes 2 and 9, respectively, that occurred after the divergence of foxtail millet and rice, and a single reshuffling event fusing rice chromosome 5 and 12 to foxtail millet chromosome 3 that occurred after the divergence of millet and sorghum. Rearrangements in the C 4 photosynthesis pathway were also identified.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility of fodder Sorghum as poultry feed in terms of growth performance (plant height and fresh weight), nutritional quality (moisture, ash, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, extract material without nitrogen, and metabolic energy), and scanning electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX). Materials and Methods: The study used a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of planting times of 24, 48, 72, 120, and 240 h and a control (0 h). Results: The results showed that there was a significant effect (p ≤ 0.05) when planting Sorghum fodder (SGF) on growth performance and moisture, but it had no significant effect on fresh weight, ash, crude protein, extract ether, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, energy metabolic aspects, and SEM-EDX. Conclusion: SGF is suitable as a feed ingredient for poultry in terms of nutrition and contains ZrO2, which functions as an antifungal.