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Forage Production and Animal Nutrition I

Course developers

Prior knowledge

Biol1001, Botany

Replaced course

LauZ1019 [GLAU1019] Forage Production and Animal Nutrition I

Course abstract

Fodder production as an agricultural sector. Biological properties of perennial grasses, their cultivation and use in grasslands with the aim of satisfying the physiological needs of farm animals for quality feed in sufficient quantity in summer and winter. Establishment, care and use of cultivated meadows and pastures. The importance and possibilities of using natural grasslands for grazing and mowing. Hay, haylage and silage making technologies for the provision of high-quality fodder, taking into account differences in the chemical composition of plants and nutritional value. Cultivation and use of annual field crops for feeding farm animals, their most important quality indicators. Risks of quality changes during forage making and storage.

Learning outcomes and their assessment

During the study course, students acquire knowledge about the managing and biological properties of perennial grasses and annual field crops, the use of these crops for the preparation of high-quality fodder, the technologies of grass fodder making and quality risks during the making and storage of fodder.

Students acquire the skills to know and characterize the species of perennial grasses used for making of grass fodder, to choose the most suitable fodder making technology for specific conditions, to evaluate the possibilities of using annual field crops for feeding animals, to be able to analyse fodder quality indicators and to recognize damaged fodder.
Students are competent to assess the quality of fodder, the suitability of grasses for animal grazing and the adequacy of fodder making technologies.
1. Knows the possibilities of using natural and cultivated grasslands for providing fodder and the managing and biological properties of perennial grasses - 1st test
2. Skills to recognize the species of Grasses and the most important species of annual field crops - practical work
3. The importance of natural grasslands and the need for their protection - homework
4. Knows the principles of establishing and using of cultivated grasslands and pastures, and the possibilities of using crop production for various species of agricultural animals – seminar classes with student presentations

5. Knows the ways of preparing fodder, are able to assess the quality of fodder and argue his opinion – 2nd test

Course Content(Calendar)

1. Fodder production as an agricultural system, the main tasks of fodder production. Areas of fodder crops, meadows and pastures in Latvia and in the students’ home country, their productivity. The main tasks of grassland management. 0.5 h
2. Biological properties of grasses of meadows and pastures. Classification of plants into botanical groups - grasses and legumes and their characteristics.1.0 h
3. Characteristics of grass species more widely used in fodder production. 1.0 h
4. Characteristics of the most widely used forage legume species. 1.0 h
5. The influence of ecological factors on the growth and development of grasses. The duration of the vegetation period, its influencing factors, vegetation phases and changes in the quality of grasses, edibility and digestibility of grasses. Protein and energy provision in grass fodder. 1.0 h
6. Natural grasslands, their importance and protection. The concept of meadow. Possibilities and conditions for using natural meadows and pastures for grazing and mowing. 0.5 h
7. Establishment of cultivated grasslands. Liming of lawns. Application of organic and mineral fertilizers. Lawns care and regrowth of grasses. 1.0 h
1st test on previously learned topics (paragraphs 1-7). Graded. 0.5 h
8. Establishment and rational use of cultivated pastures. Free range, paddock and portion grazing system. Calculation of pasture area for different species of domestic animals. 0.5 h
9. Maintenance of pastures. Preparation of pastures in spring for grazing. Mowing of uneaten grass. Spreading of livestock manure. Conditions for starting of grazing in spring and ending in autumn. Risks in pastures. 1.0 h
Seminar on establishment and using of pastures for different species of animals. Graded.
10. Theoretical foundations of rational use of meadows. Mowing of grass. Optimal terms, frequency and height of grass mowing. 0.5 h
11. Importance of hay, their making technologies and storage, factors affecting quality. 0.5 h
12. Importance of haylage and silage, their making technologies, storage and quality influencing factors. Types and use of chemical preservatives and biological enzymes for grass fodder. 1 h
13. Cereals. Technologies for growing summer crops (summer barley, spring wheat, oats) and winter crops (winter wheat, winter rye, triticale, winter barley) and their use for fodder. 0.5 h
12. Maize cultivation technologies and usefulness for fodder. 0.5 h
13. Characteristics of peas, vetches, field beans, lupines’ and soybeans and possibilities of their use for fodder. 0.5 h
14. Biological characteristics of rapeseed, agrotechnical methods of cultivation and use for fodder. 0.5 h
15. Characteristics of root crops (potatoes, sugar beets, fodder beets and carrots) and possibilities of their use for fodder. 0.5 h
Seminar on the use of annual field crops for fodder for various animal species. Graded.
2nd test on the use of grasses and field crops for fodder, its quality compliance and suitability for feeding animals of various species (paragraphs 6-15). Graded. 0.5 h

Topics of practical works and seminars:
1. Morphological characteristics of grass species used for forage production. 2 h
2. The economic-ecological characteristics of grass species used for forage production. 1 h
3. Morphological characteristics of forage legumes used for forage production. 2 h
4. Economic-ecological characteristics of the legume species used for forage production. 1 h
5. Seminar with student presentations and discussion on the use of pastures and annual field crops for different species of farm animals. 4 h

Requirements for awarding credit points

To obtain credit points, the assessment must be “Passed”.

The assessment consists of successfully (“Passed”) completed assignments:
1. two tests on the theoretical substance of the study course;
2. practical tasks on topics learned during the course;

3. presentation in the student group.

Description of the organization and tasks of students’ independent work

Presentation on grazing of farm animals and feeding with different types of fodder on topics given by the lecturer or freely chosen by the student.
Group work during the practical classes.
Processing and design of practical work results.
Literature studies, preparation for tests.

Criteria for Evaluating Learning Outcomes

To receive evaluation “Passed” for the program completed in the study course, the following must be met:
1. 2 (two) written tests must be scored of at least 4 points out of 10;
2. a presentation prepared, defended and rated at least 4 points;

3. practical work must be rated of at least 4 points according to the instructions.

Compulsory reading

1. Adamovičs A. (2017) Zālāju ierīkošana un izmantošana. Mācību grāmata; otrs, papildinātais izdevums. Jelgava, 140 lpp.
2. Tērauds V. (1972) Pļavas un ganības. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 311 lpp.
3. Augkopība // Rokasgrāmata / A. Ružas redakcijā. Jelgava, 2001. – 324 lpp.
4. Champan G. P. (1996) The biology of grasses. Oxon: CAB International. XIV, 273 p.
5. Cool -season forage grasses (1996) Ed. by L.E. Moser et al.; American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Soil Society of America. Madison, Wiskonsin: USA. 841 p.

Further reading

1. Ceļvedis daudzgadīgo zālaugu sēklaudzēšanā (2008) grām. Sastādītāja B.Jansone. Grām. Redkolēģija: B.Jansone, S.Rancāne, V.Dzenis, A.Jansons. Skīveri, 265 lpp.
2. Freimanis P., Holms I., Lauva J. (1982) Lopbarības ražošana tīrumos. Rīga: Zvaigzne. 310 lpp.
3. Krūklande M., Priekulis J. (1981) Zālaugu konservēšana hermetizētās glabātavās. Rīga: Avots. 164 lpp.
4. Osītis U. (1998). Barības līdzekļu novērtēšana atgremotāju ēdināšanā. LLKC, 102 lpp.
5. Ramane I., Liberts V. (1987) Lopbarības ķīmiskā konservēšana. Rīga: Zinātne. 58 lpp.
6. David J. Gibson (2009) Grasses and Grassland Ecology. Oxford University Press, USA. 320 p.
7. Grassland Productivity and Ecosystem Services (2011) Ed. by Gilles Lemaire, John Hodgson, Abad Chabbi. CABI. 296 p.
8. Frame J. and Laidlaw A.S. (2014) Improved Grassland management. The Growood Press Ltd, United Kingdom. 352 p.

Periodicals and other sources

Zinātniskie žurnāli un rakstu krājumi, kas pieejami LBTU FB abonētajās datu bāzēs, t.sk.:
 Rural Sustainability Research (LBTU Raksti);
 Agronomijas Vēstis;
 Agronomy Research;
 Žemdirbyste-Agriculture;
 Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Sec. B Soil and Plant Science;
 LPTF konferenču un semināru Rakstu krājumi utt.
 Populārzinātniskie žurnāli – Saimnieks, AgroTops utt. – atbilstoši tematikai.

Grassland Science in Europe. (The proceedings appear as successive volumes in the EGF series). Pieejams: https://www.europeangrassland.org/en/infos/printed-matter/proceedings.html#

Notes

Compulsory course for students of the level 2 vocational higher education study programme Veterinary medicine in full-time studies. In the 2nd
semester.