The growing and feeding of lucerne, (Medicago sativa sativa), to dairy cows

Chatepa, Lesten Eliez Chisomo (2012) The growing and feeding of lucerne, (Medicago sativa sativa), to dairy cows. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the effects of weeds infestation on the growth of lucerne (Medicago sativa sativa) in both summer and winter season as well as the effects of lucerne winter harvesting on the growth and yield of lucerne (Medicago sativa sativa) in spring. This study further evaluated the effects of ensiling lucerne at dry matter content less than 300 g/kg DM using Lactobacillus plantarum MTD-1 as well as the effects of including lucerne (Medicago sativa sativa) in dairy cows' total mixed ration, on milk production and enteric methane production. The growing of lucerne to feed dairy cows is expected to ease the current and future feed constraints in dairy farming. The universally increasing demand for milk poses great challenges for the development of cheap, nutritious forage feeds in both the developed and the emerging worlds. The shortage of high quality nutritious forage feeds causes food/feed crises in the emerging world due to the high proportion of cereals used in dairy farming. Therefore, research intensification in the growing and use of both high quality and high yeilding forages like lucerne is of paramount importance in dairy farming.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Subjects: S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General); S Agriculture > SF Animal culture
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability; Precurrent Departments > School of Interdisciplinary Studies
• Supervisor's Name: Wood, Dr. Bethan and Roberts, Dr. Dave
• Date of Award: 2012
• Depositing User: Mrs Marie Cairney
• Unique ID: glathesis:2012-4099
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 12 Mar 2013 12:03
• Last Modified: 08 Aug 2023 13:02
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/4099