Forage Quality, Conservation and Evaluation in Ruminant Production Systems
A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2022) | Viewed by 31935
Special Issue Editors
Interests: forage quality; silage; forage evaluation; ruminant nutrition
Interests: forage quality; silage microbiology; silage additives; mycotoxins
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Forage production and quality are of significant importance for sustainable ruminant production systems worldwide, both economically and environmentally. The improved management of forages, including cultivation, harvest, conservation (hay and silage), and utilization by animals, requires improved knowledge of plant species, maturity stage, harvest, and conservation methods. Although optimal nutrient content of the forage depends on the nutritional requirements of the ruminant animal to be fed, low dry-matter losses during harvest, conservation, and feed-out of the forage are crucial for decreasing feed costs and improving animal productivity. Meanwhile, low hygienic quality of forages poses risks to animal health and product quality.
This Special Issue welcomes papers on the latest knowledge and innovations on forage quality, conservation, and evaluation in ruminant production systems. Manuscripts (reviews and original articles) may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Forage production;
- Forage harvest;
- Forage conservation;
- Forage utilization by ruminants.
Dr. Elisabet Nadeau
Guest Editor
Dr. Horst Auerbach
Dr. João Daniel
Co-Guest Editors
Keywords
- forage species
- forage maturity
- silage
- hay
- harvest method
- storage method
- silage additives
- microbiology
- mycotoxins
- forage feeding
- ruminant nutrition
- ruminant health
- product quality
- sustainability
- environmental impact