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ABSTRACT: Abstract A niche market in alternative foods has emerged in response to interest in a health conscientious diet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the baking characteristics of teff to determine whether teff could produce satisfactory baked products. Cakes, cookies, biscuits and bread were made in triplicate from composites of wheat flour with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 100% teff flour. Objective tests on size, shape, color and texture were used to evaluate the quality of the baked products. Increases in percent teff resulted in decreases in bread and cake volume (p > 0.05). The fracture strength of the cookies were not significantly different (p > 0.05) but spread was significantly greater for cookies made with 40% and 100% teff flour (p ≤ 0.05). There was also significant difference (p ≤ 0.05) in biscuit height and color among teff treatments. Overall, this study showed that teff flour is best suited for use in cookies and biscuits.
International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 06/2013; · 1.15 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Small cow-calf operations are common in the Appalachian region. Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S. J. Darbyshire] is the dominant forage in these systems for direct grazing as well as for stockpiling. The present study was conducted from 2001 to 2005. A total of 108 Angus and Angus crossbred cows were allotted randomly to 6 forage systems and then to 3 replicates within each system. In brief, system 1 had a stocking rate of 0.91 ha/cow in a Middleburg 3-paddock (A, B, and C) system. System 2 was similar to system 1 except for a stocking rate of 0.71 ha/cow. A stocking rate of 0.71 ha/cow also was used in systems 3 through 6. All A paddocks had tall fescue, whereas B paddocks had tall fescue/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) except in system 6, which had tall fescue/lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don]. System 3 evaluated a 2-paddock (A and B) rotational grazing system, and system 4 evaluated a 3-paddock (A, B, and C) rotational grazing system, with paddock C containing orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Systems 5 and 6 differed from system 2 in the areas of paddocks B and C as well as in the forage mixtures used. In paddock C, system 5 had switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and system 6 had tall fescue and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). System 1 had the greatest average herbage availability from weaning until breeding (P < 0.05) with the least amount of hay fed (P = 0.03) when compared with the remainder of the systems. Differences (P > 0.05) in percentage of ground cover were not detected among systems. There was no year x system interaction effect on the cow or calf performance variables evaluated and no treatment effect on cow performance variables. There was a treatment effect on calf performance variables. System 2 produced the greatest adjusted weaning weight, kilograms of calf weaned per hectare, and kilograms of calf per kilograms of cow at weaning (P < 0.05). Numerical ranking for total calf production per hectare from the greatest to least was system 2, 6, 3, 5, 4, and 1. Systems evaluated did not affect cow performance although differences in calf performance and overall productivity of the systems were observed.
Journal of Animal Science 05/2008; 86(8):2032-42. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Cattle and sheep grazed together and separately from April to October during 3 yr. Initial forage composition was 29% Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 11% white clover (Trifolium repens L.), and 60% weeds. There were six Angus cow-calf pairs or six ewes (1/2 Dorset x 1/4 Finn x 1/4 Rambouillet) with 11 lambs per each of three pasture replications for single animal species. Six cow-calf pairs plus six ewes and 11 lambs grazed in each of three replications of the mixed animal species treatment. There were approximately one cow and calf or five ewes with lambs per .44 ha. Lambs were weaned at 41 kg or by September 1. Calves were weaned approximately October 10. Lamb daily gain (.23 kg/d), total gain (23 kg), and weaning weights (43 kg) were greater (P < .01) and target weaning weights were reached 14 d earlier in the grazing season when both animal species grazed together than when lambs were in pastures with sheep alone (.18 kg/d, 19 and 38 kg, respectively). Calf gains were not influenced by treatment. Grazing pressure increased throughout the grazing season for cattle alone, peaked in midsummer, and then decreased by autumn for sheep alone, whereas grazing pressure initially increased then remained relatively constant with mixed-species grazing. Forage quality in pastures where sheep grazed alone was lower (P < .05) than in pastures where cattle grazed alone until lambs were weaned in late summer, whereas forage quality with mixed-species grazing was generally intermediate. Mixed grazing resulted in earlier weaning and increased lamb performance and BW of ewes, but not in increased animal production per hectare.
Journal of Animal Science 04/1994; 72(4):1013-22. · 2.10 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The selection of plant species is critical for the successful establishment and long-term maintenance of vegetation on reclaimed surface mined soils. A study was conducted to assess the capability of 16 forage grass and legume species in monocultures and mixes to establish and thrive on a reclaimed Appalachian surface mine amended with biosolids. The 0.15-ha coarse-textured, rocky, non-acid forming mined site was prepared for planting by grading to a 2% slope and amending sandstone overburden materials with a mixture of composted and dewatered, anaerobically digested biosolids at a rate of 368 Mg ha(-1) (dry weight). Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), caucasian bluestem (Bothriochloa caucasia L.), reed canarygrass (Phalaris arundinacea L.), ladino clover (Trifolium repens L.), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.), crownvetch (Coronilla varia L.), alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), common sericea lespedeza and AULotan sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), tall fescue-ladino clover, tall fescue-alfalfa, orchardgrass-birdsfoot trefoil, switchgrass-AULotan, and an herbaceous species mix intended for planting on reforested sites consisting of foxtail millet [Setaria italica (L.) Beauv.], perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), redtop (Agrostis alba L.), kobe lespedeza (Kummerowia striata L.), appalow lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata L.), and birdsfoot trefoil were established between spring 1990 and 1991. Vegetative biomass and/or persistence were assessed in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002. The high rate of biosolids applied provided favorable soil chemical properties but could not overcome physical property limitations due to shallow undeveloped soil perched atop a compacted soil layer at 25 cm depth. The plant species whose persistence and biomass production were the greatest after a decade or more of establishment (i.e., switchgrass, sericea lespedeza, reed canarygrass, tall fescue, and crownvetch) shared the physiological and reproductive characteristics of low fertility requirements, drought and moisture tolerance, and propagation by rhizome and/or stolons. Of these five species, two (tall fescue and sericea lespedeza) are or have been seeded commonly on Appalachian coal surface mines, and often dominate abandoned pasture sites. Despite the high rates of heavy metal-bearing biosolids applied to the soil, plant uptake of Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn were well within critical concentrations more than a decade after establishment of the vegetation.
Journal of Environmental Quality 34(5):1811-9. · 2.32 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Small cow-calf operations are common in the Appalachian region. Tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) S. J. Darbyshire] is the dominant forage in these systems for direct grazing as well as for stockpiling. The present study was conducted from 2001 to 2005. A total of 108 Angus and Angus crossbred cows were allotted randomly to 6 forage systems and then to 3 replicates within each system. In brief, system 1 had a stocking rate of 0.91 ha/cow in a Middleburg 3-paddock (A, B, and C) system. System 2 was similar to system 1 except for a stocking rate of 0.71 ha/cow. A stocking rate of 0.71 ha/cow also was used in systems 3 through 6. All A paddocks had tall fescue, whereas B paddocks had tall fescue/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) except in system 6, which had tall fescue/lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don]. System 3 evaluated a 2-paddock (A and B) rotational grazing system, and system 4 evaluated a 3-paddock (A, B, and C) rotational grazing system, with paddock C containing orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Systems 5 and 6 differed from system 2 in the areas of paddocks B and C as well as in the forage mixtures used. In paddock C, system 5 had switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and system 6 had tall fescue and birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.). System 1 had the greatest average herbage availability from weaning until breeding (P < 0.05) with the least amount of hay fed (P = 0.03) when compared with the remainder of the systems. Differences (P > 0.05) in percentage of ground cover were not detected among systems. There was no year x system interaction effect on the cow or calf performance variables evaluated and no treatment effect on cow performance variables. There was a treatment effect on calf performance variables. System 2 produced the greatest adjusted weaning weight, kilograms of calf weaned per hectare, and kilograms of calf per kilograms of cow at weaning (P < 0.05). Numerical ranking for total calf production per hectare from the greatest to least was system 2, 6, 3, 5, 4, and 1. Systems evaluated did not affect cow performance although differences in calf performance and overall productivity of the systems were observed.
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ABSTRACT: Summary Forage species provide environmental benefits as erosion-controlling, nutrient recycling vegetative ground covers, and they possess economic potential as animal feed sources hen used re-vegetate reclaimed surface mined land. Establishing forages on surface- mined soils in southwest Virginia is a challenge, because the steep, shallow soils are prone to erosion and provide poor nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrition. Biosolids (domestic sewage sludges treated to permit land application) have demonstrated excellent economic and agronomic value as soil amendments for reclaiming disturbed soils, but concerns regarding the potential for heavy metal uptake by crops and transport through the food chain have prevented the widespread use of this potentially valuable amendment for restoring productivity to degraded lands. A study was successfully established in spring 1991 at the Powell River Project Demonstration Field Site in Wise County, Virginia to study the establishment success and longevity of sixteen cover crop species and species mixes planted in a surface-mined site that was amended with a standard mixture of composted wood chips and biosolids. The stand and biomass of the various species have been measured annually, but no monitoring of heavy metal uptake has been conducted. Vegetation has been mowed but not removed from the plots; thus, biosolids-borne heavy metals should remain within the soil-plant system. The purpose of this study was to determine whether forage crops grown on the biosolids-amended mine land can accumulate heavy metals to high enough concentrations as to be phytotoxic or pose toxicity concerns to livestock who feed on the forages. We sampled the soils and a variety of forages that were representative of the successfully-establishing species, including tall fescue, ladino clover, crown vetch, reed canarygrass, common sericea lespedeza, AULotan sericea lespedeza, switchgrass, a tall fescue-alfalfa mixture, and a switchgrass-AULotan mixture. The soil and plant tissue was analyzed for Cd, Cu, Ni, and Zn, the potentially toxic trace elements whose application rates in the biosolids most closely approached the limits set by the U.S. EPA. The concentrations of total recoverable Cu, Ni, and Zn were not affected by vegetative cover treatment. Soil Cd concentrations were below detection limits. Plant tissue concentrations of the trace elements varied with forage type but were lower than concentrations believed to be phytotoxic or possess food chain risks. The standard wood chips and biosolids treatment developed for reclaiming surface mined coal land in southwest Virginia provided no long term trace element concerns.
