Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-kw2vx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-02-06T02:03:44.191Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

2.2 The Effect of Conservation Processes on the Nitrogenous Components of Forages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 February 2018

P. McDonald
P. McDonald*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Biochemistry, Edinburgh School of Agriculture, Edinburgh EH9 3JG
Get access

Extract

During field drying, the cut crop continues to respire, resulting in the oxidation of sugars and organic acids. In addition, protease activity increases the soluble nitrogenous components. The importance of plant enzymes in this process was first recognised by Lamb (1917), who treated maize with chloroform, toluene and cresol to inhibit bacterial growth. More recently, studies using gamma irradiated herbage (Gouet, Fatianoff and Bousset, 1970; Clark, 1974) have confirmed Lamb's conclusion that, in harvested crops, plant enzymes are mainly responsible for proteolysis.

Type
2. The Nitrogenous Constituents of Fresh and Conserved Forages
Information
BSAP Occasional Publication , Volume 6: Forage Protein in Ruminant Animal Production , 1982 , pp. 41 - 49
Copyright
Copyright © British Society of Animal Production 1982

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Barry, T. N. 1976. The effectiveness of formaldehyde treatment in protecting dietary protein from rumen microbial degradation. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 35: 221–229.Google Scholar
Beck, Th. 1978. The microbiology in silage fermentation. In Fermentation of Silage - a Review (ed. McCullough, M. E.), pp. 61–115, National Feed Ingredients Assoc., Iowa.Google Scholar
Bjarnason, J. and Carpenter, K. J. 1970. Mechanism of heat damage in proteins. 2. Chemical changes in pure proteins. Br. J. Nutr. 24: 313–329.Google Scholar
Blagoveshensky, G. V., Maryna, M. A. and Sokolkov, V. M. 1978. Efficiency of methods of grass treatment before drying. Proc. 2nd. int. Gn Crop Drying Congr. 1978 Saskatoon, pp. 170–176.Google Scholar
Boggess, S. F., Stewart, C. R., Aspinall, D. and Paleg, L. G. 1976. Effect of water stress on proline synthesis from radioactive precursors. Plant Physiol. 58: 398–401.Google Scholar
Brady, C. J. 1960. Redistribution of nitrogen in grass and leguminous fodder plants during wilting and ensilage. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 11: 276–284.Google Scholar
Carpintero, C. M., Henderson, A. R. and McDonald, P. 1979. The effect of some pretreatments on proteolysis during the ensiling of herbage. Grass and Forage Sci. 34:311–315.Google Scholar
Clark, B. J. 1974. Biochemical and physiological changes occurring during wilting and the early stages of ensilage. PhD Thesis, Univ. Edinburgh. Google Scholar
Deacon, J. W. 1980. Introduction to Modern Mycology. Blackwell Scientific Publ., Oxford.Google Scholar
Devuyst, A., Arnould, R., Vanbelle, M. and Moreels, A. 1972. The value of formic acid as a silage additive. Rev. Agric. No. 5, pp. 795–805.Google Scholar
Ford, J. E. 1975. Some effects of overheating of protein on its digestion and absorption. In Peptide Transport in Protein Nutrition (ed. Mathews, D. M. and Payne, J. W.), pp. 183–203. North Holland Publ. Co., Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Gouet, P., Fatianoff, N. and Bousset, J. 1970. Nitrogen and carbohydrate metabolism in lucerne ensiled and sterilised with γ-irradiation. C.R. Acad. Sci. 270: 1024–1027.Google Scholar
Harris, G. 1958. Nitrogen metabolism. In The Chemistry and Biology of Yeasts (ed. Cook, A. H.), pp. 437–533. Academic Press, New York.Google Scholar
Henderson, A. R., McDonald, P. and Anderson, D. H. 1981. The effect of silage additives containing formaldehyde on the fermentation of ryegrass ensiled at different dry matter levels and on the nutritive value of direct-cut silage. (In press).Google Scholar
Henderson, A. R., McDonald, P. and Woolford, M. K. 1972. Chemical changes and losses during the ensilage of wilted grass treated with formic acid. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 23: 1079–1087.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Henderson, A. R., Proven, M. and McDonald, P. 1980. Silage additive studies. Edinburgh School of Agric. Ann. Rpt. Google Scholar
Hodge, J. E. 1953. Chemistry of browning reactions in model systems. J. agric. Fd Chem. 1: 928–943.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughes, A. D. 1970. The non-protein nitrogen composition of grass silages. II. The changes during the storage of silage. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 75:421–431.Google Scholar
Hurrell, R. F. and Carpenter, K. J. 1977. Maillard reactions in foods. In Physical, Chemical and Biological Changes in Food Caused by Thermal Processing (ed. Høyem, T. and Kvåle, O.), pp. 168–184. Applied Science Publ. Ltd., London.Google Scholar
Kemble, A. R. 1956. Studies on the nitrogen metabolism of the ensilage process. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 7: 125–130.Google Scholar
Kemble, A. R. and MacPherson, H. T. 1954. Monoamino monocarboxylic acid content of preparations of herbage protein. Biochem. J. 58: 44–49.Google Scholar
Kreula, M. and Rauramaa, A. 1977. Formaldehyde and formic acid in the ensiling process and the metabolism of dairy cows. Agrochimica. 21:341–355.Google Scholar
Lamb, A. R. 1917. The relative influence of microorganisms and plant enzymes on the fermentation of corn silage. J. agric. Res. 8: 361–380.Google Scholar
Lea, C. H. and Hannan, R. S. 1950. Studies on the reaction between proteins and reducing sugars in the dry state. II. Further observations on the formation of this casein-glucose complex. Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 4: 518–531.Google Scholar
McDonald, P. and Edwards, R. A. 1976. The influence of conservation methods on digestion and utilisation of forages by ruminants. Proc. Nutr. Soc. 35:210–211. Google Scholar
McDonald, P., Stirling, A. C., Henderson, A. R. and Whittenbury, R. 1965. Fermentation studies on red clover. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 16: 549–557.Google Scholar
MacPherson, H. T. 1952. Changes in nitrogen distribution in crop conservations. I. The rate and extent of protein breakdown in ensilage. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 3: 362–365.Google Scholar
MacPherson, H. T. and Slater, J. S. 1959. γ-Amino-n-butyric, aspartic, glutamic and pyrro-lidonecarboxylic acid; Their determination and occurrence in grass during conservation. Biochem. J. 71: 654–660.Google Scholar
MacPherson, H. T. and Violante, P. 1966. Ornithine, putrescine and cadaverine in farm silage. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 17: 124–127.Google Scholar
Marsh, R. 1976. Effect of rotary-drum-drier exit temperature and length of pre-drying storage time on digestibility of dried grass cobs. J. Br. Grassld Soc. 31: 53–58.Google Scholar
Mead, G. C. 1971. The amino-acid fermenting Clostridia. J. gen. Microbiol. 67: 47–56.Google Scholar
Mecham, D. K. and Olcott, H. S. 1947. Effect of dry heat on proteins. Ind. Engng Chem. 39: 1023–1027.Google Scholar
Moon, N. J., Ely, L. O., Sudweehs, E. M. and McCullough, M. E. 1979. Effect of inoculation of Lactobacillus acidophilus in wheat, alfalfa and corn silage on microbial populations and pH during fermentation. J. Dairy Sci. 62 (supple. 1): 183–184.Google Scholar
Moore-Landecker, E. 1972. Fundamentals of Fungi. Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey.Google Scholar
Ohshima, M. 1971. Studies on nutritional nitrogen from red clover silage. Mem. Fac. Agric. Kagawa Univ., Japan, No. 26, pp. 1–68.Google Scholar
Ohshima, M. and McDonald, P. 1978. A review of the changes in nitrogenous compounds of herbage during ensilage. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 29: 497–505.Google Scholar
Ohshima, M., McDonald, P. and Acamovic, T. 1979. Changes during ensilage in the nitrogenous components of fresh and additive treated ryegrass and lucerne. J. Sci. Fd Agric. 30: 97–106.Google Scholar
Ohyama, Y. 1970. On the proteolysis in the leaves of pasture plants. Jap. J. Zootech. Sci. 41: 585–592.Google Scholar
Saue, O. and Brierem, K. 1969. Formic acid as a silage additive. Proc. 3rd gen. mtg Europ. Grassld Fed. Braunschweig, pp. 161–172.Google Scholar
Stewart, C. R. and Boggess, S. F. 1977. Effect of wilting on conversion of arginine, ornithine and glutamate to proline in bean leaves. Plant Sci. Lett. 8: 147–153.Google Scholar
Stewart, C. R., Boggess, S. F., Aspinall, D. and Paleg, L. G. 1977. Inhibition of proline oxidation by water stress. Plant Physiol. 59: 930–932.Google Scholar
Stirling, A. C. and Whittenbury, R. 1963. Sources of lactic acid bacteria occurring in silage. J. appl. Bact. 26: 86–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sutton, A. L. and Vetter, R. J. 1971. Nitrogen studies with lambs fed alfalfa as hay, low moisture and high moisture silages. J. Anim. Sci. 32: 1256–1261.Google Scholar
Tracey, M. V. 1948. Leaf protease of tobacco and other plants. Biochem. J. 42: 281–287.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Valley-Riestra, J. and Barnes, R. H. 1970. Digestion of heat damaged egg albumen by the rat. J. Nutr. 100: 873–882.Google Scholar
Vogels, G. D. and Van Der Drift, C. 1976. Degradation of purines and pyramidines by microorganisms. Bact. Rev. 40: 403–468.Google Scholar
Waldo, D. R., Keys, J. E., Smith, L. W. and Gordon, C. H. 1971. Effect of formic acid on recovery, intake, digestibility and growth from unwilted silage. J. Dairy Sci. 54: 77–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, J. F. 1964. Formaldehyde, 3rd ed. Reinhold Publishing Corp., New York.Google Scholar
Watson, S. J. and Nash, M. J. 1960. The Conservation of Grass and Forage Crops. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh.Google Scholar
Wieringa, G. W. 1966. The influence of nitrate on silage fermentation. Proc. 10th int. Grassld Congr. pp. 537–540.Google Scholar
Wilson, R. F. and Wilkins, R. J. 1973. Formic acid as a silage additive for wet crops of cocksfoot and lucerne. J. agric. Sci., Camb. 80: 225–231.Google Scholar