Archive
93 posts
The nutritive value of red clover
Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) had a higher content of protein and of digestible organic matter than orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L) during the first, second and third growth cycles. With advancing maturity, the protein content and the digestibility decreased in both species. Red clover showed approximately 40 % less cell wall content than orchard…
Varieties of red clover and meadow fescue in tests
Between 1995 and 1997, 38 varieties of red clover and 24 of meadow fescue have been evaluated in a comparative variety test program. The criterias looked at were properties as yielding ability, competitive ability, resistance to diseases and persistence. Based on the achieved results, the following varieties are newly considered for the <<List of Recommended…
Phenological retrospective for the year 1997
Per molte localité della Svizzera, il 1997 è risultato tra i quattro anni più caldi di questo secolo. Di particolare rilievo sono state le temperature elevate di marzo e di agosto, ma anche l’invasione di aria fredda alla fone di aprile con danni per gelo a diverse colture. In primevera si poteva osservare un anticipo…
Direct-mulch-planting of potatoes
The possibilities of dead and living mulch were checked in three years trials comparing direct-mulch-planting and the traditional cropping system of potatoes. It is the aim to develop herbological methods in the new cropping system and to minimize N-leaching. The pre-forming of ridges after cereal harvest in the late summer and the type of green…
Fallow deer farming in Switzerland – an animal welfare problem?
Fallow deer farming offers an alternative to the conventional meat-production and is in line with the extensification of meadowland. The Swiss Ordinance on Animal Protection rules wild animal husbandry in general terms, only. There are no specific directions for fallow deer farming. In this paper the behaviour of four fallow deer herds was investigated in…
Milk production in New Zealand: A model for Switzerland?
On a group of 95 heifers of the Fleckvieh / Red Holstein and Brown Swiss breeds, growth, fertility and first lactation culling decisions werde studied. Calf rearing, feeding and housing were according to current practice in Switzerland. The heifers were first bred relatively late, at 20,3 months average. When subdivided by calving age, the growth…
Fermentation of aspartate by propionibacteria increases the risk of second fermentation in Swiss type cheese
The statistical evaluation of datas collected from 30 commercial Emmental cheeses showed, that the deamination of aspartate to succinate by propionibacteria (aspartate metabolism) increases the risk of late fermentation in Swiss-type cheeses. It is not only the additional carbondioxide which is released during aspartate metabolism which reduces the potential time of storage, but it is…
Warm water seed-treatment realised in the practice for the control of the seed-borne snow mould in summer-wheat
In Switzerland, one of the most important seed-borne fungal pathogens of wheat is Gerlachia nivalis (=Fusarium nivale, snow mould). A warm water seed treatment under practical conditions against G. nivalis-naturally infected summer-wheat seed, was compared with a laboratory warm water treatment and a chemical dressing in field and laboratory experiments. For the warm water treatment…
Seed health tests on organic farming cereal seed
For organic farming, the use of chemically treated seed is not permitted. Therefore the untreated seed should be free from heavy contamination by pathogens. Since 1995, seed health tests were performed from organic farming seed lots. Based on threshold values for Fusarium Nivale (snow mould), Septoria nodorum (damping-off) and Tilletia caries (common bunt), a recommendation…
Evaluation of effects of ecological measures
What are the effects of ecological measures taken in accordance with the Swiss Federal Law on Agriculture (Art. 31b)? Is it possible to reduce the excess phosphorus and nitrogen loading of waters from agriculture? In order to study these questions, two projects have been started in 1996 at the Institute of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.…
Effects of nitrogen fertilization and cutting frequency on the mineral content of a natural meadow
In a long-term trial with a natural meadow situated at 1000 m above sea level, four experimental plots were fertilized with varying levels of mineral nitrogen. Per growing season and ha, 0, 55, 110 and 165 kg of N were applied. Each plot was additionally split into three cutting frequencies, i.e. 2, 3 and 4…
Testing silage additives 1997
The efficacy of the new silage additives, available in Switzerland to promote the main fermentation, was tested. The trials were carried out in small-scale silos with a mixture of lucerne and cocksfoot. Forage of the first and also second cut was ensiled at two different dry matter levels (about 20 and 30 % dry matter).…
Rapeseed cake in dairy cow feeding
In a feeding trial with 58 dairy cows in different stages of lactation, including 14 primiparous animals, the effects of using a high proportion of rapeseed cake (70 %) in a protein supplement were studied in comparison with a concentrate based on soybean meal and sunflower seeds and meal. The basal ration was restricted hay…
Enzyme complex – an alternative to antibiotics in broiler chicken diets?
The aim of the experiment was to evaluate possible interactions of an enzyme complex and a feed antibiotic on growth and metabolism parameters in broiler chickens. The basal diet contained 400 g/kg barley. The four treatments were as follows: K – without supplements (control), A – antibiotic Zincbacitracin, 50 ppm, E – enzyme complex Bio-Feed…
