Theses and Dissertations at Montana State University (MSU)
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Item Utilizing gene suppression technology and hay storage techniques to improve forage quality and animal performance(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2017) Staudenmeyer, Danielle Marie; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Emily Glunk; J.G.P Bowman, R.L. Mack, A.L. Mack and E.C. Glunk were co-authors of the article, 'The effects of feeding reduced-lignin alfalfa on growing beef cattle performance' submitted to the journal 'Journal of animal science' which is contained within this thesis.; J.G.P Bowman, R.L. Mack and E.C. Glunk were co-authors of the article, 'Dry matter and forage quality losses associated with storing large round bales outside at varying geographic locations in the state of Montana' submitted to the journal 'Journal of animal science' which is contained within this thesis.Utilizing technologies such as genetic modification and forage management techniques are two ways to improve forage quality. The objective of the first study in this thesis was to determine the differences in forage quality between reduced-lignin and conventional alfalfa. To test these differences, twenty-four Crossbred Angus heifers were selected to participate in this study and their performance was evaluated based on changes in BW, ADG, DMI, and G:F. In situ digestibility was determined using four ruminally cannulated Hereford cows. Hay samples were collected and used to determine forage quality and leaf-to-stem ratio. There were no differences (P > or = 0.05) in forage quality between treatments, except for DM (P = 0.01). Means did not differ by treatment for percent leaf (P = 0.06) but did differ for leaf-to-stem ratio (P = 0.04). There were no treatment or treatment by day interactions (P > or = 0.05) for BW, ADG, DMI, or G:F. There were no treatment or treatment by time interactions (P > or = 0.05) for in situ digestibility. Overall, the results of this study suggested no difference in forage quality between reduced-lignin and conventional alfalfa. Additionally, animal performance did not differ for crossbred Angus heifers consuming reduced-lignin or conventional alfalfa. The objective of the second study in this thesis was to quantify DM and forage quality losses associated with three different methods of outdoor round bale hay storage at two different sites in Montana. Large round bales consisting of 100% grass hay wrapped in plastic net wrapping were placed into one of four storage systems at both the Bozeman Agricultural Research and Teaching farm (BART) and the Northern Agricultural Research Center (NARC). The four storage systems were: single-stack (SS), pyramid (PYR), mushroom (MSH), and inside stored bales (INSIDE). Results indicated that DM and forage quality losses differed based on geographic location in Montana. This study suggested that DM and forage quality losses differ by location and that bale placement, rather than hay storage formation, is more important for changes in DM and quality for bales stored in Montana over the winter months.Item Storage properties of stacked alfalfa hay(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1973) Verma, Lalit RajItem Thermal biology of the lesser grain borer Rhyzopertha dominica (F.) (Bostrichidae) and the warehouse pirate bug Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) (Anthocoridae)(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 2002) Campbell, Tracy Lynn MummItem Effect of different methods of storage upon the vitality of scarified and nonscarified seed of alfalfa, sweet clover, and red clover(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1932) Hay, William DanielItem Cost-volume relationships in locally owned Montana cooperative elevators(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1959) Hanson, Edward L.Item Understanding Chinese farmers' grain storage(Montana State University - Bozeman, College of Agriculture, 1999) Hua, Di, 1936-; Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Vincent H. Smith; David E. Buschena (co-chair)China is the largest grain producer and consumer in the world. Since introducing its open-door policy in the 1980's, China has become an increasingly important grain importing country. However, China's wheat imports have varied considerably from year to year. One key issue affecting China's grain imports is its large on-farm grain reserves. This thesis is intended to examine factors significant for China's on-farm grain stocks and shed some additional light on its potential impacts on China's domestic grain markets and grain import activities. The key finding is that Chinese farmers' grain supply is primarily from self-production. The Chinese government decrees that farmers be not eligible to purchase grain from government food agencies that control 70 to 80 percent of the total marketed surplus of grain in China. This policy plus the underdeveloped domestic grain and credit markets leads Chinese farmers to store a considerable amount of grain for consumption. The food- and income-security concern of Chinese farmers is found to be another important factor in Chinese farmers' grain storage decisions. The highly variable weather, a still developing infrastructure, and frequent changes in government grain policies all increase the risk faced by Chinese farmers, thus increase their food- and income-security concerns. This thesis finds that the increasing number of farm family members working off-farm can help reduce the quantity of on-farm grain storage because of the potential remittance from more stable off-farm earnings to the farm home. It is also found that farmers tend to store less as income increases due to changes in absolute risk-aversions of farmers. The last important finding of thesis is that Chinese farmers' grain storage is somewhat price-elastic, in contrast with suggestions by some Chinese economists that China's on-farm grain storage is primarily for food-security concerns and therefore generally price-inelastic. It is also found that additions to farm household grain storage is directly elastic with respect to household grain output.