HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Colovos, N. F. Articles by Teeri, A. E. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Colovos, N. F. Articles by Teeri, A. E.

The Nutritive Value of Timothy Hay at Different Stages of Maturity as Compared with Second Cutting Clover Hay¹

New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station, Durham

ABSTRACT

The relative nutritive value of timothy hay cut at three different stages of maturity and a second-cutting mow-cured clover hay was determined by means of eleven protein and energy digestion balance experiments with dairy heifers. The early-, medium- and late-cut timothy hays contained 57.1, 44.1 and 32.5 per cent, respectively, as much protein as the second cutting clover. However, the gross energy values for all of the hays were essentially the same.

The digestibility of the protein decreased markedly from the clover hay through the different timothy hays. The values for the early, medium and late timothy hays were 87.0, 71.4 and 47.4 per cent, respectively that of the clover hay. These same hays furnished only 49.7, 31.5 and 15.4 per cent, respectively, as much digestible protein as was furnished by the clover hay.

The early-cut timothy hay was superior to the other hays with respect to metabolizable energy. When compared to the early-cut timothy, the clover, medium timothy and late timothy contained 90.9, 87.1 and 79.7 per cent, respectively, as much metabolizable energy.

These results show that early-cut timothy may be a better source of energy than good legume hay for dairy cattle, but not of digestible protein. However, practically the same amount of nitrogen was stored from the early-cut timothy as from the clover under the conditions of this experiment. Early-cut timothy hay may furnish up to 3.2 times as much digestible protein and 1.25 times as much metabolizable energy as late-cut timothy hay.

¹ Contribution no. 126 of the New Hampshire Agricultural Experiment Station. The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Mr. A. B. Littlehale, of the staff of this Station, in caring for the experimental animals.