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Observations on the Digestibility of Orchardgrass Pasture as Affected by Season and Grazing Management^{1, 2,}

Western Washington Agricultural Experiment Station Puyallup

ABSTRACT

Recent developments (1,2,4) in research methods have made possible the determination of the grazing animal's dry matter consumption and digestibility of forages. The Western Washington Experiment Station, Puyallup, is currently using these techniques to ascertain the relative nutritive value of various grass and legume species. Some preliminary observations from this work may interest others working in this area.

Reid (3) previously reported a rapid decline in dry matter digestibility of first-cutting forage with advancing maturity, after a base date of April 30. Dry matter digestibility declined from approximately 77% in early May to approximately 52% by mid-July. A similar decline in digestibility with advancing maturity was reported for aftermath forage, but the initial digestibility values were not so high and the decline was not so rapid as with first growth. The digestibility of the aftermath was approximately 65% at 20 days after first cutting and declined to approximately 57.5% at 70 days.

¹ This study was supported in part by funds from the Dairy Husbandry Research Branch under Cooperative Agreement 12-14-100-769(52).

² Scientific Paper No. 1693, Washington Agricultural Experiment Stations, Pullman. Project No. 1333.