J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1951. 10:447-454.
© 1951 American Society of Animal Science
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Effect of Stage of Maturity and Storage on Quality, Quantity, and Nutritive Value of South Dakota Prairie Hays1, 2,

George E. Staples, R. M. Jordan, Geo. F. Gastler, Arnold B. Nelson3 and C. J. Franzke

South Dakota, Agriculture Experiment Station

Abstract

During the three years 1947–48 to 1949–50 chemical analyses have been made of hays cut at various stages of maturity, namely; early-cut (usually from early- to mid-July) medium-cut (mid-August), late-cut (late-September to early-October) and early- to medium-cut that has been stored for a varying number of years. Feeding trials with cattle, and digestion trials with sheep and cattle, were conducted to study further the nutritive content and feeding value of these hays. From this work the following conclusions were drawn.

  1. Protein content of hay was affected materially by time of harvest. Late-cut hay contained only 50 to 70 percent as much total protein as early-cut hay.
  2. Dry matter, ether extract, crude fiber, and nitrogen-free extract were not affected seriously by time of harvest.
  3. The time at which hay was cut affected the apparent digestibility of the nutrients in the hay. The digestibility of protein showed the greatest decrease as maturity of the hay advanced whereas the digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen free extract, ether extract, and fiber were reduced only slightly when late-cut hay was fed as compared to early-cut hay.
  4. Adding a supplement of oats and soybean oil meal to the hays improved the digestibility of the medium- and late-cut hay rations to a relatively greater extent than the early-cut hay ration.
  5. Early- and medium-cut hay produced greater animal gain and lower feed consumption per hundred pounds of gain than late-cut hay when all hays were supplemented with one pound of oats and one pound of 40 percent soybean oil meal per calf daily.
  6. Storing native hay in stacks for as long as three years did not appear to reduce its nutritive value.
  7. Yearly yields of early-cut hay, during a two-year period from three stations, averaged over 400 pounds more dry matter and about 50 pounds more protein per acre than did late-cut hay.

Footnotes

1 A contribution from the Animal Husbandry Department. Approved for publication by the Director of the South Dakota Agriculture Experiment Station. Publication No. 258 of the Journal Series.

2 Supported in part by a grant from Swift & Co., Chicago, Ill.

3 Formerly Assistant Animal Husbandman South Dakota Agr. Exp. Station; present address Oklahoma A. & M.






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Copyright © 1951 by the American Society of Animal Science.