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In Vitro Dry Matter Digestibility, Detergent Fiber, Protein and Mineral Content of Wheat Forage as a Dairy Cattle Feed^{1 ,2,}

University of Missouri, Columbia 65201

Abstract

Wheat forages sampled at four sites in Northwest Missouri over 10 cutting stages were analyzed for detergent fiber, net energy, mineral, and protein content to determine nutritional potential and to determine optimum cutting stage as a forage for lactating dairy cows. Detergent fibers (except lignin), net energy (calculated) and protein content were similar to those of legumes at comparable stages. Calcium content was lower than and phosphorus content was similar to most forages. Optimum cutting stages were boot to early head; estimated net energy and protein content appeared sufficient that wheat haylage could be substituted for haylages or corn silage as forage base for dairy cows.

¹ Contribution from the Missouri Agricultural Experiment Station, Journal Series No. 7885. Approved by the Director. The authors are grateful to Joan Stauffer for typing the manuscript.

² Department of Dairy Science.