Effects of Different Harvest Time of Crested Wheatgrass Which is in Artificial Range Mixture on Forage Yield and Hay Quality under Central Anatolia Conditions

Abstract

Information about forage quality, which is influenced by various factors, is essential for determination of grazing capacity. The main objective of this research was investigating effects of phenological stages (seven different cutting times) on values of forage quality indices ofcrested wheatgrass harvested at different times on forage yield and quality of various artificial range mixtures under dry conditions of
Central Anatolia during 2007 and 2008 growing season.The samples were collected from Forage Crops Experimental Gardens of the Ankara University, Turkey. They were dried, grained and analyzed against various parameters. The results showed that s forage quality indices values including forage yield, crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and ADL (acid detergent Lignin), Crude Cellulose, Total digestible nutrients (TDN), dry matter intake (DMI), digestible dry matter (DDM) and relative feed value (RFV) had significant interaction (P<0.01) between variations cultivars and harvesting times. The results demonstrated that the CP, DMI, DDM, TDN decreased and ADF, NDF, ADL, crude cellulose increased with plant growth development. In terms of growth stage, vegetative growth stage had better forage quality