EFFECTS OF CUTTING MANAGEMENT ON YIELDS, DIGESTIBILITY, CRUDE PROTEIN, AND PERSISTENCE OF TIMOTHY, BROMEGRASS, AND ORCHARD GRASS

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Abstract
Climax timothy (Phleum pratense L.), Saratoga bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), and Frode orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) were harvested over a 3-yr period at eight developmental stages of primary growth and aftermath after a 40–64-day regrowth interval. Total dry matter (DM) yields generally increased up to flowering and ranged from 4,370 to 11,840 kg/ha, depending on grass species, cutting management, and season. Aftermath DM rarely exceeded 3,500 kg/ha. The stage of development at initial harvest had only a limited influence on aftermath production. Within the season, orchard grass had a more uniform yield distribution than timothy or bromegrass. The yield distribution of the three grasses was most uniform where the initial harvest was taken at the immature stages of development. Stand persistence was satisfactory under all cutting managements. Per cent in vitro digestible dry matter (IVD) of primary growth ranged from 76.5 to 37.0. In the 2nd and 3rd yr, decline in IVD of primary growth averaged 0.69, 0.66, and 0.82% per day for timothy, bromegrass, and orchard grass, respectively, over a 24-day period. In the 1st yr, this decline was somewhat higher. The IVD of aftermath tended to be higher when the regrowth period was shortest, although this was inconsistent, particularly for timothy and bromegrass. Total digestible DM yields increased up to heading stage. Percent crude protein (CP) of primary growth ranged from 18.2 to 7.1 under various cutting managements and decreased at an average daily rate of 0.33–0.37. Percent CP of aftermath ranged from 15.0 to 9.6. Longer regrowth periods generally resulted in lower percent CP. Cutting management had little effect on average seasonal CP yields.

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