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ProCrop |
North Central Research Extension Center - Crop and Stage Forage Trial
A two-year annual forage trial at the North Central Research Extension Center at Minot evaluated two common concerns of producers: what are differences between different cereal grains used for forage and at what stage should they be harvested. The trial involved growing oat, forage barley, triticale, and oat-field pea combination for forage in 1996 and 1997. Crops were harvested for forage at differing stages including: boot, milk soft dough and firm dough. Good growing conditions were realized in years of the study.
Differences between oats, triticale, and forage barley were minor in regards to yield, crude protein and digestibility. However, the stage at harvest affected both yield and protein. Greatest yields were achieved at advancing maturity where as protein declined. Late milk to early dough is often recommended as an appropriate state to maximize protein per acre.
|
|
% Crude Protein |
% Digestible Dry Matter |
Yield/Tons |
|
Oats |
|||
|
14.7 |
61.1 |
2.1 |
|
11.7 |
59.8 |
2.9 |
|
9.9 |
61.9 |
3.3 |
|
9.8 |
64.3 |
3.3 |
|
11.5 |
61.8 |
2.9 |
|
|
Forage Barley |
|||
|
14.4 |
61.0 |
2.5 |
|
12.3 |
62.9 |
3.3 |
|
11.2 |
63.8 |
3.4 |
|
10.4 |
62.6 |
3.4 |
|
12.1 |
62.6 |
3.3 |
|
|
Triticale |
|||
|
15.6 |
60.9 |
1.8 |
|
10.5 |
59.5 |
2.6 |
|
9.4 |
63.2 |
2.7 |
|
9.2 |
62.7 |
3.0 |
|
11.2 |
61.6 |
2.5 |
|
|
Oats/Field Peas |
|||
|
14.8 |
61.1 |
2.1 |
|
13.0 |
62.9 |
3.0 |
|
11.9 |
64.1 |
3.1 |
|
10.6 |
62.8 |
3.3 |
|
12.6 |
62.7 |
||
|
14.9 |
61.0 |
|
|
11.9 |
61.3 |
|
|
10.6 |
63.3 |
|
|
10.0 |
63.1 |
|
John Dhuyvetter
Area Livestock Specialist
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