Table 2. Alfalfa forage quality by harvest for winter kill demonstration at Fargo, ND, in 2007 (mean of 2 cultivars).
Treatment
Quality component†
CP ADF NDF HEMI RFV
 
----------% of dry matter----------
 
 
Cut 1
3 cuts 26.3 20.6 30.4 9.8 226
4 cuts 26.1 20.3 28.9 8.5 240
  LSD (0.05) NS NS NS NS NS
           
 
Cut 2
3 cuts 23.6 24.3 33.1 8.7 200
4 cuts
23.6
23.3 31.1 7.9 212
  LSD (0.05) NS NS NS * NS
           
 
Cut 3
3 cuts 25.6 19.8 27.3 7.5 251
4 cuts 25.6 18.6 27.0 8.4 256
  LSD (0.05) NS NS NS NS NS
           
 
Cut 4
4 cuts 18.2 21.2 29.2 7.8 230
† CP=crude protein; ADF=acid detergent fiber; NDF=neutral detergent fiber;
  HEMI=hemicellulose (NDF-ADF); RFV=relative feed valve.