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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #113423
Title: HERBIVORE PREFERENCE FOR AFTERNOON- AND MORNING-CUT FORAGES AND ADOPTION OF CUTTING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

Author
item Mayland, Henry
item Burns, Joseph
item Fisher, Dwight
item CARLSTROM, R - MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY
item CASH, D - MONTANA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Grassland International Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/2000
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Photosynthesizing forage plants accumulate total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) during daylight, but then TNC concentrations are reduced during the night. Afternoon-cut forage (PM) has greater TNC value and also greater economic value, than does morning-cut (AM). Cattle, sheep, goats, and horses prefer PM-cut hay and this can be readily demonstrated by offering animals a choice of hays cut in PM and AM. Alfalfa growers in the western United States are readily adopting PM-cutting technology.