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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Raleigh, North Carolina » Plant Science Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73232
Title: QUALITY OF MATURE INITIAL AND MATURE REGROWTH SWITCHGRASS HAY AND SILAGE

Author
item Burns, Joseph
item Fisher, Dwight
item POND, K - TEXAS TECH. UNIVERSITY
item LUGINBUHL, J - NC STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Agronomy Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/10/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is showing potential in the Southeastern US as a forage crop that can be grazed or harvested and stored. Its value is also emerging as a crop for biomass. When grown for biomass, high yields are sought, which results in a mature forage at harvest. Potential use of mature Kanlow switchgrass (SG) as a forage, in lieu of biomass, was examined for quality using initial growth and regrowth that was cut for ha (H), or ensiled directly (SD) or after wilting (SW). Neutral detergent fiber of mature initial growth (SG) averaged 821 g/kg and mature regrowth, 719 g/kg. Respective crude protein was 25 and 83 g/kg. The intake and digestibility of dry matter by steers were similar among treatments averaging 1.70 kg/100 kg body weight (BW) and 0.43. Intake of regrowth differed among treatments (P=0.004) being 1.93 kg/100 kg BW for H, 1.25 for SD and 1.81 for SW. Digestibilities also differed (P=0.07) averaging 0.58 for H, 0.59 for SD and 0.51 for SW.