Table 7. Effect of hay-making date on chemical composition and feed value of rye hay
Harvest date | DM (g/kg DM) | DM loss (g/kg DM) | CP (g/kg DM) | ADF (g/kg DM) | NDF (g/kg DM) | IVDMD (g/kg DM) | THN(%) | RFV | F&Y (Log CFU/g) |
April 30 (Boot) | 852.10b | 167.68a | 96.50b | 273.83c | 514.53c | 843.20a | 67.27a | 122a | 4.91a |
May 9 (Heading) | 864.60ab | 37.11b | 113.75a | 345.17b | 601.00b | 730.43b | 61.63b | 96b | 4.65b |
May15 (Blooming) | 883.17a | 17.13b | 96.30b | 410.77a | 675.37a | 654.33c | 56.45c | 78c | 4.66b |
SEM | 2.08 | 16.42 | 0.74 | 1.37 | 0.86 | 2.54 | 1.07 | 6.42 | 0.014 |
p-value | 0.008 | < 0.001 | 0.023 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | < 0.001 | 0.003 | < 0.001 |
Means within a column with different superscripts differ (p < 0.05).
DM, dry matter; CP, crude protein; ADF, acid detergent fiber; NDF, neutral detergent fiber; IVDMD, in vitro dry matter digestibility; TDN, total digestible nutrient; RFV, relative feed value; F&Y, fungi and yeast; CFU, colony foaming unit.