The Relationship between Forage Dry Matter Digestibility and Weight Gain by Dairy Heifers on Three Winter Grazing Crops

Abstract

Nine dairy heifers, averaging 328 lb. at the beginning of the experiment were used in a 3 x 3 Latin square to study the relationship between dry matter digestibility of winter forages and weight gains. Three forages, Abruzzi rye, Arlington oats, and Chapel Hill rescue, were used in an 18-week trial divided into three 6-week periods. Dry matter digestibility was apparently not a limiting factor until the forages began to mature in period 3. Average dry matter digestibilities for the forages were: rye, 73.5%; oats, 73.9%; and, rescue, 74.7%. Average daily gains of heifers were: on rye, 1.64 lb.; on oats, 1.91 lb.; and on rescue, 1.63 lb.