The composition and nutritive value of hay grown in the east of Scotland and the influence of late applications of nitrogenous fertilizers

Abstract

1. Examination of the composition of hay grown in the east of Scotland during the 4-year period 1948–51 has confirmed earlier work indicating the low protein content of this material. In addition, the digestibility of the protein was found to be low, particularly in the case of the seeds-hays, most of which contained insufficient digestible protein to balance the starch equivalent in meeting the maintenance requirements of cattle.2. In nutritive value the seeds -hays were markedly inferior to samples from England and Wales examined by other workers, but very similar to mature ryegrass hay grown in Northern Ireland. The meadow hays examined were of similar starch equivalent but somewhat richer in protein, and this was associated with a higher digestibility of the protein; in consequence the ratio between digestible protein and starch equivalent was more nearly balanced for the maintenance feeding of cattle.3. Applications of sodium nitrate or ‘Nitrochalk’ about 10–20 days before mowing produced very variable responses in the unusually dry season of 1949, but in other years significant increases in protein content were almost invariably obtained. Low protein seeds-hays of the type commonly found in the Lothians were more responsive to this fertilizer treatment than timothy meadow hay, and while increases in protein content of 20–30% were commonly obtained, when relatively heavy dressings of fertilizer (3 cwt. or more per acre) were used, increases in the region of 50% were sometimes recorded. In most years treatment about 10 days before mowing was fully effective in improving the protein content of the hay. Earlier treatment may be preferable in a very dry season, but in more normal years this may increase the yield of the hay and so diminish the effect on protein percentage.