ARS | Publication request: SOLUBLE SUGARS OF OKLAHOMA FORAGES HARVESTED IN MORNING AND AFTERNOON: STOCKER PREFERENCE.

Submitted to: ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 1, 2002
Publication Date: November 1, 2002
Citation: Appeddu, L.A., Coleman, S.W., Phillips, W.A. 2002. Soluble sugars of oklahoma forages harvested in morning and afternoon: stocker preference.. ASA-CSSA-SSSA Proceedings. Poster #C06-appeddu112923.

Technical Abstract: The effect of hay harvest time and soluble carbohydrate (SC) concentration on stocker lamb preference was evaluated. Paiute orchardgrass, Luna pubescent wheatgrass, Triumph fescue, and Jose tall wheatgrass were cut for hay at 0730 (AM) and 1400 (PM). Twelve stocker lambs (29 +/- 4.0 kg) selected between AM and PM harvests. Difference was calculated by subtracting intake of PM from AM hay. Concentration of SC in AM versus PM hays were Paiute (7.9 vs 11.2%), Luna (8.6 vs 10.4%), Triumph (9.9 vs 9.4%) and Jose (9.7 vs 10.8%). Lambs consumed more (P < 0.001) PM than AM hay (291 vs 164 +/- 13.6 g). Difference in hay dry matter intake for PM and AM hays ranked Jose (181 g) > Triumph (156 g) > Luna (98 g) > Paiute (73 g). SC intake difference was greater for Paiute than Triumph hay (17 vs 7 +/- 2.2 g; P< 0.01), but total SC intake was similar across hays. Concentration of SC was positively correlated with hay intake for Jose (0.68; P< 0.001), but negatively for Triumph (-0.79; P< 0.001). Intake rate was lowest (P=0.03) for Triumph AM hay. Cutting cool season grasses later in the day increased lamb preference, but differences in soluble carbohydrate did not explain all selection differences.