Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Kimberly, Idaho » Northwest Irrigation and Soils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #97664
Title: MORNING AND EVENING HARVEST EFFECTS ON ANIMAL PERFORMANCE - A REVIEW

Author
item Mayland, Henry
item Shewmaker, Glenn
item Burns, Joseph
item Fisher, Dwight

Submitted to: California Alfalfa Symposium Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/3/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Plants vary diurnally in concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC). Delaying forage harvest until mid to late afternoon could result in increased TNC in forage. Ruminants can differentiate between PM- harvested and AM-harvested grass and alfalfa hays and will eat more PM- harvested versus AM-harvested hay. In a related study, dairy cows ate about 10% more total mixed ration containing 40% PM-harvested alfalfa hay versus the same ration containing AM-harvested hay, produced more milk, and gained rather than lost body weight. Afternoon harvesting could add 15% to the feed value of forage compared with morning harvesting.

Technical Abstract: Plants vary diurnally in concentrations of nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC). Delaying forage harvest until mid to late afternoon could result in increased TNC in forage. Ruminants can differentiate between PM- harvested and AM-harvested grass and alfalfa hays and will eat more PM- harvested versus AM-harvested hay. In a related study, dairy cows ate about 10% more total mixed ration containing 40% PM-harvested alfalfa hay versus the same ration containing AM-harvested hay, produced more milk, and gained rather than lost body weight. Afternoon harvesting could add 15% to the feed value of forage compared with morning harvesting.