Ronald L. Hale1, Curtis R. Thompson1, Troy J. Dumler1, Alan Schlegel1, and Charles T. MacKown2. (1) K-State Southwest Area Extension, 4500 E. Mary St., Garden City, KS 67846-9132, (2) GrazingLands Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 7207 W. Cheyenne St., El Reno, OK 73036
Winter wheat pasture provides economical, high-quality forage for livestock during a time few other grazable forages are available. Despite increased use of white wheat little is known about the forage. This experiment examined forage yield and quality of six hard red (2137, Jagalene, Jagger, OK101, Stanton, and Thunderbolt) and six hard white (Burchett, Lakin, NuFrontier, NuHills, NuHorizon, and Trego) winter wheat varieties. Each variety was planted in four replicated plots in two southwest Kansas counties (Clark and Stanton). Forage was harvested from the same 6 ft of row in December, March, or April/May to simulate grazing during the fall/winter, prior to jointing, and graze-out, respectively. Clark County forage yields appeared highest in December while Stanton County yields appeared highest in May. Yield differed among varieties at all Stanton Co. harvests, but only at the Clark Co. April harvest. Crude protein differed among varieties at all harvests except in March at Clark Co. December and March protein levels were well above requirements for stocker calves. The simulated April/May graze-out harvests had lower protein levels with Clark Co. protein being marginal for maximum stocker gain, depending on animal weight and rate of gain. Variety differences occurred for acid detergent and neutral detergent fiber at four of the six harvests. The April Clark Co. harvest appeared to have marginal energy levels for calf gain, similar to the crude protein results. Forage energy content of the other five cuttings was well above the requirements for stocker cattle. Stanton Co. nitrate-N differed among varieties at the December and March harvests, and between red and white wheat varieties at the December cutting. Forage traits appeared to be more closely related to individual varieties since there were few statistical differences associated with wheat color.
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