> Most grass has a higher protien
> content while it is green and
> before it sets seed. Some native
> grasses especially those in the
> short grass regions keep their
> nutritional value after they dry
> off.
> To know what protien values your
> grass has requires a forage
> analysis. Things like fertilizer
> levels and time of year can affect
> the protien of the grass.
> The absolute protien level of the
> grass is only a starting point,
> the energy of the grass is
> important and the actual
> consumption of the grass is
> equally important.
> Too much protien in grass can be
> counter productive, they can wind
> up in an energy deficit trying to
> cope with and expell the excess
> protien.
> Jason Trowbridge Southern Angus
> Farms Alberta Canada
My cool season grasses that we grow in Wisconsin tested 24.37% Crude Protein (CP) with a Relative Forage Value of 218.27. The Total Digestible Nutreints (TDN) was 71.54% of dry matter. Dry Matter (DM) was 73.13%. Non Fiber Carbohydrate was 26.14% of DM and Fat was 3.20%. The test sample was produced in June, 03. I am used to southern grasses that run about 7 - 14% CP. We can produce very high quility forage in Wisconsin that is digestable by cattle. No need to supplement protien or energy.
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