Studies on Reasonable Utilization of Soiling Forage Grasses in Warmer Districts of Japan

XII. The Feeding Value of Corn, Sudangrass, Sorgo and Teosinte

Abstract

In order to determine each feeding value of the different sowing time and that of the different cutting frequency of representative summer forage crops, the digestion trials of corn sown between March and August, sudangrass in April, sorgo in April and May and teosinte in May were conducted.
Materials for the digestion trials that were collected by the same quantity of hay (water content 20%) on each cutting date in the cutting periods extended from 25 to 35 days in principle were mixed and fed for rams.
The results were as follows:
1. In the feeding value of corn, the minimal value was shown by the crop sown in March and the maximum value was shown by it sown in April. Now, the crop sown in June grew rapidly, but that feeding value was less than those of the crops sown in April, July and August.
2. The feeding value of sudangrass in the same stage of growth did not show significant difference, and so that had no relation with the cutting frequency.
3. In the feeding value of sorgo cut between the heading stage and the milk stage, that of the crop cut from late July to early September showed the best result.
4. In the feeding value of teosinte, that of the first cut (the vegitative stage) was richer than that of the second (the heading stage). In the crop sown in May, the feeding value of it by early sowing was richer than that by late sowing.