INFLUENCE OF STAGE OF MATURITY ON YIELD COMPONENTS AND CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF CEREAL GRAIN SILAGES

The objectives of this study were to determine changes in yield of tot al grain, stem and leaf DM, leaf:stem ratio and chemical composition d uring the growth period (boot to soft-dough stage) and during ensiling of whole-crop barley (Houdeum vulgare i. 'Noble'), oats (Avena sativa L. 'Cascade'), triticale (X Triticosecale Rimpani Witt. 'Wapiti'), an d a 1:1 barley (Noble):winter triticale (ev. Pika) mixture. Data for w hole-crop cereals were compared with a second cut alfalfa (Medicago sa tiva L. 'Algonquin'). Crude protein and nitrate concentrations of all crops decreased with advancing maturity. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) , acid detergent fiber (ADF), and cellulose concentrations of all crop s initially increased and then decreased with advancing maturity where as acid detergent lignin (ADL) concentrations increased with advancing maturity. During the growth phase, oats and triticale had higher NDF and ADF concentrations, but by harvesting these differences had disapp eared. Leaf as percentage of total DM and leaf:stem ratios were higher and the stem as percentage of total DM was lower for the barley:winte r triticale mixture compared with the cereal monocrops. Cereal forages were ranked in order of decreasing quality as barley, barley:winter t riticale, triticale, and oats.