Changes of Feed Quality at Different Cutting Dates among Five Winter Cereals for Whole-Crop Cereal Silage in Middle Region

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the different cutting dates on the changes of feed quality among five cereals (barley, wheat, rye, triticale and oat) for whole crop silage. Field trials were conducted at paddy field in Yesan, Chungnam Province and the aerial parts were clipped 10 days from 15 March to 15 June. Changes of acid detergent fiber (ADF) content in relation to different cutting dates was described by a quadratic curve for 5 winter cereals crops. ADF content reached a maximum at 5 days after heading in barley cultivar 'Youngyang', 7 days in wheat 'Keumkang', 18 days in rye 'Gogu', 1 days in triticale 'Shinyoung' and 10 days in oat 'Samhan'. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) content were linearly increased as growing after overwintering and stagnated or slightly decreased after heading. The crude protein were linearly decreased throughout the growth period of 5 whole crop cereals. Digestible dry matter (DDM) content were decreased from early stages to heading and subsequently increased as grain filling. Relative feed value (RFV) for 5 crops were decreased as growing and subsequently increased as grain filling after heading. Barley cultivar for only forage use 'Youngyang' were lower at ADF and NDF content and higher at DDM and RFV after heading than those of other cereals for forage use. So, barley for whole crop silage was a good crop with high feed quality and high proportion of spikes compared with other winter cereal crops. Wheat cultivar for grain 'Keumkang' were higher at crude protein than those of other four cereals from overwintering to maturing and were higher at DDM and RFV after heading than those of rye, triticale and oat. Rye cultivar with cold tolerant and high fresh yielding 'Gogu' were highest at ADF and NDF content and lowest at DDM content and RFV. So, rye was a crop with low quality for forage use compared to other winter cereal crops. Triticale cultivar with flourishing and high yielding 'Shinyoung' was intermediated between barley and rye, and were linearly increased at DDM yield by different cutting dates. Oat cultivar with cold tolerant and high tillering 'Samhan' were lower at ADF and NDF content and higher at crude protein before heading, but after heading, there are not especially advantages compared to barley, wheat or triticale.