Delayed harvest affects mineral and NDF concentrations, and digestibility of timothy

Abstract

A 1-wk delay after late heading in the harvest of timothy spring growth reduced dietary cation-anion difference (-17%), in vitro digestibilities of dry matter (-7%) and neutral detergent fiber (-10%), and increased neutral detergent fiber concentration (+ 5%). In summer regrowth, the harvest delay tended to have similar effects, but variations (1-6%) were smaller.