Scissor Cut Results 6/8/21

Last Report for 2021

Only five fields remained unharvested to be sampled this week.  Grasses increased in height by 10 inches, most species are now pollinating and likely are at their full height.  Only one mixed field remained and the alfalfa grew 3 inches.   All fields are well past our dairy quality target, but all fields remain in a target range for growing yearling or lactating beef cattle.  Fiber content continues to increase and fiber digestibility continues to decease at similar rates as previous weeks.  Grasses were generally in the mid to high 60’s for NDF and sinking to 50% or less NDFD.  TDN also continued it’s downward trend this week.

A strength of our region is our ability to reliably grow good yields of quality forages.  We hope you have found this scissor cut information useful as you plan your forage harvest strategy.

Second Cutting

The earliest cut grass fields will reach the 30 day regrowth interval recommended or dairy quality forage this week.  Most grasses do do not produce heads in second cutting, so you don’t have the same visual quality cues as in first cut.  Even though the grass continues to be leafy, fiber content continues to increase and digestibility decreases, and we have found that 30 days of regrowth is the sweet spot for dairy quality.  Hay intended for other groups of cattle can be harvested at longer regrowth intervals and still achieve acceptable quality.   Cutting at 30 day intervals can easily result in 4 cuttings during the season.  Trails have shown 3 cuttings with longer regrowth intervals will yield the same as 4 cuts, with higher fiber content but lower harvest costs.

Sample Results

The table below has each sample location, listed by Town and elevation, and lists the species sampled, average height, Neutral Detergent Fiber (aNDFom), Neutral Detergent Fiber Digestibility (NDFD), and Total Digestible Nutrients (TDN). Look for fields with similar species and elevation to your farm, and consider your target NDF/TDN for the animals you will be feeding. Growing beef animals can benefit from high TDN/lower fiber forage, and mature dry beef cows will do best on high fiber/lower TDN hay.

Summary by Week

The chart below summarizes weekly average height and quality measurements by forage type. Height consistently increased through the whole sample period.  NDF and NDFD, after remaining steady from May 4 to May 11, began the characteristic increase in NDF and decrease in NDFD, while TDN held steady until May 25 then began to decline.