20 



N. H. Agr. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 306 



Table XXI. Comparison of protein yields from different cutting dates on 

 Weld far))>. Eight-ifcai- average tirf<f cufthtg. 



It should be tin* aim of every daifyinau to try to harvest as much protein 

 in his home-grown roufrhajze as possible so that its purchase in grain will 

 not consume such a large proportion of the milk check. 



Grass hay can be secuinnl with a high protein content. The average 

 of the June 10 cutting over the eigiit-year period was 10.93 'J protein, 

 a fignre that closely approaches the analysis of clover. Fifty ilays later 

 (July 30) this percentage was but 0.06, a drop of almost one-half, while 

 in the same pei'iod the total protein per acre varied from 204 pounds in 

 the June 10 cutting to 153 pounds in the July 30 harvest, a reduction of 

 2-1 per cent. 



The difference in digestible protein would, of course, be even greater 

 for the two harvests. Digestibility trials of June 20 aiul July 20 hay 

 (Circ. 41) indicated a digestibility factor of 62 '< for the June-cut hay 

 and but 47 "^f for tiiat luirveslfd on the cori-esponding date in July. 

 Applying these percentages to the June 10 and July 30 harvests it will 

 be observed that the digestible protein harvested on the two dates in 

 question wouhl b(^ 126.5 and 72. S pounds per acre respectively. result- 



Weld farm pIoLs showinK cuttings done al (litFerent dates. 



