peer-reviewedThis study involved an evaluation of the changes in grain yield, nutritive value, ensilability
and harvesting losses of intensively managed winter cereals harvested during
the advancing stages of ripening. Five cereal crops (barley cv. Regina and wheat cv.
Madrigal in 2001; barley cv. Regina, wheat cv. Falstaff and triticale cv. Fidelio in 2002)
were assessed. Twenty plots per crop were arranged in a randomised complete block
design, with five times of harvest (four for barley in 2002) and four replicate blocks
per harvest. Dry matter (DM) yields changed relatively little between harvest dates,
but fresh yields declined (P < 0.001) over time due to the moisture loss associated with
ripening. Time-course changes in indices of nutritive value, such as concentrations of
crude protein, starch and ash, and organic matter digestibility, were relatively small
and did not follow a consistent pattern. Ensilability indices, such as DM and watersoluble
carbohydrate concentrations and buffering capacity, indicated that satisfactory
fermentations were likely if such crops were ensiled; buffering capacity, generally
declining with advancing maturity. Harvesting losses were not clearly related to growth
stage at harvest. It is concluded that winter cereal grain (barley, wheat and triticale)
DM yields and quality were relatively constant as ripening progressed from DM concentrations
of around 550 to >800 g/kg.One of the authors (P.S.) was in receipt
of a Teagasc Walsh Fellowship
