Quantitative Assessment of Forage Nutritive Value Using a Large Dataset: Implications for Cattle Production in Tennessee
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 18, Issue 1 - June 2025
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
Cattle production in the Southeastern United States relies heavily on forages, and hay plays a pivotal role in forage supplementation during times of limited pasture availability. This study analyzed 7,198 forage samples collected across Tennessee, from 2015 to 2023, to evaluate the variability in forage nutritive value across species and its implications for cattle nutrition. Significant variation in forage nutritive values was observed across categories (P < 0.0001). Crude protein ranged from 9.8% in native warm-season grasses (NWSG) to 13.4% in orchardgrass. NWSG had the highest fiber content (ADF and NDF), while orchardgrass and annual ryegrass had the highest digestibility (IVTDMD48). Total digestible nutrients (TDN) averaged 58.7%, with the lowest values in NWSG and the highest in bermudagrass and orchardgrass. Relative forage quality (RFQ) ranged from 85 in NWSG to 102 in orchardgrass. The findings reveal significant variability in forage nutritive value across different categories in Tennessee, emphasizing the need for improved forage testing to support more informed decision-making in cattle production. While high-quality forages are often tested, lower-quality are underrepresented, leading to potential gaps in understanding.
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