Production and bromatological quality of cool-season intercropped forage

ABSTRACT: The present study assessed dry biomass production, morphological composition, nutritional value, and rumen degradation of different intercropped cool-season forage species and cultivars harvested in the pre-flowering and mealy grain stages. The materials evaluated consisted of combinations of black oat (Avena strigosa Schereb.), white oat (Avena sativa L.), and rye (Secale cereale L.). A randomized block design was used, with a 4x2 factorial scheme consisting of four forages (ABT+APP- white oat cv. GMX Tambo + black oat cv. GMX Picasso; ABT- white oat cv. GMX Tambo; APB+APP - black oats cv. GMX Bagual + black oats cv. GMX Picasso; ABT+CT - white oat cv. GMX Tambo + rye cv. Temprano), and two harvest times (pre-flowering and mealy grain), with four replicates. The different intercrops exhibited superior physical composition and; consequently, chemical composition and dry matter rumen degradation when harvested in the pre-flowering compared to the mealy grain stage. Among the different forage combinations, the 90% GMX Tambo white oat and 10% GMX Picasso black oat treatment obtained a lower stalk percentage. However, it did not differ from the other forages, whether in combination or as monoculture species, in terms of physical and bromatological composition, as well as dry matter rumen degradation. The pre-flowering stage showed more desirable bromatological characteristics for animal feed, along with a production per area similar to that of the mealy grain stage.