Relative Feed Value of Different Varieties of Dactylis glomerata and Festuca pratensis

The aim of this paper is to analyze fluctuation in nutritional value of Dactylis glomerata and Festuca pratensis varieties grown on mineral and organic soil.Moreover, the paper deals with analysis of their nutritional value in terms of animal feeding.This paper has drawn on two field experiments set up and carried out between 2010 and 2013 by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka.The experiment was conducted in two experimental stations: one in the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Krzyżewo and the other in the Experimental Stations for Variety Testing in Uhinin, being a branch of the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Cicibor Duży.The experiment was arranged and conducted according to COBORU guidelines.The experimental plots were sown with varieties of Dactylis glomerata: Niva, Tukan, Amila, Crown Royale and with varieties of Festuca pratensis: Limosa, Pasja, Anturka, Amelka (d.AND 1009).In the experimental plots with the varieties of Dactylis glomerata the grass was harvested six times a year and chemical analysis of the biomass was done taking dry matter only from five cuts.The varieties of Festuca pratensis were harvested four times.The RFV (relative feed value) was determined using the Linn and Martin method.Linn and Martin's test proved that Festuca pratensis had better nutritional value than Dactylis glomerata.For Dactylis glomerata, no matter what the variety and location was, the relative feed value ranged from 125 to 151, which puts that grass species in II quality class, good enough to feed high production dairy cows and heirs selected for replacements.The analysis of the relative feed value proved that no matter from which cut, the biomass of Dactylis glomerata belonged in III quality class, (RFV between 103 and 124) and it can be used to feed good beef cattle, older heifers and, in small quantities, dairy cows.