In this experiment comparison was made for the agronomic characteristics and quality of forage rye among the different growing stages. Rye was harvested every 5 days, then separated into three parts and determined the quality. Before harvesting, plant height and yield were recorded. Dry matter yield increased continuously, while fresh matter yield decreased after heading. ADF and NDF value increased before blooming and then showed a slight fluctuate. In addition, highest CP content appeared on jointing stage. TDN and RFV went down until blooming stage and then showed a steady trend. So the proper harvest time is from heading to blooming stage for forage rye.

This study was conducted to evaluate the forage production and feed value of Sasa borealis (S. borealis) in Jeju Island in order to improve the utilization of Sasa borealis and to help mitigate the problem of reduced plant species diversity caused by S. borealis in Hanlla Mountain. To investigate the forage production, three quadrat structures were installed in the S. borealis natural community in the middle part of Hanlla Mountain. From May to October 2017, S. borealis in quadrats was cut at a fixed time of each month, and then forage production and regenerated acidity per kg/ha were evaluated. For the evaluation of feed value, compositional analysis was performed on the monthly samples. In vitro digestion experiments were carried out using cannula mounted Hanwoo. In vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility(IVNDFD) and in vitro acid detergent fiber digestibility(IVADFD) were measured after the experiment. Forage production of S. borealis showed relatively good regeneration ability in May and June, but the regeneration ability decreased as the cutting was repeated. In order to use S. borealis as a forage, it is considered efficient to feed black goats with good fiber decomposition or horses good palatability to S. borealis and relatively good digestibility.

This study estimated the effect of sowing and harvesting dates on dry matter (DM) yield and feed value of forage oats at Sancheong, Korea. The forage oats (Darkhorse vs. Highspeed) were used in this experiment. The experimental main plots consisted of the different sowing and harvesting dates at 2 seasons as follows: spring oats of sowing (February 25, March 3 and March 13) and harvesting (May 27, June 6 and June 16); and fall oats of sowing (August 15, August 25 and September 4) and harvesting (October 15, October 25 and November 4). On spring oats, Highspeed sown on March 3 and then harvesting on June 6 had the highest (p<0.05) plant length and DM yield. Crude protein content decreased (p<0.05) in seed of the delayed-harvesting Highspeed. On fall oats, plant length and DM yield with the delayed-harvesting date increased (p<0.05), while crude protein content of the delayed-harvesting Highspeed decreased (p<0.05). This study concluded that the spring oat sown in early March and then harvesting in early June was recommended to increase dry matter and feed value although the fall oat sown in end August and then harvesting in early November was recommended for fall period.

The study was conducted to determine effects on forage productivity, feed value, grazing intensity and livestock productivity in growing Korean native female goat grazing in native pasture. Its with average initial body weight of 14.10±3.6kg and an average age of 4 months were used in this study. Dry matter content of native pasture was the highest at 33.48 ± 2.56% in June, and the content was significantly increased from spring to autumn (p<0.05). Crude protein was maintained between 11% and 12% on average. Nutrient content was maintained at a certain level in native pasture, but there were differences due to the different types of wild grasses produced in each season. The productivity of forage crops increased from June, but decreased after August and showed a characteristic of grassland where productivity decreased rapidly in spring and autumn. The average grazing intensity are 39 head/ha. Black goat average daily gain was 80.2g/d. The stable weight gain in grazing is that the nutrient requirement of the black goat was met by supplementing the concentrated feed during grazing. study, can be expected that the productivity of livestock can be increased through the proper feeding of supplementary feed and maintenance of grazing intensity

Cultivation of high-quality forage crop by using fallow field during winter is required for national high feed self-sufficiency and establishment of self-supply system of high-quality forage crop. Field experiments for cultivation of high-quality winter forage crop were conducted at the paddy and upland fields in Cheonan and Anseong city with treatments of single Italian ryegrass(IRG) and IRG mixed with forage barley at the paddy field and of single forage barley and forage barley mixed with IRG at the upland field in the Mid-west plain. Several cultivation conditions such as broadcasting IRG seed under standing rice, sowing time, tillage method, drainage condition, mixed sowing with forage barley were compared to know the change of growth, yield and quality of winter forage crop. In particular, over-wintering rate and dry matter yield were decreased significantly in late-sown IRG and moisture-stressed forage barley. Yield and quality of forage crops were increased by sowing after tillage, mixed sowing of IRG with barley at the paddy field with good drainage. High yield as much as dry matter 10 MT ha-1 with high feed value could be obtained by early sowing of feed barley mixed with IRG at the upland field. Cultivation conditions such as early sowing, sowing after tillage, drainage management are required for higher dry matter yield, quality and stable cultivation of winter forage crops in the mid-west plain of Korea.

The objective of this study was to investigate the suitable method for rapid establishment of grassland according to forage species, mixed pastures and installation of mesh at 35 degree angle of cutting area in the middle region of Korea. In agronomic characteristics after wintering, vegetation coverage of Tall fescue(TF) was 74% in monoculture, which was the highest among 3 forage crops. Meanwhile average vegetation coverages of monoculture and mixed pasture were 67 and 92% in treated of mesh, which were 4 and 18% higher than untreated of mesh, respectively. In botanical composition, TF of monoculture and Orchardgrass(OG) and TF oriented mixed were indicated over 94% forage coverage. Meanwhile forage coverages Kentucky bluegrass(KBG) and Red top(RT) of monoculture and Perennial ryegrass(PRG) oriented mixture were 89, 81 and 92% in treated of mesh, which were 7, 6 and 5% higher than untreated of mesh, respectively. In forage productivity, dry matter yield(DMY) of TF(12,537kg/ha) and KBG(11,897kg/ha) of monoculture were significant(p<0.05) higher than RT(9,604kg/ha). Meanwhile DMY of OG(12,227kg/ha), TF(12,823kg/ha) and PRG(11,871kg/ha) oriented mixed were not significant difference(p>0.05). In forage quality of monoculture, in the first year, crude protein of KBG was 13.6%, which was the highest among 3 forage species. Also neutral detergent fiber(NDF) of TF was 56.5%, which was the lowest among 3 forage species. In mixed pasture, in the second year, NDF and acid detergent fiber of PRG oriented mixed were 56.5 and 34.3%, respectively, which was the lowest among 3 mixed pasture. In conclusion, forage species TF was more suitable on initial rootage and continuous forage coverage, OG and TF oriented mixed were more suitable on continuous forage coverage. Also the installation of mesh showed positive effects on initial rootage and maintain forage ratio.

'Dakyeong' (Avena sativa L.), a winter oats for forage use, was developed by the breeding team at National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2016. It was derived from a cross between ‘CI7505’(IT133304) and ‘Swan’(IT197920). Subsequent generations followed by the cross were handled in bulk and pedigree selection programs at Iksan and Jeonju, respectively. After preliminary and advanced yield test for 2 years, ‘SO2004009-B-B-10-8-3-9’, designated as a line name of ‘Gwiri91’, were subsequently evaluated for earliness and forage yield during 3 years in four parts such as Jeju (upland), Yesan (upland), Iksan (upland), and Jeonju (paddy), from 2014 to 2016, and finally named as ‘Dakyeong’. Cultivar ‘Dakyong’ has leaves of dark green color, thick diameter culm and long grain of brown color. Over 3 years, the heading date of ‘Dakyeong’ was about 5 days earlier than that of check cultivar ‘Samhan’ (April 30 and May 5, respectively), and their average forage dry matter yield harvested at milk-ripe stage was higher 12% (15.7 tone ha-1) than 14.0 tone ha-1 of check cultivar. Cultivar ‘Dakyeong’ was lower than the check cultivar ‘Samhan’ in terms of the protein content (6.1% and 7.0%, respectively) and total digestible nutrients (62.1%, and 62.5%, respectively), while the TDN yield was more than the check (7.79 tone ha-1 and 7.64 tone ha-1, respectively). Fall sowing cropping of ‘Dakyeong’ is recommended only in areas where average daily minimum mean temperatures in January are higher than -6°C, and it should not be cultivated in mountain areas, where frost damage is likely to occur.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of equation being used to estimate the total digestible nutrients (TDN) of whole crop rice silage (WCRS) in sheep. To compare the observed and estimated TDN contents [estimated TDN content=87.57-(0.737×ADF)], two varieties of WCRS from Nokyang (NS) and Samgwang (SS) as forage and food source, respectively, were used as a treatment. Nine female Corriedale sheep (average body weight: 49.2±6.3 kg) were used as the experimental animals. The ewes were fed according to their nutrient requirements at the maintenance level. To check the difference between the observed and estimated TDN contents, one sample non-parametric t-test was applied. The CP, NFE and CF contents of the NS were 43.6, 74.2 and 64.2%, respectively, and that of the SS were 46.2, 58.1 and 44.9%, respectively. The observed and estimated TDN contents of the NS were 63.5 and 61.5%, where there was no significant difference. The observed and estimated TDN contents of the SS were 48.9 and 59.0%, where there was significant difference (p<0.05) This research confirmed the validity of TDN estimation equation being used for estimation of TDN of WCRS as forage source, but further research is recommended on the equation for estimating TDN contents of WCRS as food source.

Oats (Avena sativa L.), which are known as one of the forage crops of Korea, have good livestock palatability and are popular to cattle farmers because of their high dry matter. However, the cultivation of double cropping in the rice field was reluctant due to the late maturing for farmers to plant rice continuously. 'Hi-early', a winter oats for forage use, was developed by the breeding team at National Institute of Crop Science, RDA in 2016. It was derived from a cross between ‘517A2-121’(IT133383) and ‘CI7604’ (IT133379). Subsequent generations followed by the cross were handled in bulk and pedigree selection programs at Suwon, Iksan and Jeonju, respectively. After preliminary and advance yield test for 2 years, ‘SO2004015-B-B-23-1-3-7’, designated as a line name of ‘Gwiri92’, were subsequently evaluated for earliness and forage yield during 3 years in four parts such as Jeju (upland), Yesan (upland), Iksan (upland), and Jeonju (paddy), from 2014 to 2016, and finally named as ‘Hi-early’. Cultivar ‘Hi-early’ has the characteristics of medium leaves of green color, thick diameter culm, and medium grain of brown color. Over 3 years, the heading date of ‘Hi-early’ was about 9 days earlier than that of check cultivar ‘Samhan’ (April 26 and May 5, respectively). Average forage fresh yield of ‘Hi-early’ harvested at milk-ripe stage was similar to check cultivar (40.2 tone ha-1 and 40.0 tone ha-1, respectively), and dry matter yield also was similar to check cultivar (14.2 tone ha-1 and 14.0 tone ha-1, respectively). Cultivar ‘Hi-early’ was lower than the check cultivar ‘Samhan’ in terms of the protein content (6.2% and 7.0%, respectively) and total digestible nutrients (61.0%, and 62.5%, respectively), while the TDN yield was more than the check (7.91 tone ha-1 and 7.64 tone ha-1, respectively). Fall sowing cropping of ‘Hi-early’ is recommended only in areas where average daily minimum mean temperatures in January are higher than -6°C, and it should not be cultivated in mountain areas, where frost damage is likely to occur.

This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of organic fertilizer and seed mixture on productivity, botanical composition and forage quality in middle areas(Geumsan, 250m sea level) pasture. Total six experimental pastures (orchardgrass, timothy and tall fescue based seed mixture and with or without organic fertilizer) were established in autumn, 2014 and evaluated productivity and agronomic characteristics from 2015 to 2016. Plant heigh was higher in orchardgrass based mixture and orchardgrass and tall fescue based mixture were higher in 2nd harvest. There was not found the significant difference among treatment(P<0.05) in dry matter (DM) content. Botanical composition in 1st harvest was higher weed portion in orchardgrass based mixture and legumes was disappeared at 3rd harvest in all treatments. Fresh and dry matter yield was higher in 2nd year than 1st year. In 1st year, orchardgrass based mixture with organic fertilizer plot was the highest(P<0.05) DM yield, but tall fescue based mixture with organic fertilizer was the highest in 2nd year. Content of crude protein (CP) was the highest in tall fescue based mixture and Timothy based mixture showed low in ADF (acid detergent fiber) and NDF (neutral detergent fiber) content. But the content if in virto dry matter digestibility was higher than others. In 2nd year, the nutritive value of 2nd and 4th harvested grasses were higher and average RFV (relative feed value) value was the highest at 4th harvest. According to this result, orchardgrass and tall fescue based mixture would be recommendable for farm who considering productivity and timothy based mixture would be recommendable for considering forage quality in middle areas of Korea.