Forage Yield and Quality of Hard Red and Hard White Winter Wheat Across Cutting Dates.

Six hard red (2137, Jagalene, Jagger, OK101, Stanton, and Thunderbolt) and six hard white (Burchett, Lakin, NuFrontier, NuHills, NuHorizon, and Trego) winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties were evaluated for forage yield and quality at Clark County and Stanton County, Kansas, in 2004 and 2005. Locations were in a region that commonly grazes wheat from late November to mid-March in a dual-purpose system. Wheat was harvested fall, early-spring, and spring. Red varieties averaged greater total season forage yield in one season, but the yield differences among varieties within a color group was greater than differences between color groups, indicating that color did not affect forage yield. Total growing season forage yield was greatest among the red varieties 2137, Jagalene, Stanton, and Thunderbolt, and the white variety Trego. Color also had no effect on forage quality. Crude protein averaged 23% in the fall, 24% in the early-spring, and 14% in the spring. Acid detergent fiber averaged 19% in the fall, 24% in the early-spring, and 32% in the spring. Neutral detergent fiber averaged 43% in the fall, 41% in the early-spring, and 55% in the spring. Total digestible nutrients averaged 79% in the fall, 74% in the early-spring, and 67% in the spring. Nitrate-nitrogen averaged 247 mg kg^-1 in the fall, 550 mg kg^-1 in the early-spring, and 1366 mg kg^-1 in the spring. Both red and white wheat varieties can be used in a dual-purpose system with no adverse affects on forage yield or quality. Producers should select adapted varieties on the basis of their grazing system and environment.