Protein deficiency in the diet of high-yielding livestock necessitates continuous efforts to identify strategies for enhancing protein production from plant sources. This article presents the results of scientific studies examining the optimal cutting time for perennial grass swards to achieve not only adequate yields but also high-quality forage and an optimal output of feed protein units. The research methodology involved a field experiment conducted at the educational experimental garden of Saint-Petersburg State Agrarian University, using grass swards in their second and third years of use. The grass swards comprised timothy-grass (Phleum pratense), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis), cock’s-foot (Dactylis glomerata), and smooth brome (Bromus inermis). During the spring regrowth phase of the studied grass species, the swards received a mineral fertilizer application at a rate of N60P60K60. The nutrient content in grasses is entirely dependent on the growth stage. The paper proves that maximum forage quality is achieved when mowing occurs at the optimal time, which is determined by the growth stage of the dominant plant species; their development dictates the appropriate start time for cutting a given grass stand. Delaying the mowing of grass swards beyond this optimal window leads to reduced forage quality. The relevance and scientific novelty of our research lie in the sequential, dynamic assessments conducted at two- to three-day intervals, accounting for accumulated heat, during the first growth cycle. This approach was used to determine the optimal start time for cutting grass swards composed of species with different regrowth rates, intended for producing various forage types
Keywords
Cutting time, growth stage, grass swards, forage quality, yield