ChileanJAR

Changes in the nutritive value of red clover as a result of different cutting managements, in a complete factorial experiment (at La Platina Exp. Sta., INIA-Santiago) are anal ized. Three heights at cutting were applied (40, 50 y 60 cm) through three utilizations during one season. There was a forth cut in autumn, additional to the experimental periodo Variables were dry matter digestibility (DMS), organic matter digestibility (DMO), digestible energy (ED), crude protein (PC) and production of digestible energy (PED) and of crude protein (PPC) per hectare. The study showed there was a strong interaction among all variables analized. In general, a tendency to a decrease in nutrient concentration, as height cutting increased, was observed in each utilization. This tendency was more notorious when the nutritive value was considered in terms of DMS and DMO, instead of PC. But, ED and PC production per hectare had a possitive response as height at cutting increased, in each utilization, due to the larger dry matter production/ha observed. In the residual cut, the nutritive value of the pasture was higher than in the previous ones. However, the tendency was the same, showing a decrease in ED as height at cutting augmented.