The selection of winter wheat varieties for whole-crop cereal conservation

Ten commercial varieties of winter wheat were sampled at different stages of growth, and dry mailer (DM) yields and potential nutritional quality, as determined by modified acid detergent fibre concentration (MADF), were measured. Maximum yields for the different varieties were spread over a four-week period, when the DM content was above 350 g kg⁻¹. When the varieties were harvested for conservation as either fermented (DM 380 g kg⁻¹) or alkaline (DM 580 g kg⁻¹) whole crop, the mean MADF concentration was similar at both harvests, with large differences recorded between varieties. At both harvests the quality of the crops was sharply increased by raising the cutting height from 10 to 40 cm above ground level.