Forage quality, productivity and feeding value to beef cattle of quackgrass (Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski.) compared with timothy (Phleum pratense L.)

Abstract Field and animal feeding experiments were conducted in 1989 at the Station agronomique de l'Universite Laval near Quebec City to compare quackgrass ( Elytrigia repens (L.) Nevski.) with timothy ( Phleum pratense L.) hay in terms of forage quality, productivity and feeding value. Timothy stands infested with 0, 50 or 100% quackgrass were cut at early heading and fed to Charolais × Simmental growing heifers. Quackgrass forage contained more ( P −1 ) exceeded that from timothy (237 kg gain ha −1 ). Animal yield did not differ between timothy and quackgrass-infested timothy. Quackgrass may not be considered as a weed in timothy forage destined for beef cattle production, as long as it does not interfere with cropping sequence or spread to cultivated cropland.