Table 6. Alfalfa variety dry matter yield, milk production, and quality in Rosemount, MN

Seeded in 2008, harvested in 2009
Variety, listed in
descending order of	Yield	Milk ^a		RFQ^b	CP^b	NDF^b	NDFD^c
milk production	ton/acre	lb/acre	lb/ton	index	%	%	% NDF	Marketer
VELOCITY	5.89*	17707*	3013*	175*	20.8*	35.5	42.5*	NuTech Seed
DKA43-13	5.61*	16555*	2955*	167*	20.5*	36.3	42.3*	Monsanto/DeKAlb
6417	5.49	16271	2963*	169*	21.0*	35.8	41.5*	Syngenta Seeds
6431	5.38	15991	2976*	172*	21.3*	35.8	43.3*	Syngenta Seeds
6415	5.34	15845	2972*	173*	21.0*	35.5	42.3*	Syngenta Seeds
WL 322 HQ	5.06	15227	3015*	175*	21.5*	35.0	42.8*	Check
CIMARRON	5.35	15165	2839	154	19.8	38.3*	40.3*	Check
VERNAL	5.17	14580	2817	147	19.3	39.0*	40.0	Check

Average	5.41	15918	2943	167	20.6	36.4	41.8



Seeded in 2009, harvested in 2009
Variety, listed in
descending order of	Yield	Milk ^a		RFQ^b	CP^b	NDF^b	NDFD^c
milk production	ton/acre	lb/acre	lb/ton	index	%	%	% NDF	Marketer
CIMARRON	3.48*	10452*	2996*	169*	19.9*	38.4*	49.2*	Check
VERNAL	3.31*	10023*	3029*	170*	19.6	38.6*	50.3*	Check
WL 322 HQ	3.10	9600*	3099*	179*	21.2*	36.4*	48.9*	Check
VELOCITY	2.95	9057*	3072*	181*	20.1*	37.3*	52.2*	NuTech Seed

Average	3.21	9783	3049	175	20.2	37.7	50.1

* Values not significantly different from highest value in column.
^a Milk production (pounds milk per acre and ton) are predicted using the MILK2006 spreadsheet,
version milk2006alfalfagrass, developed at the University of Wisconsin.
^b RFQ=relative forage quality index; CP=% crude protein; and NDF=% neutral detergent fiber.
Variables expressed as average concentration for the season.
^c NDFD=neutral detergent fiber digestibility, expressed as % NDF concentration.