2001 Trials – List

LH198ADV | LH198PRE | LH200LH223 (2001) | Two-Tester | Three-Tester

LH198ADV

Sixty-two experimental topcrosses to LH198 and 15 check hybrids were evaluated in EXPT LH198ADV (See  LH198ADV – Yield and nutritional value). The experimental topcrosses involved S5 and S6 lines derived from WQS C0, most of which were from the 53090 series of lines.

Hybrids were planed at three locations in 2001, Madison, Arlington, and Fond du Lac. There were two replications at each location. Planting dates were May 2 (Madison), May 18 (Arlington), and May 20 (Fond du Lac). Dry conditions prevailed until late July. Several violent rain and windstorms occurred later in the season and caused extensive root lodging. Over 8 inches of rain fell in one 12-hr period at the Madison location in early August. Consequently the Madison and Arlington locations were abandoned. Fond du Lac plots were harvested on October 4. Final planting densities at Fond du Lac averaged 24,584 plants/acre. Eight experimental topcrosses were eliminated from the evaluation because plots were lost.

Nutritional evaluations included assessment of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro true digestibility (IVD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), crude protein (CP), and starch concentration. Based on these values, milk/ton of forage and milk/acre were estimated based on the MILK2000 equations developed by the UW Agronomy and Dairy Science Departments. MILK2000 uses forage composition (NDF, IVD, IVNDFD, CP, and starch) to estimate potential milk production per ton of forage. Forage yield is then used to estimate potential milk per acre.

Cautionary note:

The trial LH198ADV involves only one location and two replications, so the information from this trial is unreliable. A number of the lines in LH198ADV were also evaluated in topcrosses to LH200 and LH223, and a more reliable indicator of the value of these lines is depicted in the means over topcrosses, which are provided in the two-tester summary and three-tester summary for 2001.

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LH198PRE

Fifty-six experimental topcrosses to LH198 and 16 check hybrids were evaluated in EXPT LH198PRE (see LH198PRE – Yield and nutritional value). The experimental topcrosses involved S3 and S4 lines derived from WQS C0, WQS C1, WFISIHI C2, and WFISILO C0. The WQS C1 lines had not been previously tested in topcrosses to LH198 because seed supplies were not adequate for the LH198 topcross trials conducted in 2000.

Hybrids were planed at two locations in 2001, Madison and Arlington. There were two replications at each location. Planting dates were May 2 (Madison) and May 18 (Arlington). Dry conditions prevailed until late July. Several violent rain and windstorms occurred later in the season and caused extensive root lodging. Over 8 inches of rain fell in one 12-hr period at the Madison location in early August and badly damaged the Madison plots. Consequently the Madison location was abandoned. Arlington also experienced some flooding and root lodging, but the plots were in good enough condition to harvest on September 26. Final planting densities at Arlington averaged 29,839 plants/acre.

Nutritional evaluations included assessment of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro true digestibility (IVD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), crude protein (CP), and starch concentration. Based on these values, milk/ton of forage and milk/acre were estimated based on the MILK2000 equations developed by the UW Agronomy and Dairy Science Departments. MILK2000 uses forage composition (NDF, IVD, IVNDFD, CP, and starch) to estimate potential milk production per ton of forage. Forage yield is then used to estimate potential milk per acre.

Cautionary note:

The trial LH198PRE involves only one location and two replications, so the information for individual entries in this trial is unreliable. Many of these topcrosses will be re-evaluated in 2002.

At the bottom of the results table (see LH198PRE – Yield and nutritional value) are means for WQS C0 and WQS C1 topcrosses (19 and 28 topcrosses, respectively) as well as means for five commercial checks. These means depict the overall direction of the selection program. Note that the WQS C0 lines had been previously selected for yield and quality, while the WQS C1 lines had not been previously evaluated.

One a mean basis, there were no large differences between the WQS C0 and WQS C1 topcross means, although the higher forage yield potential of the WQS C1 topcrosses produced slightly higher milk/acre yields than the WQS C0 topcrosses. Lodging remained a problem. (The 2001 season was a great opportunity for eliminating lines with poor roots.) The most distinctive feature of the WQS germplasm, either C0 or C1, is relatively high IVNDFD, which led to silage with forage quality (as measured by milk/ton) slightly superior to the check average. There were few marked changes in the other quality traits.

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LH200

Fifty-two experimental topcrosses to LH200 and 11 check hybrids were evaluated in EXPT LH200 (see  LH200 – Yield and nutritional value). The experimental topcrosses involved S5 and S6 lines derived from WQS C0, most of which were from the 53090 series of lines.

Hybrids were planed at two locations in 2001, Madison and Arlington. There were two replications at each location. Planting dates were May 2 (Madison) and May 18 (Arlington). Dry conditions prevailed until late July. Several violent rain and windstorms occurred later in the season and caused extensive root lodging. Over 8 inches of rain fell in one 12-hr period at the Madison location in early August and badly damaged the Madison plots. Consequently the Madison location was abandoned. Arlington also experienced some flooding and root lodging, but the plots were in good enough condition to harvest on October 5. Final planting densities at Arlington averaged 26,700 plants/acre. Seven experimental topcrosses were eliminated from the evaluation because plots were lost.

Nutritional evaluations included assessment of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro true digestibility (IVD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), crude protein (CP), and starch concentration. Based on these values, milk/ton of forage and milk/acre were estimated based on the MILK2000 equations developed by the UW Agronomy and Dairy Science Departments. MILK2000 uses forage composition (NDF, IVD, IVNDFD, CP, and starch) to estimate potential milk production per ton of forage. Forage yield is then used to estimate potential milk per acre.

Cautionary note:

The trial LH200 involves only one location and two replications, so the information from this trial is unreliable. A number of the lines in LH200 were also evaluated in topcrosses to LH198 and LH223, and a more reliable indicator of the value of these lines is better depicted in the means over topcrosses, which are provided in the two-tester summary and three-tester summary for 2001.

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LH223 (2001)

Forty experimental topcrosses to LH223 and 8 check hybrids were evaluated in EXPT LH223 (see LH223 – Yield and nutritional value). The experimental topcrosses involved S5 and S6 lines derived from WQS C0, all of which were from the 53090 series of lines.

Hybrids were planed at two locations in 2001, Madison and Arlington. There were two replications at each location. Planting dates were May 2 (Madison) and May 18 (Arlington). Dry conditions prevailed until late July. Several violent rain and windstorms occurred later in the season and caused extensive root lodging. Over 8 inches of rain fell in one 12-hr period at the Madison location in early August and badly damaged the Madison plots. Consequently the Madison location was abandoned. Arlington also experienced some flooding and root lodging, but the plots were in good enough condition to harvest on September 25. Final planting densities at Arlington averaged 30,432 plants/acre.

Nutritional evaluations included assessment of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), in vitro true digestibility (IVD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), crude protein (CP), and starch concentration. Based on these values, milk/ton of forage and milk/acre were estimated based on the MILK2000 equations developed by the UW Agronomy and Dairy Science Departments. MILK2000 uses forage composition (NDF, IVD, IVNDFD, CP, and starch) to estimate potential milk production per ton of forage. Forage yield is then used to estimate potential milk per acre.

Cautionary note:

The trial LH223 involves only one location and two replications, so the information from this trial is unreliable. It is also apparent the LH223 is not a good tester for the WQS germplasm, and it will not be used in the future. A number of the lines in trial LH223 were also evaluated in topcrosses to LH198 and LH200, and a more reliable indicator of the value of these lines is depicted in the means over topcrosses, which are provided in the two-tester summary and three-tester summary for 2001.

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Two-Tester Summary

Thirty-eight lines from the 53090 WQS C0 series were topcrossed to both LH198 and LH200 and evaluated in 2001 (see table). Two checks were also included, F657 (brown midrib) and LH185 ´ LH198. F657 represents the silage quality goal because it contains the bm3 allele, but, as a consequence, this hybrid also has low forage yield potential. LH185 ´ LH198 represents a normal grain hybrid with good agronomic performance. The yield potential of LH185 ´ LH198 was somewhat limited in our trials in 2001 due to poor stands for this hybrid.

Root lodging remained a problem in the 53090 series of lines, although there was some variation for this trait. Forage yield potential was good for a number of lines, particularly those subfamilies in the 53090-1-4 series. Topcross means for 53090-1-4-2-2 were good for yield and quality. NDF was lower than most of the other topcrosses, and IVD, NDFD, starch, milk/ton, and milk/acre were relatively high. The same held true for 53090-1-3-1-3-1, but root-lodging scores were high.

The 53090-1-1-6-1 series of lines were highlighted last year for potential release, but the agronomic performance of this series was disappointing in 2001. Forage yields were lower than expected, and although NDFD was high (as expected), the net performance, as measured by milk/ton or milk/acre, seemed no different from conventional hybrids in 2001. These lines have been topcrossed to a new series of testers (LH227, LH244, HC33) and will be re-evaluated in 2002.

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Three-Tester Summary

Twenty-eight lines from the 53090 WQS C0 series were topcrossed to LH198, LH200, and LH223 and evaluated in 2001 (see table). Two checks were also included, F657 (brown midrib) and LH185 ´ LH198. F657 represents the silage quality goal because it contains the bm3 allele, but, as a consequence, this hybrid also has low forage yield potential. LH185 ´ LH198 represents a normal grain hybrid with good agronomic performance. The yield potential of LH185 ´ LH198 was somewhat limited in our trials in 2001 due to poor stands for this hybrid.

Root lodging remained a problem in the 53090 series of lines, although there was some variation for this trait. Forage yield potential was good for a number of lines, particularly those subfamilies in the 53090-1-4 series. Topcross means for 53090-1-4-2-2 were good for yield and quality. NDF was lower than most of the other topcrosses, and IVD, NDFD, starch, milk/ton, and milk/acre were relatively high. The same held true for 53090-1-3-1-3-1, but root-lodging scores were high.

The 53090-1-1-6-1 series of lines were highlighted last year for potential release, but the agronomic performance of this series was disappointing in 2001. Forage yields were lower than expected, and although NDFD was high (as expected), the net performance, as measured by milk/ton or milk/acre, seemed no different from conventional hybrids in 2001. These lines have been topcrossed to a new series of testers (LH227, LH244, HC33) and will be re-evaluated in 2002.

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