PROSPECTS FOR THE USE OF FESTULOLIUM IN FODDER PRODUCTION OF SIBERIA

The urgency of introduction of a new fodder crop, Festulolium, into the agricultural production of Western Siberia is substantiated. Festulolium ( Festulolium Aschers F.. et Graebn.) is a new fodder crop in domestic feed production developed in the All Russian Williams Fodder Research Institute. It was obtained by hybridization with the genera Festuca – fescue, and Lolium – ryegrass. The external characteristics of the new crop are given. On the basis of the literature data, the main morphotypes of Festulolium are analyzed and identified. They are the morphotypes of Italian ryegrass, pasture ryegrass, reed fescue and meadow fescue. Fescueryegrass hybrid (Festulolium) is currently a valuable fodder crop, which, when harvested for feed in the early phases of vegetation, is characterized by a high content of exchange energy, protein and fat in the green mass. Good leafiness of this crop ensures high nutritional value of the feed. In 1 kg of dry matter, Festulolium contains 0.82 feed units, 12-18% crude protein, as well as all the necessary amino acids. Water-soluble carbohydrates are mainly fructose. High efficiency of cultivated pastures on the basis of Festulolium is noted. Festulolium in mixtures with red clover provides up to 7.2 t/ha of dry matter and the collection of protein up to 1.27 t/ha. For early green feed in the pasture conveyor system, the use of Festulolium also proved to be effective. Festulolium is well ensilaged, the feed from this crop can be successfully used in diets of all animal groups. The energy value of properly prepared feed from Festulolium is 10.1 to 10.7 MJ of metabolizable energy in 1 kg of dry matter. Feed prepared from Festulolium has a high coefficient of digestibility.