| Summary: | Avenella flexuosa is the main pasture plant in blueberry mountain birch forest and dwarf birch— blueberry moorland, which covers large parts of outfield pastures in the mountainous region of southern Norway. Four sites in blueberry mountain birch forest in Vingelen, Tolga, Hedmark, was fenced in and harvested at different times in summer 2014. Regrowth was also recorded. The grass from sample plots was dried after harvest, and analyzed for feed quality using NIRS. There were no statistically significant differences in total yields between different harvesting systems. Grass growth was highest in early summer, and harvesting on July 3 gave 70% of the total grass yield in the season. Grass yields in undisturbed turf increased until the last harvest (early September). Regrowth after harvest was small at the end of the season, but growth here corresponded growth in undisturbed turf. Avenella flexuosa remained at leaf stage during the season. The energy value was highest at harvest first in July, and relatively constant at later harvests at a level around 0.80 feed units per kg dry matter. The protein content was 8 to 10 percent of dry matter, with the highest content in the first half of the growing season, and in regrowth. The content of water-soluble carbohydrates ranged between 18 and 25 percent of dry matter. Avenella flexuosa in blueberry mountain birch forest showed great flexibility in relation to defoliation as grass yields and feed quality were little affected by harvesting management.
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