Using improved varieties of cool-season grasses in order to increase the winter forage production

Forage production in the Mediterranean zone is in limited supply during autumn and winter while animals’ demand is almost constant throughout the year. For reducing the imbalance between supply and demand it would be beneficial to use improved varieties of cool-season grasses whose production during the critical period is outstanding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the production and quality of an improved and the base population of Dactylis glomerata cv. Chrysopigi during winter. The improved population exceeded the base population in dry matter production during the four years of experiment. The increased forage production due to selection did not affect the forage quality, which was high for both the improved and the base population.