Relative Feed Value (RFV): An Indicator of Forage Quality

Forage quality is impacted greatly by stage of maturity. As forage crops mature the nutritive value declines. With increasing maturity, the acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) increases and crude protein (CP) decreases. Relative feed value (RFV) is an index that reflects the fiber fractions, which dictate potential digestible dry matter feed intake. The higher the RFV, the higher quality feed value is obtained from the forage. RFV ranks forages relative to the digestible dry matter intake of full bloom alfalfa (RFV of 100, ADF of 41, and NDF of 53). RFV declines (number gets smaller) with maturity.

RFV for Cool Season Legumes and Grasses
1. Enter the ADF:  2. Enter the NDF:  3.

Your RFV is: 
Your digestible dry matter (DDM) was calculated as: 
Your dry matter intake (DMI) was calculated as: 

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