A study was conducted to describe forage yield and nutritive value of natural pasture at varying
harvesting time from Metekel area. An area of 2,414 m2
natural pasture was enclosed in three districts at
the beginning of the main rainy season in two consecutive years and harvesting was made at 10 days
interval starting from late July to November. The average yield of the natural pasture in the study area
was 5.40 ton DM/ha. The dry matter yield was significantly (P<0.05) increased in advancing flowering
while crude protein and in vitro organic matter digestibility was decreased, as expected. Unlike acid
detergent fiber which increased significantly (p<0.05) with maturity, the neutral detergent fiber and
hemicellulose level of the pasture was not significantly different (p>0.05) between harvestings. Despite
poor balance of grass and legume combinations which contributed for lower protein content and
digestibility, the natural pasture of Metekel zone has a high productivity in relation to total DM yield. It
could be concluded that appropriate harvesting time for quality hay making is at 40 to 80% of flowering
and after 17±2 weeks of precipitation.