Fifteen tagasaste varieties including the standard check variety (MoA) were evaluated
for forage dry matter yield, nutritional profiles, disease and insect pest reaction, and
other agro-morphological characteristics at Holetta and Jeldu research sites during
the main cropping seasons of 2008-2011. Based on the overall performance, three best
performing varieties (CI-15052, CI-17497, and CI-15039) were selected and verified
with the standard check at Holetta, and Kulumsa Agricultural Research Centers and
Jeldu sub-site in 2017 cropping season. The overall mean result indicated that the
released variety Lattuu (CI-15052) produced the highest edible yield (7.46 t/ha) while
variety CI-15039 produced the lowest (3.60 t/ha) edible yield when compared with
other varieties. On the other hand, the standard check variety (MoA) produced the
highest (6.40 t/ha) inedible yield. The tagasaste varieties comprise edible (leaf and
edible branch) and inedible (stem) plant parts; however, the share of the edible part
(61%) of the released Lattuu variety was much higher than its inedible (39%) part of
the plant. The total edible dry matter, crude protein, and digestible yields of the Lattuu
variety were 7.46, 1.64, and 3.99 t/ha, respectively. Moreover, the released Lattuu
variety had 24.63 and 10.33% CP yield and digestible yield advantages over the standard check variety, respectively. Generally, the released Lattuu variety had
relatively better leaf to stem ratio, CP, and IVOMD advantages over the standard
check variety. Therefore, the national variety releasing committee evaluated the
varieties at field conditions in October 2017 and variety Lattuu (CI-15052) was
officially released in April 2018 for the highland areas and similar agro-ecologies of
the country. The pre-basic and basic seeds of the released Lattuu variety are
maintained by the feeds and nutrition research section of Holetta Agricultural
Research Center.
