choosing grass & forage species for pasture
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Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture. Dean Oswald Animal Systems Educator Macomb Extension Center. Different Forage Attributes:. Bluegrass is Persistent & High Quality …. But Low Yielding - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture
Dean OswaldAnimal Systems EducatorMacomb Extension Center
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Different Forage Attributes:
• Bluegrass is Persistent & High Quality….But Low Yielding
• Endophyte Infected Tall Fescue is very Productive & Persistent…..But Limited Quality
• Orchardgrass-Alfalfa is Very Productive & High Quality….But Not as Persistent
depending upon management
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Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis)
• Perennial Sod Forming Cool Season Grass• Grows 12-23 Inches Tall• Summer Dormancy• Not Suited to Hay• Should Not Be Grazed Lower Than 3
Inches
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SMOOTH BROMEGRASS(Bromus inermis)
• Most Widely Adapted and High yielding Variety in Northern & Central Illinois
• Sod Forming Grass - Reproduces by Seed & Rhizomes
• Hay Should be Cut Based Upon Legume Maturity (Leave a 3-4 Inch Stubble)
• Graze at 6-8 Inches in Spring (Don’t Overgraze)
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Orchardgrass(Dactylis glomerata)
• One of the Most Useful Grasses for Hay & Pasture• Bunch Type Grass - Fibrous Root System• Starts Early in the Spring, Reproduces from Seed
and Tillers (All re-growth vegetative)• More Productive in Mid-Summer, Shade Tolerant• Cutting Closer than 3 Inches can Damage Stand• Graze at 6-8 Inches, No Shorter than 3-4
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Perennial Ryegrass(Lolium perenne L.)
• Bunch Type Grass• Will Survive Several Growing Seasons• Less Persistent Than Other Cool Season Grasses• Can Withstand Grazing Mismanagement• Harvest at 10-12 Inches, Remove Animals at 2
Inches, Re-graze at 7-10 Inches
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REED CANARYGRASS(Phalaris arundinacea)
• Tall, Upright Perennial Cool Season Grass
• Rhizomatous Root System• Low Alkaloid Varieties Available…More Palatable• Drought & Flood Tolerant - Adapts to all Soil Conditions• Cut Hay at Boot Stage, Maintain a 4 Inch Cutting Height
• Should Not Be Allowed To Grow More Than 14 Inches Tall In a Pasture System ( 7 Days Grazing, 21 Days Rest Period)
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Tall Fescue(Festuca arundinacea Schreb.)
• Deep Rooted Sod Forming Bunchgrass• Most Wear and Tear Resistant Grass• Animals Reluctant to Graze Mid-Summer
Waxy leaf CuticleFescue Endophyte Fungus
• Low Endophyte Varieties Available• Stockpiling For Winter Use
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Fescue Toxicity on EI Pastures
• Reduced Feed Intake - Less Grazing Time• Lower Weight Gains • < Reduced Milk Production• > Increased Body Temperature• > Respiration Rate• Rough Hair Coat• Reduced Reproductive Performance
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ALFALFA(Medicago sativa)
• Highest Yielding Perennial Forage in IL• Deep Rooted, Source of Nitrogen• pH 6.5 or Higher• Hay or Pasture (With Proper Management)• Hay…Cut in Late Bud to Early Bloom (30-
35 Day Rest Period)• Bloat Can Be A Concern
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RED CLOVER(Trifolium pratense)
• Biennial / Must Re-Seed to Maintain Stand• Tolerates Lower pH Than Alfalfa• More Difficult to Dry For Hay• More Shade Tolerant Than Alfalfa• Rotational Grazing (30Day Rest Period)• Source of Nitrogen
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LADINO WHITE CLOVER(Trifolium repens f.)
• Creeping Stems• Short Lived - Shallow Rooted• Bloat Potential• Not Suited For Hay• Do Not Overgraze (Below 3 Inches)
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BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL(Lotus corniculatus)
• High Quality, Non-Bloating Legume• Tolerates Slightly Acid, Less Well Drained
Soils• Rotational Grazing to Maintain Stand• Graze - When 6-8 Inches, Remove Stock at 3
Inches• Hay - Cut at 1/4 Bloom with 3 Inch Cutting
Height
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Crabgrass (Degitaria spp.)
• Annual, Warm Season Grass• Introduced Into the US in 1849 for Stock
Feed• Forage Use is Primarily in the SE 1/3 US• Use Declined When (Weed Problem)
Developed In Other Cropping Situations
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Production Practices
• Best Production Comes From Dormant Season Tillage (Initial planting and planned volunteer stands)
• Allelopathic to Other Species and Itself• Tillage Moderate Depth Before
Germination• Crabgrass Responds Well to Nitrogen
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Establishment
• Clean, Firm Seedbed - Sow After Last Frost• 2-5 # Pure Live Seed in Rowed Plantings• Broadcast Stands of 5-10 # Produced
Similar Yields• Seed - Fertilizer Mix Can be Planted
Through Most Drills or Spreaders
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Crabgrass Use and Quality
• Beef, Dairy, Sheep, Horses• Summer Grazing , Winter Grazing, Hay,
Green Chop, Silage, Conservation Cover• DDM 75-80% first 1/3 of Season• Protein15-25% early Season, > 10% until
late fall• Yields Range From 2.5 - 6.5 Tons/A
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Big bluestem• Perennial Warm Season Sod Forming Grass• Deep Root System / short rhizomes• Majority of Growth Occurs in July• Graze June 15 to September 15• Initial grazing 10-12” - Don’t Graze under
6-8”- Stop by Sept. 15 & leave 10”stubble• Cut for hay in early boot stage• Establishment takes two to three years
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Indiangrass(Sorghastrum nurtans)
• Perennial Warm Season Bunchgrass• Graze July1 to Sept. 15• Initial Grazing Height 10-12” minimum 8”• In Grazing Systems: graze 7 days - rest 30• Short grazing will decrease stand• Leave 10 inch stubble 30 days before frost• 2-3 year establishment
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Eastern Gamagrass(Tripsacum dactyloides)
• Warm Season Bunch Grass (fibrous roots)• Higher Palatability & Quality, Lower Yield• Grazing Ht. 10-12”• Clipping Ht. Not less than 6-8”• Stop Grazing Aug. 10 or 45 days < frost• Rotational Grazing - 4 Week Rest Period• Overgrazing Will Reduce Stand
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Little Bluestem(Schizachyrium scoparium)
• Perennial Warm Season Bunchgrass• Continuous Grazing Not Recommended• Repeated Grazing Less than 4-6” will Kill• Terminate Grazing Sept. 15• More Drought Resistant Than Big Blue,
Indian or Switch• Not as Palatable or Productive - used in mixes
6.0+ pH
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Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum)
• Warm Season Perennial Sod Forming Grass• Grazing May 15 to September 5• 12” Fall Ht. Before Frost (30 day rest)• Can Be Grazed to 6-8” After Frost• Easiest Warm Season Grass to Establish• Begins Growth Early in The Season
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Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula)
• Native Perennial Warm Season Grass• Weak Sod Former used in Mixes <25%• Continuous Grazing Not Recommended