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Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture

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

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Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture

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  1. Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture Dean Oswald Animal Systems Educator Macomb Extension Center

  2. 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

  3. Kentucky Bluegrass

  4. 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

  5. Smooth Bromegrass

  6. 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)

  7. Orchardgrass

  8. 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

  9. Perennial Ryegrass

  10. 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

  11. Reed Canarygrass

  12. 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)

  13. Tall Fescue

  14. Tall Fescue(Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) • Deep Rooted Sod Forming Bunchgrass • Most Wear and Tear Resistant Grass • Animals Reluctant to Graze Mid-Summer Waxy leaf Cuticle Fescue Endophyte Fungus • Low Endophyte Varieties Available • Stockpiling For Winter Use

  15. 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

  16. Alfalfa

  17. 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

  18. Red Clover

  19. 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

  20. Ladino White Clover

  21. LADINO WHITE CLOVER(Trifolium repens f.) • Creeping Stems • Short Lived - Shallow Rooted • Bloat Potential • Not Suited For Hay • Do Not Overgraze (Below 3 Inches)

  22. Birdsfoot Trefoil

  23. 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

  24. 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

  25. 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

  26. 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

  27. 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

  28. Big bluestem

  29. 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

  30. Indiangrass

  31. 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

  32. Eastern Gamma

  33. 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

  34. Little bluestem

  35. 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

  36. Switchgrass

  37. 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

  38. Sideoats grama

  39. Side Oats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) • Native Perennial Warm Season Grass • Weak Sod Former used in Mixes <25% • Continuous Grazing Not Recommended

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