Choosing Grass Forage Species For Pasture Dean Oswald

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 • 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

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

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)

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

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

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)

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

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

ALFALFA (Medicago sativa) • • • Highest Yielding Perennial Forage in IL Deep Rooted, Source of Nitrogen p. H 6. 5 or Higher Hay or Pasture (With Proper Management) Hay…Cut in Late Bud to Early Bloom (3035 Day Rest Period) • Bloat Can Be A Concern

RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense) • • • Biennial / Must Re-Seed to Maintain Stand Tolerates Lower p. H Than Alfalfa More Difficult to Dry For Hay More Shade Tolerant Than Alfalfa Rotational Grazing (30 Day Rest Period) Source of Nitrogen

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

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

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

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

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

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 • Protein 15 -25% early Season, > 10% until late fall • Yields Range From 2. 5 - 6. 5 Tons/A

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

Indiangrass(Sorghastrum nurtans) • • Perennial Warm Season Bunchgrass Graze July 1 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

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

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+ p. H

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

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