Choosing Grass & Forage Species For Pasture

Dean OswaldAnimal Systems EducatorMacomb 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 CuticleFescue 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• 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

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

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• Protein15-25% 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 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

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+ pH

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