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-SummerWaxy 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