Complementary Forage ProgramsComplementary Forage Programs

Paul Beck

Department of Animal Science

SWREC, Hope

Complementary ForagesComplementary Forages

• Managing or adding forage resources to Managing or adding forage resources to complement base forages.complement base forages.– Extend grazing seasonExtend grazing season

• Reduce hay requirementsReduce hay requirements– Increase forage qualityIncrease forage quality

• Reduce supplemental feedReduce supplemental feed• Graze animals with higher nutrient Graze animals with higher nutrient

requirementsrequirements

Southern ArkansasSouthern Arkansas

• Most forage is warm-season grassesMost forage is warm-season grasses

• Most cow herds are spring calvingMost cow herds are spring calving

– Matches forage resourceMatches forage resource

– Best production (quality & yield) = Best production (quality & yield) = Highest needHighest need

• Need cool-season grass to complement.Need cool-season grass to complement.

Spring born cows in N ArkansasSpring born cows in N Arkansas

• Cool-season grass is forage baseCool-season grass is forage base

• Grass contains toxin that decrease forage Grass contains toxin that decrease forage intake and limit productionintake and limit production

– Toxin highest when cow needs are Toxin highest when cow needs are greatest.greatest.

• Not a great fit for spring calving herdsNot a great fit for spring calving herds

Adding Warm-Season Grass

• Research from 1990’s in Arkansas

• Spring calving cows

• Bermuda only, Tall Fescue only, or Rotation (June-Oct; Nov-May)

• Stocked at 2 acres/cow

• 200 lb Ammonia Nitrate applied

• Bermuda May & July

• Tall Fescue March & October

Effect of Complementary Forage on Calf Effect of Complementary Forage on Calf PerformancePerformance

BermudaBermuda FescueFescue RotationRotation

Calving Calving RateRate

89%89% 75%75% 87%87%

205-d 205-d weightweight

541541 468468 513513

WW/cow WW/cow exposedexposed

499499 370370 460460

Current AR Research - NE+ fescueCurrent AR Research - NE+ fescue

• appear to be a viable solution to tall fescue appear to be a viable solution to tall fescue toxicosistoxicosis

• adoption of NE+ technology has been slowadoption of NE+ technology has been slow– expenseexpense– soil limitationssoil limitations– insufficient economic information insufficient economic information – insufficient persistence informationinsufficient persistence information– other alternatives???other alternatives???

TreatmentsTreatments

• Spring calving – all E+ pastureSpring calving – all E+ pasture

• Spring calving – 75% E+, 25% NE+ Spring calving – 75% E+, 25% NE+ pasture pasture

• Spring calving – all NE+ pastureSpring calving – all NE+ pasture

• Fall calving – all E+ pastureFall calving – all E+ pasture

• Fall calving – 75% E+, 25% NE+ pastureFall calving – 75% E+, 25% NE+ pasture

– based on total pasture acreagebased on total pasture acreage

MethodMethod

• groups with 25% NE+groups with 25% NE+– moved to NE+ in mid-Aprilmoved to NE+ in mid-April– grazed until early to mid-Junegrazed until early to mid-June

• Spring 25% NE+Spring 25% NE+– bulls added in early May while grazing NE+bulls added in early May while grazing NE+– moved to NE+ again in mid-September for 3 moved to NE+ again in mid-September for 3

to 4 weeksto 4 weeks– calves weaned in mid-Octobercalves weaned in mid-October

MethodMethod

• Fall 25% NE+Fall 25% NE+

– calves weaned in mid-Maycalves weaned in mid-May

– moved to NE+ again in Octobermoved to NE+ again in October

– bulls added in late November bulls added in late November immediately after removal from NE+immediately after removal from NE+

Calf performanceCalf performance

Fall CalvingFall Calving

itemitem 100E+100E+ 25NE+25NE+

Weaning Wt, lbWeaning Wt, lb 528528 557557

Preweaning ADGPreweaning ADG 1.931.93 2.052.05

Wean valueWean value$/head$/head $572$572 $581$581

Calf performanceCalf performance

Spring Calving Spring Calving

itemitem 100NE+100NE+ 100E+100E+ 25NE+25NE+

Weaning WtWeaning Wt 581581 490490 500500

Prewean ADGPrewean ADG 2.152.15 1.801.80 1.831.83

Weaning ValueWeaning Value

per headper head $549$549 $490$490 $493$493

Calving Rates, %Calving Rates, %

WW per cow exposedWW per cow exposed

Adding Complementary ForagesAdding Complementary Forages

• Increase in cow and pre-weaning calf Increase in cow and pre-weaning calf performance.performance.

• Save additional feeding costsSave additional feeding costs

• Allows additional areas that can be used Allows additional areas that can be used for retained ownership of calves.for retained ownership of calves.

– Current economic conditionsCurrent economic conditions

• Increased feedlot cost of gain Increased feedlot cost of gain increases value of heavier calvesincreases value of heavier calves

Interseeding winter annual pasture Interseeding winter annual pasture into warm season grass sodinto warm season grass sod

P. Beck, S. Gunter, M. Phillips, P. Beck, S. Gunter, M. Phillips,

and B. Stewartand B. Stewart

University of Arkansas, Southwest Research & University of Arkansas, Southwest Research & Extension Center, HopeExtension Center, Hope

EstablishmentEstablishment Sod-seeding is the most common method of Sod-seeding is the most common method of

planting legumes and other cool season annuals.planting legumes and other cool season annuals. This can be accomplished by broadcasting or no-till This can be accomplished by broadcasting or no-till

plantingplanting Grass sod must be grazed as short as possible to Grass sod must be grazed as short as possible to

remove canopy.remove canopy. Interseed cool-season annuals in early to late fallInterseed cool-season annuals in early to late fall

Interseeding Cool-Season AnnualsInterseeding Cool-Season Annuals

• Most annuals are interseeded into warm Most annuals are interseeded into warm season grass pastureseason grass pasture

• To decrease competition b/t WSG and To decrease competition b/t WSG and CSA seedlingsCSA seedlings

– Delay planting date until mid-OctoberDelay planting date until mid-October

• Reduces fall growthReduces fall growth

• Delays stockingDelays stocking

– Force WSG into dormancy by spraying Force WSG into dormancy by spraying with paraquat or glyphosatewith paraquat or glyphosate

Effect of Roundup at plantingEffect of Roundup at planting

WithoutWithout WithWith

On test BWOn test BW 600600 602602

Off test BWOff test BW 798798 832832

ADGADG 2.062.06 2.362.36

Total gainTotal gain 204204 232232

Effect of Planting DateEffect of Planting Date

EARLYEARLY LATELATE

On test BWOn test BW 601601 599599

Off test BWOff test BW 851851 779779

ADGADG 2.282.28 2.142.14

Total gainTotal gain 255255 180180

Species ComparisonsSpecies Comparisons

• Wheat, Rye, and Oats were planted with Wheat, Rye, and Oats were planted with ryegrassryegrass

• Interseeded into bermudagrass sod Interseeded into bermudagrass sod October 15-20 at 2 bu small grain and 20 October 15-20 at 2 bu small grain and 20 lb ryegrass/acrelb ryegrass/acre

Winter and Spring ADGWinter and Spring ADG

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

Winter, yr 1 Winter, yr 2 Spr, yr 1 Spr, yr 2

RGORGRRGTRGWRG

Effect of species interseeded into grass sod

Tall FescueTall Fescue

• Toxic Kentucky-31 does not fit stocker Toxic Kentucky-31 does not fit stocker programsprograms– Persistent & High Quality Forage!Persistent & High Quality Forage!– Poor Livestock PerformancePoor Livestock Performance– Native toxic fungal endophyteNative toxic fungal endophyte

• Novel Endophyte Tall FescueNovel Endophyte Tall Fescue– Persistence and High QualityPersistence and High Quality– Good animal performanceGood animal performance– Selected non-toxic fungal endophyteSelected non-toxic fungal endophyte

Average Daily GainAverage Daily Gain

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5A

DG

, lb

.

Fall Spring

KY31 MQ HM11 SG RG

1.38

1.991.91 1.95

0.75

1.89 1.97

0.940.98

2.46

ConclusionsConclusions

• There are various options availableThere are various options available

• Depends Depends

– labor, machinery, soil types, animal labor, machinery, soil types, animal requirements, and management abilityrequirements, and management ability

• Be sure overall herd management and Be sure overall herd management and marketing plans and forage program fits marketing plans and forage program fits with forage resourceswith forage resources