Selecting forage species for your farm
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Selecting forage species for your farm
Gilles Bélanger Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
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• Species
• Legumes (6) and grasses (11)
• Mixtures in Atlantic Canada (18), Québec (15), and Ontario (12)
• « Tool Box »
– Good compared to other areas
Species and mixtures
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Legume species• Alfalfa• Red clover• White clover• Birdsfoot trefoil• Alsike clover• Sweet clover
Species recommended or available in eastern Canada
Grass species• Timothy• Meadow bromegrass• Smooth bromegrass• Orchardgrass• Tall fescue• Reed canarygrass• Meadow fescue• Kentucky bluegrass• Perennial ryegrass• Creeping red fescue• Meadow foxtail
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• Very good yield and nutritive value
• Very tolerant to heat and drought
• 3-5 years if well managed
Alfalfa, the « dream crop »
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• Sensitive to winter conditions• Not tolerant:
– Soil acidity (optimal pH = 6.6 à 7.0)– Poor drainage– Frequent clipping and grazing
Alfalfa, the « queen crop with specific requirements»
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1993
9.811.911.611.3
1995
7.14.85.05.6
1994
8.36.56.78.1
2 Cuts
400 GDD
500 GDD
600 GDD
Yield (T/ha)
Source: Bélanger et al. 1999. Can. J. Plant Sci. 79: 57-63.
Apica
Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Truro
3rd cut
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1993
9.811.911.611.3
1995
7.14.85.05.6
1994
8.36.56.78.1
2 Cuts
400 GDD
500 GDD
600 GDD
Yield (T/ha)
Source: Bélanger et al. 1999. Can. J. Plant Sci. 79: 57-63.
Apica
Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Truro
3rd cut
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1997
5.26.87.07.1
1999
4.6DeadDeadDead
1998
7.86.9
10.611.3
2 Cuts
400 GDD
500 GDD
600 GDD
Yield (T/ha)
Source: Dhont et al. 2004. Crop Sci. 44: 144-157.
AC Caribou
Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Normandin
3rd cut
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• Very good yield• Less than alfalfa
• Good nutritive value• Better than alfalfa for some attributes
• Fast establishement • Less sensitive to poor drainage and acidity
than alfalfa• Adapted to short rotations
Red clover, the « old crop »
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• Average yield • Average tolerance to acidity and poor
drainage• Tolerance to frequent cuts and grazing
• Mostly for grazing
• Variable persistence
White clover, the « little crop »
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• Legume, the most tolerant to acidity and poor drainage
• Average tolerance to grazing• Slow to establish• Lower yield than alfalfa
Birdsfoot trefoil, the « tough crop »
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NDF concentration and digestibility
Average of two years, Normandin (QC).
NDF(% DM)
Digestibiliy NDF(% NDF)
Alfalfa 41.2 53.6
Red clover 35.0 55.1
White clover 19.2 77.4
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
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NDF concentration and digestibility
Average of two years, Normandin (QC).
NDF(% DM)
Digestibiliy NDF(% NDF)
Alfalfa 41.2 53.6
Red clover 35.0 55.1
Timothy 62.0 75.4
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
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AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM
Non
stru
ctur
al c
arbo
hydr
ates
(mg
g-1 D
M)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
SpringRed clover
Summer SpringTimothy
SummerSpringAlfalfa
Summer
SEM
Cutting:Growth:Species:
Non structural carbohydrates (Sugars)
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
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• Grass species, the most cultivated in eastern Canada
• Reliable and predictable
• Excellent persistence
Timothy, « boring but reliable »
• Timothy, 25 years:• Annual yield: 6 T/ha.
• 90% timothy.
Source: Bélanger et al. 1989. Can. J. Plant Sci. 69: 501-512.
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• Sensitivity: red clover = orchardgrass > alfalfa > timothy Source: Bertrand et al. 2000. Plant Cell Environ. 24: 1085-1093.
Regrowth after 107 days under plastic bags
Simulated ice sheets
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• Not tolerant to heat and drought• Poor summer regrowth
• Not tolerant to frequent cutting
• Ideal species for cows in transition
Timothy, « boring but reliable »
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Source: Tremblay et al. 2006. Agron. J. 98: 339-348.
Dietary cation-anion differenceD
CA
D (m
eq/k
g D
M)
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700Spring growth Summer regrowth
a
b
c
a
ab
cbc
d
bb
Meadow bromegrass
Smooth bromegrass
Timothy
Cocksfoot
Tall fesc
ue
Meadow bromegrass
Smooth bromegrass
Timothy
Cocksfoot
Tall fesc
ue
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• Good tolerance to soil acidity• Average persistance
• Less persistant than timothy but more than orchardgrass
• Tolerant to heat and drought• Good growth in summer and fall
Tall fescue, « pretty but not always liked »
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Better regrowth than timothy
2nd cut29 %
37 %
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Timothy Tall fescue
1st cut
Yield(T/ha)
71 % 63 %
Harvest, 20 June – Average of 2 years
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75
80
85
90
3 4 5 6 7 8
Digestibility(% DM)
Yield (T/ha)
6 June
12 June
20 June
27 June
Average of 2 years
Digestibility
Timothy Tall fescue
• Better nutritive value than timothy • Poor acceptability in pastures
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• Tolerant to heat and drought• Good growth in summer
• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing• Early heading
• Cut at the right time
• Sensitive to winter• Sensible to poor drainage
Orchardgrass, « does not age well »
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• Good persistance
• Tolerant to heat and drought
• Sensititive to poor drainage
• Not tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing
• Slow establishment
Smooth bromegrass
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• Good persistence• Tolerant to heat and drought• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing• Sensitive to poor drainage• Slow establishment
Meadow bromegrass, « new kid on the block »
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Meadow fescue vs. Meadow bromegrass
Source: Drapeau et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 89: 1059-1063.
0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5
DM
yield (T/ha)
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
M. fescue
M. bromegrass
1 2 3 1 2 3
• Normandin• 4 cuts per year
Production year
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• Tolerant to poor drainage and soil acidity• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing
• Adapted to harvesting and grazing
• Very good persistence
Reed canarygrass, «tall and tough»
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Comparing the yield of several species
Source: Bolinder et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 82: 731-737.
Red clover
RyegrassOrchardgrass
AlfalfaTimothy
Tall fescueR. canarygrass
S. bromegrass
DM
yield (T/ha)
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
• Fredericton• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years
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Digestibility vs. yield
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
DM yield (T/ha)
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Digestibility of D
M (%
)
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
R. canarygrass
S. bromegrass
M. bromegrass
Timothy
Tall fescue
K. bluegrass
Red clover
Alfalfa
• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years
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Digestibility vs. yield
Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
DM yield (T/ha)
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Digestibility of D
M (%
)
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
R. canarygrass
S. bromegrass
M. bromegrass
Timothy
Tall fescue
K. bluegrass
Red clover
Alfalfa
• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years
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Digestibility vs. yield
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
DM yield (T/ha)
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Digestibility of D
M (%
)
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
R. canarygrass
S. bromegrass
M. bromegrass
Timothy
Tall fescue
K. bluegrass
Red clover
Alfalfa
• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years
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Digestibility vs. yield
Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.
DM yield (T/ha)
4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Digestibility of D
M (%
)
76
78
80
82
84
86
88
90
R. canarygrass
S. bromegrass
M. bromegrass
Timothy
Tall fescue
K. bluegrass
Red clover
Alfalfa
• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years
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• More productive than pure stands• More competition againts weeds• Adapted to a wide range of conditions• Better plant population (insurance)• Simple mixtures (2 to 4 species) recommended
in eastern Canada
Why use mixtures?
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• Adaptation of species to local growing conditions• Soil and climate
• Objective• Conserved feed and/or grazing• Cutting/grazing intensity (high quality forage)• Expected stand duration• Special needs: Hay for dry cows
• For mixtures: persistance et maturity
Species and mixtures for my own farm
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• Fertile soils, good drainage, and pH > 6.5– Alfalfa
• Intensive cutting for high quality – Orchardgrass
» Greater risks of winter damage
– Tall fescue
• Less intensive cutting – Timothy
– Smooth bromegrass
» Drier areas
Some possible legume-grass mixturesFirst, choose the legume species
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• Less favorable drainage and pH, or short rotations– Red clover
• Intensive cutting– orchardgrass, tall fescue, reed canarygrass
• Less intensive cutting– timothy, smooth bromegrass
Some possible legume-grass mixtures
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Red clover mixtures
Red clover with DM yield (T DM/ha)
Tall fescue 6.8
S. Bromegrass 6.2
Timothy 6.1
Orchardgrass 5.8
Average of two sites and three production years
Source: Lafrenière and Drapeau. 2011. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 91-97.
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• Poorly drained soils and low pH– Trefoil
• Timothy
Some possible legume-grass mixtures
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• Climate change– More risks of winter damage
• Warmer falls
• Less snow cover
• More freeze-thaw cycles
– An additionnal harvest• Species: tall fescue, perennial ryegrass ??
What’s coming?
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• Climate change• Increased cost of N fertilizer
– Greater reliance on legume species• Legume-based mixtures
– Improved legume persistance (red clover and alfalfa)
• Increased cost of grains– Greater reliance on forages in rations
– Improved nutritive value• Low-lignin alfalfa
• Sweet grass
What’s coming?
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- Species, mixtures, and cultivars
- Cutting management- Drainage, liming, and
fertilization
Successful forage production
Choose the tools best adapted to your growing conditions and your needs
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Stages of development at harvest of alfalfaCut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Yield (t/ha) Digestibility
(%)
Early flower 1 sept. 8.31 54.6
Early bud 35 jours 1 sept. 7.10 63.8
Early bloom 30 jours 1 sept. 8.32 60.4
Early bloom Early bloom Early bloom 9.44 60.6
(Average of 4 years; Fredericton)
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Stages of development at harvest of alfalfaCut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Yield (t/ha) Digestibility
(%)
Early flower 1 sept. 8.31 54.6
Early bud 35 jours 1 sept. 7.10 63.8
Early bloom 30 jours 1 sept. 8.32 60.4
Early bloom Early bloom Early bloom 9.44 60.6
(Average of 4 years; Fredericton)Stages of development a
t harvest a
nd
number of h
arvests affect y
ield and nutritive
value
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Rés
erve
s C
arbo
nées
(g/p
lant
)
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
Rés
erve
s Az
otée
s (g
/pla
nt)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
2 coupes3 coupes à 400 DJ3 coupes à 500 DJ3 coupes à 600 DJ
3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98
Réserves dans les racines au cours de l’hiver
Rés
erve
s C
arbo
nées
(g/p
lant
)
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
Rés
erve
s Az
otée
s (g
/pla
nt)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
2 c oupes3 c oupes à 400 DJ3 c oupes à 500 DJ3 c oupes à 600 DJ
3ème c. 500 D J17 sept.
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98
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Rés
erve
s C
arbo
nées
(g/p
lant
)
0.0
0.2
0.4
0.6
0.8
1.0
1.2
1.4
1.6
1.8
2.0
Rés
erve
s Az
otée
s (g
/pla
nt)
0.00
0.05
0.10
0.15
0.20
0.25
0.30
2 coupes3 coupes à 400 DJ3 coupes à 500 DJ3 coupes à 600 DJ
3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.
3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.
2ème coupe7 août
3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.
1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98
Réserves dans les racines au cours de l’hiver
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• Less risk
1. No fall cut.2. Fall cut after first frost (-3ºC).3. Fall cut when alfalfa is in early bloom or at least 50 days after
the preceding cut.4. Fall cut regardless of stage of development or interval between
cuts.
• More risk
Fall cutting management – Risk scale
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Mixtures are more productive …
Yield (T DM/ha)Alfalfa Alfalfa + timothy
2008 (one cut) 2.41 2.75
2009 (three cuts) 7.33 7.91
2010 (three cuts) 6.56 6.77
2011 (1 cut) 3.02 3.37
Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)
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… with less weedsWeed yield (T DM/ha)
Alfalfa Alfalfa + timothy
2008 (one cut) 1.21 0.94
2009 (three cuts) 1.91 1.25
2010 (three cus) 1.25 0.88
2011 (1 cut) 1.24 1.02
Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)
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Year 1
6.87.26.2
Year 3
6.04.54.1
Year 2
6.85.94.7
Yield (T/ha)
Source: Drapeau et al. 2005. Can. J.Plant Sci. 85: 369-376. Normandin, QC
Cutting management – Tall fescue
2 cuts3 cuts5 cuts
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Current2 harvests
2040 – 20693 harvests
CharlottetwonYield (T DM/ha) 8.2 10.5NDF (% DM) 53.1 52.4dNDF (% NDF) 70.7 69.4
St. John’s Yield (T DM/ha) 7.7 9.9NDF (% DM) 49.8 50.2dNDF (% NDF) 71.8 71.0Simulations with CATIMO model.Jing et al. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Unpublished data.
Impact of climate change on timothy yield and nutritive value