Maximizing Forage Value and Maximizing Forage Value and AvailabilityAvailability

Dennis ChessmanDennis Chessman

State Grazing Land SpecialistState Grazing Land Specialist

USDA-NRCS, Athens, GAUSDA-NRCS, Athens, GA

A Problem of DistributionA Problem of Distribution

We can usually grow more forage than we We can usually grow more forage than we need, but only during certain times of the year.need, but only during certain times of the year.

Hybrid BermudagrassHybrid Bermudagrass

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Dry

Mat

ter

(Un

it:

To

ns)

Produced

Required

Bermudagrass and Tall FescueBermudagrass and Tall Fescue

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Dry

Mat

ter

(Un

it:

To

ns)

Produced

Required

Bermudagrass Overseeded with Bermudagrass Overseeded with RyegrassRyegrass

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Dry

Mat

ter

(Un

it:

To

ns)

Produced

Required

Bermudagrass Overseeded with Rye Bermudagrass Overseeded with Rye and Ryegrassand Ryegrass

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Dry

Mat

ter

(Un

it:

To

ns)

Produced

Required

Ryegrass Forage Yield – 3 Year AverageRyegrass Forage Yield – 3 Year AverageVarietyVariety GriffinGriffin CalhounCalhoun StatewideStatewide

---------------- lb/acre ----------------- ---------------- lb/acre -----------------

CommonCommon 90559055 1214412144 1019210192

JacksonJackson 95289528 1202512025 1035810358

JumboJumbo 93809380 1239412394 ------

MarshallMarshall 1002210022 1276212762 1083310833

Passerel PlusPasserel Plus 1000410004 1236812368 1067210672

PrinePrine 94009400 1243012430 1071210712

TAM 90TAM 90 93429342 1210412104 1017310173

LSD at .1LSD at .1 NSNS 838838 327327

*Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton, Calhoun and Griffin

Rye Forage Yield – 3 Year AverageRye Forage Yield – 3 Year AverageVarietyVariety GriffinGriffin StatewideStatewide

-------------- lb/acre ----------------------------- lb/acre ---------------

BatesBates 42944294 69476947

Early GrazeEarly Graze 42154215 64696469

Noble NF65Noble NF65 36333633 65716571

OklonOklon 43514351 68786878

Wintergrazer 70Wintergrazer 70 40044004 69136913

Wrens 96Wrens 96 42324232 64526452

Wrens AbruzziWrens Abruzzi 40404040 61856185

LSD at .1LSD at .1 NSNS 226226

*Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton and Griffin

Wheat Forage Yield – 3 Year AverageWheat Forage Yield – 3 Year Average

VarietyVariety GriffinGriffin Statewide*Statewide*

-------------- lb/acre ----------------------------- lb/acre ---------------

AGS 2000AGS 2000 63926392 68316831

Pioneer 26R61Pioneer 26R61 56595659 63636363

RobertsRoberts 61166116 72137213

USG 3209USG 3209 63516351 68716871

USG 3592USG 3592 66246624 76727672

LSD at .1LSD at .1 645645 290290

*Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton and Griffin

Forage LegumesForage Legumes

Are highly nutritious (digestibility and CP)Are highly nutritious (digestibility and CP) Can be productive without nitrogen fertilizerCan be productive without nitrogen fertilizer Extend the length of the grazing seasonExtend the length of the grazing season Can provide some nitrogen for grasses Can provide some nitrogen for grasses

growing in the standgrowing in the stand New grazing-tolerant varieties highly adapted New grazing-tolerant varieties highly adapted

to the Piedmont to the Piedmont

What do we do when we grow more What do we do when we grow more than we need?than we need?

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Month

Dry

Mat

ter (

Uni

t: T

ons)

Produced

Required

Forage QualityForage Quality

Protein is critical for muscle development, Protein is critical for muscle development, growth, regulation of systems, controlling growth, regulation of systems, controlling chemical reactions, hormones, reproduction, chemical reactions, hormones, reproduction, body structure, etc., etc.body structure, etc., etc.

Forage (and feed) protein is reported as crude Forage (and feed) protein is reported as crude protein (CP).protein (CP).

Forage Quality (cont.)Forage Quality (cont.)

Digestibility or digestible energy (DE) is the Digestibility or digestible energy (DE) is the single most important factor limiting beef single most important factor limiting beef cattle performance in the southern U.S.cattle performance in the southern U.S.

Digestibility is typically represented by total Digestibility is typically represented by total digestible nutrients (digestible nutrients (TDN) TDN)

Ultimately, the performance of the animal as it Ultimately, the performance of the animal as it relates to nutrition is the best test of forage relates to nutrition is the best test of forage quality. quality.

Nutritive Value of ForagesNutritive Value of Forages

All things being equal, forage types differ in All things being equal, forage types differ in digestibility as follows:digestibility as follows: Legumes > cool-season annual grasses > cool Legumes > cool-season annual grasses > cool

season perennial > grasses warm-season annual season perennial > grasses warm-season annual grasses > grasses > warm-season perennial grasseswarm-season perennial grasses

Nutritive Value of ForagesNutritive Value of Forages

ForageForage TDNTDN CPCP

BermudagrassBermudagrass

4 week old4 week old 5858 1212

8 week old8 week old 4848 88

RyegrassRyegrass

VegetativeVegetative 6868 2222

HeadHead 6060 1313

Animal Intake, TDN and CP NeedsAnimal Intake, TDN and CP Needs

Animal ClassAnimal Class DMI (lb/d)DMI (lb/d) %TDN%TDN %CP%CP

Beef SteerBeef Steer

450 lb (1.5 lb ADG)450 lb (1.5 lb ADG) 1212 6565 11-1311-13

650 lb (1.7 lb ADG)650 lb (1.7 lb ADG) 1414 6868 10-1110-11

Beef Cow (1100 lb)Beef Cow (1100 lb)

LactatingLactating 2222 6060 10-1210-12

Dry, pregnantDry, pregnant 1919 5050 7-87-8

Beef Cattle Nutrient RequirementsBeef Cattle Nutrient Requirements

Requirements are greatest for lactating cows Requirements are greatest for lactating cows and calves.and calves.

Requirements are lowest for dry cows during Requirements are lowest for dry cows during the middle third of pregnancythe middle third of pregnancy

Nutritionally deprived cows will lose body Nutritionally deprived cows will lose body condition, produce less milk, and be less likely condition, produce less milk, and be less likely to breed backto breed back

Goals of the Pasture ManagerGoals of the Pasture Manager Grow adapted forages that meet farm objectives Maintain soil fertility and pH Maximize ground cover Optimize production Graze forage at highest nutritional value Achieve uniformity of utilization Leave enough un-grazed to speed regrowth Be proactive by regularly monitoring pasture

condition and making adjustments

Grow adapted forages that meet farm objectives Maintain soil fertility and pH Maximize ground cover Optimize production Graze forage at highest nutritional value Achieve uniformity of utilization Leave enough un-grazed to speed regrowth Be proactive by regularly monitoring pasture

condition and making adjustments

Continuous Stocking

Variable Rate Stocking

Rotational Stocking

Problems from being OverstockedProblems from being Overstocked

Progressive stand declineProgressive stand decline

Not enough forage Not enough forage

Poor animal performancePoor animal performance

Dependence on hay and Dependence on hay and

concentratesconcentrates

Progressive stand declineProgressive stand decline

Not enough forage Not enough forage

Poor animal performancePoor animal performance

Dependence on hay and Dependence on hay and

concentratesconcentrates

Problems from being OverstockedProblems from being Overstocked

Bare ground exposedBare ground exposed

Decreased water infiltrationDecreased water infiltration

Increased soil erosionIncreased soil erosion

Increased nutrient and pesticide Increased nutrient and pesticide

runoffrunoff

Increased weed invasionIncreased weed invasion

Bare ground exposedBare ground exposed

Decreased water infiltrationDecreased water infiltration

Increased soil erosionIncreased soil erosion

Increased nutrient and pesticide Increased nutrient and pesticide

runoffrunoff

Increased weed invasionIncreased weed invasion

Considerations for Multi-Paddock Considerations for Multi-Paddock PasturesPastures

Clean, sufficient water in each paddock Enough paddocks to allow forage recovery Appropriate stock density for grazing and rest

periods Paddock shape Paddock layout that permits easy movement of

stock and adjustment as necessary Permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary

cross-fence?

Clean, sufficient water in each paddock Enough paddocks to allow forage recovery Appropriate stock density for grazing and rest

periods Paddock shape Paddock layout that permits easy movement of

stock and adjustment as necessary Permanent, semi-permanent, or temporary

cross-fence?

Considerations for Multi-Paddock Considerations for Multi-Paddock PasturesPastures

Rest period will depend on species and growing conditions

Be flexible to adjust graze periods and rest periods based on paddock condition

Adjust stock density to maximize forage utilization

Leave adequate stubble after grazing to speed forage regrowth

Rest period will depend on species and growing conditions

Be flexible to adjust graze periods and rest periods based on paddock condition

Adjust stock density to maximize forage utilization

Leave adequate stubble after grazing to speed forage regrowth

Forage Digestibility and Animal NeedsForage Digestibility and Animal Needs

Grass Hay and Cow NeedsGrass Hay and Cow Needs

Matching Animal Needs with Forage Matching Animal Needs with Forage QualityQuality

Control breeding to calve when forage Control breeding to calve when forage nutritive value is highestnutritive value is highest

Feed lowest quality forage to animals with the Feed lowest quality forage to animals with the lowest requirement (dry, pregnant cows)lowest requirement (dry, pregnant cows)

Getting a Good SampleGetting a Good Sample

Don’t lose the leavesDon’t lose the leaves Sample before feedingSample before feeding A probe can contribute to a representative A probe can contribute to a representative

samplesample Sample at least ten balesSample at least ten bales

Hay ProbeHay Probe

Why all the Fuss about Sampling?Why all the Fuss about Sampling?

One handful from the outside of one bale does One handful from the outside of one bale does not represent your field, but only about 1 not represent your field, but only about 1 square foot in your field.square foot in your field.

Soils can be Soils can be highlyhighly variable across a field, so variable across a field, so plants grown on them will be likewise.plants grown on them will be likewise.

By far, the single greatest source of error in By far, the single greatest source of error in forage test results is in the sampling technique.forage test results is in the sampling technique.

ConclusionsConclusions

Grazing animals are the least expensive way to Grazing animals are the least expensive way to harvest forage.harvest forage.

We have a long growing season, so we should We have a long growing season, so we should use it.use it.

Clovers (or yes, even alfalfa) should be grown Clovers (or yes, even alfalfa) should be grown some time during the year.some time during the year.

Animal needs change and therefore, so should Animal needs change and therefore, so should the things we feed them.the things we feed them.

Conclusions (cont.)Conclusions (cont.)

Improper hay storage is like throwing money Improper hay storage is like throwing money away.away.

Forage testing is the only reliable way to know Forage testing is the only reliable way to know what you are feeding.what you are feeding.

Animal access to hay should be controlled.Animal access to hay should be controlled.