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