Maximizing Forage Value and Availability Dennis Chessman State Grazing Land Specialist USDA-NRCS, Athens, GA

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

Hybrid Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass and Tall Fescue

Bermudagrass Overseeded with Ryegrass

Bermudagrass Overseeded with Rye and Ryegrass

Ryegrass Forage Yield – 3 Year Average VarietyGriffinCalhounStatewide lb/acre Common Jackson Jumbo Marshall Passerel Plus Prine TAM LSD at.1 NS *Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton, Calhoun and Griffin

Rye Forage Yield – 3 Year Average VarietyGriffinStatewide lb/acre lb/acre Bates Early Graze Noble NF Oklon Wintergrazer Wrens Wrens Abruzzi LSD at.1 NS226 *Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton and Griffin

Wheat Forage Yield – 3 Year Average VarietyGriffinStatewide* lb/acre lb/acre AGS Pioneer 26R Roberts USG USG LSD at *Statewide is average of data from Plains, Tifton and Griffin

Forage Legumes Are highly nutritious (digestibility and CP) Are highly nutritious (digestibility and CP) Can be productive without nitrogen fertilizer Can be productive without nitrogen fertilizer Extend the length of the grazing season Extend the length of the grazing season Can provide some nitrogen for grasses growing in the stand Can provide some nitrogen for grasses growing in the stand New grazing-tolerant varieties highly adapted to the Piedmont New grazing-tolerant varieties highly adapted to the Piedmont

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

Forage Quality Protein is critical for muscle development, growth, regulation of systems, controlling chemical reactions, hormones, reproduction, body structure, etc., etc. Protein is critical for muscle development, growth, regulation of systems, controlling chemical reactions, hormones, reproduction, body structure, etc., etc. Forage (and feed) protein is reported as crude protein (CP). Forage (and feed) protein is reported as crude protein (CP).

Forage Quality (cont.) Digestibility or digestible energy (DE) is the single most important factor limiting beef cattle performance in the southern U.S. Digestibility or digestible energy (DE) is the single most important factor limiting beef cattle performance in the southern U.S. Digestibility is typically represented by total digestible nutrients (TDN) Digestibility is typically represented by total digestible nutrients (TDN) Ultimately, the performance of the animal as it relates to nutrition is the best test of forage quality. Ultimately, the performance of the animal as it relates to nutrition is the best test of forage quality.

Nutritive Value of Forages All things being equal, forage types differ in digestibility as follows: All things being equal, forage types differ in digestibility as follows: Legumes > cool-season annual grasses > cool season perennial > grasses warm-season annual grasses > warm-season perennial grasses Legumes > cool-season annual grasses > cool season perennial > grasses warm-season annual grasses > warm-season perennial grasses

Nutritive Value of Forages ForageTDNCP Bermudagrass 4 week old week old 488 Ryegrass Vegetative6822 Head6013

Animal Intake, TDN and CP Needs Animal Class DMI (lb/d) %TDN%CP Beef Steer 450 lb (1.5 lb ADG) lb (1.7 lb ADG) Beef Cow (1100 lb) Lactating Dry, pregnant

Beef Cattle Nutrient Requirements Requirements are greatest for lactating cows and calves. Requirements are greatest for lactating cows and calves. Requirements are lowest for dry cows during the middle third of pregnancy Requirements are lowest for dry cows during the middle third of pregnancy Nutritionally deprived cows will lose body condition, produce less milk, and be less likely to breed back Nutritionally deprived cows will lose body condition, produce less milk, and be less likely to breed back

Goals 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 Overstocked Progressive stand decline Progressive stand decline Not enough forage Poor animal performance Dependence on hay and concentrates Progressive stand decline Progressive stand decline Not enough forage Poor animal performance Dependence on hay and concentrates

Problems from being Overstocked Bare ground exposed Bare ground exposed Decreased water infiltration Increased soil erosion Increased nutrient and pesticide runoff Increased weed invasion Bare ground exposed Bare ground exposed Decreased water infiltration Increased soil erosion Increased nutrient and pesticide runoff Increased weed invasion

Considerations for Multi-Paddock Pastures 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 Pastures 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 Needs

Grass Hay and Cow Needs

Matching Animal Needs with Forage Quality Control breeding to calve when forage nutritive value is highest Control breeding to calve when forage nutritive value is highest Feed lowest quality forage to animals with the lowest requirement (dry, pregnant cows) Feed lowest quality forage to animals with the lowest requirement (dry, pregnant cows)

Forage Testing Feed and Environmental Water Lab (FEW) 2300 College Station Road Athens, Georgia phone: fax: Feed and Environmental Water Lab (FEW) 2300 College Station Road Athens, Georgia phone: fax:

Forage Testing For $8 you get crude protein, moisture, digestibility (energy) and relative forage quality (RFQ) For $8 you get crude protein, moisture, digestibility (energy) and relative forage quality (RFQ)

Getting a Good Sample Don’t lose the leaves Don’t lose the leaves Sample before feeding Sample before feeding A probe can contribute to a representative sample A probe can contribute to a representative sample Sample at least ten bales Sample at least ten bales

Hay Probe

Why all the Fuss about Sampling? One handful from the outside of one bale does not represent your field, but only about 1 square foot in your field. One handful from the outside of one bale does not represent your field, but only about 1 square foot in your field. Soils can be highly variable across a field, so plants grown on them will be likewise. Soils can be highly variable across a field, so plants grown on them will be likewise. By far, the single greatest source of error in forage test results is in the sampling technique. By far, the single greatest source of error in forage test results is in the sampling technique.

How Much Hay can be Lost when Bales are Stored Unprotected? Not all hay is created equal. We need to start thinking about our hay less as the number of bales, and more as the pounds nutrients in a bale. Not all hay is created equal. We need to start thinking about our hay less as the number of bales, and more as the pounds nutrients in a bale.

How Much Hay can be Lost when Bales are Stored Unprotected? An example: An example: Lets assume we have 6’, 1800 lbs round bales Lets assume we have 6’, 1800 lbs round bales We had the hay tested: We had the hay tested: TDN = 60%, and CP = 15% TDN = 60%, and CP = 15% That means that in an 1800 lbs bale there are 1080 lbs of TDN and 270 lbs of CP That means that in an 1800 lbs bale there are 1080 lbs of TDN and 270 lbs of CP By the time we feed the hay rain has caused the outer 4” of the bales to weather. By the time we feed the hay rain has caused the outer 4” of the bales to weather. Weathered hay doesn’t just look bad – CP and TDN have been essentially reduced to zero! Weathered hay doesn’t just look bad – CP and TDN have been essentially reduced to zero!

How Much Hay can be Lost when Bales are Stored Unprotected? Our example continued: Our example continued: When we do the math, the outer 4” account for 21% of the bale! When we do the math, the outer 4” account for 21% of the bale! 21% of 270 lbs of CP is 57 lbs of CP lost 21% of 270 lbs of CP is 57 lbs of CP lost 21% of 1080 lbs of TDN is 227 lbs of TDN lost 21% of 1080 lbs of TDN is 227 lbs of TDN lost What is the value ($) of the lost nutrients? (Especially in light of current diesel and N- fertilizer prices) What is the value ($) of the lost nutrients? (Especially in light of current diesel and N- fertilizer prices)

Conclusions Grazing animals are the least expensive way to harvest forage. Grazing animals are the least expensive way to harvest forage. We have a long growing season, so we should use it. We have a long growing season, so we should use it. Clovers (or yes, even alfalfa) should be grown some time during the year. Clovers (or yes, even alfalfa) should be grown some time during the year. Animal needs change and therefore, so should the things we feed them. Animal needs change and therefore, so should the things we feed them.

Conclusions (cont.) Improper hay storage is like throwing money away. Improper hay storage is like throwing money away. Forage testing is the only reliable way to know what you are feeding. Forage testing is the only reliable way to know what you are feeding. Animal access to hay should be controlled. Animal access to hay should be controlled.