1. Selecting forage species for your farm Gilles Bélanger Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

2. 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

3. 3 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

4. Very good yield and nutritive value Very tolerant to heat and drought 3-5 years if well managed Alfalfa, the « dream crop »

5. 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»

6. 1993 9.8 11.9 11.6 11.3 1995 7.1 4.8 5.0 5.6 1994 8.3 6.5 6.7 8.1 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 3 rd cut

7. 1993 9.8 11.9 11.6 11.3 1995 7.1 4.8 5.0 5.6 1994 8.3 6.5 6.7 8.1 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 3 rd cut

8. 1997 5.2 6.8 7.0 7.1 1999 4.6 Dead 1998 7.8 6.9 10.6 11.3 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 3 rd cut

9. 9 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 »

10. 10 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 »

11. 11 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 »

12. NDF concentration and digestibility Average of two years, Normandin (QC). NDF (% DM) Digestibiliy NDF (% NDF) Alfalfa41.253.6 Red clover35.055.1 White clover19.277.4 Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

13. NDF concentration and digestibility Average of two years, Normandin (QC). NDF (% DM) Digestibiliy NDF (% NDF) Alfalfa41.253.6 Red clover35.055.1 Timothy62.075.4 Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

14. Non structural carbohydrates (Sugars) Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

15. 15 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.

16. 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

17. 17 Not tolerant to heat and drought Poor summer regrowth Not tolerant to frequent cutting Ideal species for cows in transition Timothy, « boring but reliable »

18. Source: Tremblay et al. 2006. Agron. J. 98: 339-348. Dietary cation-anion difference

19. 19 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 »

20. Better regrowth than timothy 2 nd cut 29 % 37 % 0 2 4 6 8 10 12 Timothy Tall fescue 1 st cut Yield (T/ha) 71 % 63 % Harvest, 20 June – Average of 2 years

21. 75 80 85 90 345678 Digestibility (% DM) Yield (T/ha) 6 June 12 June 20 June 27 June Average of 2 years Digestibility Timothy Timothy Tall fescue Tall fescue Better nutritive value than timothy Poor acceptability in pastures

22. 22 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 »

23. 23 Good persistance Tolerant to heat and drought Sensititive to poor drainage Not tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing Slow establishment Smooth bromegrass

24. 24 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 »

25. Meadow fescue vs. Meadow bromegrass Source: Drapeau et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 89: 1059-1063. Normandin 4 cuts per year Production year

26. 26 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»

27. Comparing the yield of several species Source: Bolinder et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 82: 731-737. Fredericton 2 cuts per year Average of two years

28. Digestibility vs. yield Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398. Normandin 2 cuts per year Average of two years

29. Digestibility vs. yield Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398. Normandin 2 cuts per year Average of two years

30. Digestibility vs. yield Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398. Normandin 2 cuts per year Average of two years

31. Digestibility vs. yield Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398. Normandin 2 cuts per year Average of two years

32. 32 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?

33. 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

34. 34 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 mixtures First, choose the legume species

35. 35 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

36. Red clover mixtures Red clover withDM yield (T DM/ha) Tall fescue6.8 S. Bromegrass6.2 Timothy6.1 Orchardgrass5.8 Average of two sites and three production years Source: Lafrenière and Drapeau. 2011. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 91-97.

37. 37 Poorly drained soils and low pH –Trefoil Timothy Some possible legume-grass mixtures

38. 38 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?

39. 39 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?

40. 40 -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

41. Gilles.Belanger@agr.gc.ca Questions, comments ?

42. Stages of development at harvest of alfalfa Cut 1Cut 2Cut 3Yield (t/ha)Digestibility (%) Early flower1 sept.8.3154.6 Early bud35 jours1 sept.7.1063.8 Early bloom30 jours1 sept.8.3260.4 Early bloom 9.4460.6 (Average of 4 years; Fredericton)

43. Stages of development at harvest of alfalfa Cut 1Cut 2Cut 3Yield (t/ha)Digestibility (%) Early flower1 sept.8.3154.6 Early bud35 jours1 sept.7.1063.8 Early bloom30 jours1 sept.8.3260.4 Early bloom 9.4460.6 (Average of 4 years; Fredericton) Stages of development at harvest and number of harvests affect yield and nutritive value

44. Réserves dans les racines au cours de l’hiver

46. 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

47. 47 Mixtures are more productive … Yield (T DM/ha) AlfalfaAlfalfa + timothy 2008 (one cut) 2.412.75 2009 (three cuts) 7.337.91 2010 (three cuts) 6.566.77 2011 (1 cut) 3.023.37 Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)

48. 48 … with less weeds Weed yield (T DM/ha) AlfalfaAlfalfa + timothy 2008 (one cut) 1.210.94 2009 (three cuts) 1.911.25 2010 (three cus) 1.250.88 2011 (1 cut) 1.241.02 Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)

49. Year 1 6.8 7.2 6.2 Year 3 6.0 4.5 4.1 Year 2 6.8 5.9 4.7 Yield (T/ha) Source: Drapeau et al. 2005. Can. J.Plant Sci. 85: 369-376. Normandin, QC Cutting management – Tall fescue 2 cuts 3 cuts 5 cuts

50. Current 2 harvests 2040 – 2069 3 harvests Charlottetwon Yield (T DM/ha)8.210.5 NDF (% DM)53.152.4 dNDF (% NDF)70.769.4 St. John’s Yield (T DM/ha)7.79.9 NDF (% DM)49.850.2 dNDF (% NDF)71.871.0 Simulations with CATIMO model. Jing et al. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Unpublished data. Impact of climate change on timothy yield and nutritive value