1.  Improved animal performance  High yielding  Renovating cool season pasture  Double cropping system  Emergency situations  “Salvage crop” Advantages of Sudangrass

2. Disadvantages of Sudangrass  Management  Economics  Crop failure  Toxicities

3. Brown Midrib Gene  Genetic mutation found in grass species  Reduces lignin in plant cell walls and vascular tissue  Improves fiber and whole plant digestibility

4. Brown Midrib Gene  Color is only a marker  Intensity of color is not indicator of forage quality Color varies from reddish-brown to dark brown and is visibly evident on stems and leaves.

5. Conventional vs. BMR ADG = 2.94 lbs. Gain/A = 337 lbs. ADG = 2.94 lbs. Gain/A = 337 lbs. ADG = 2.62 lbs. Gain/A = 300 lbs. ADG = 2.62 lbs. Gain/A = 300 lbs. Extra $22/A

6. Establishment  Planting dates Late April-Late July (Southeast) Soil Temperature must be 60°-65° at planting  Planting depth 0.5-1.0 inches  Fertilizer Lime, P, and K according to soil test Apply 60 units/N after germination and another 60/N after hay harvest or after 60 days of grazing  Seeding Rate Drilled 25-30 lb/A Broadcast 30-40 lb/A  No-till or Prepared seed bed

7. Hay Management  Harvest height 30-40 in. (just prior to seed-head emergence)  Stubble of 6-8 in. for quicker re- growth and drying  Harvest with a hay conditioner  Three to four cutting/year will vary with the weather, fertilization, and planting date  Yields 2 to 5 tons/season

8. Silage Management  Harvest in the boot stage (just before seed head emergence)  Wilt down to 65 % moisture before placing in silo  Chopping finely (1/4 to 1/2 in.) and packing tightly will improve silage quality

9. Target Grazing Heights 10 20 5 15 25 Pregrazing height 20 – 24” Postgrazing height 8-10”

10. Grazing Management  Stocking rate 2 to 3 beef cow w/calves or dairy cows 3 to 5 stocker calves  Continuous grazing Not a good method Requires one-half more acreage as compared to other grazing systems  Limit grazing 3-4 hours/day Reduces trampling

11. Grazing Management  Rotational grazing Rotate every 7-10 days Increases utilization and efficiency  Strip grazing Using an electric fence to allow cattle access to only a small strip of pasture Provide livestock with 4-7 days worth of grazing Using a back fence will allow grazed area time to re-grow

12. Strip Grazing May need to clip or hay

13. Potential issues with Sudangrass  Prussic Acid  Nitrate Poisoning

14. Prussic Acid  Interferes with red blood cells transfer of oxygen  Symptoms occur 10-15 min after consuming forage containing prussic acid and include: excessive salivation, rapid breathing, muscle spasms, and stagers  Occurs immediately after frost  Pasture should not be grazed for 7 – 10 days  Young plants, suckers, and growth during dry weather can contain high levels of prussic acid  Not a problem in hay or silage

15. Nitrate Poisoning  Interferes with oxygen transfer  Animal symptoms: labored breathing, muscle tremors and staggering  Membranes of the eyes and mouth are bluish because of the lack of oxygen  Nitrates accumulate during drought or after frost particularly if fertilized just prior  Wet pastures during cool cloudy weather  Nitrates are stable in hay  Levels 5,000 to 15,000 are dangerous and require restricted feeding  Levels over 15,000 are toxic