1. Joe Vendramini Forage Specialist Range Cattle Research and Education Center - Ona FL Forages for the winter

2. Hay Cost for Hay production - 2007

3. Storage System Dry Matter (%) Animal Refusal (%) TOTAL(%) Ground282250 Gravel311748 Tires35 641 Rack26 632 Rack with cover12 214 Barn 2 1 3 Storage Losses * Hay stored for 7 months

4. Warm-season grasses Forage Yield Stage of Maturity (Time) High Low

5. Warm-season grasses Forage Yield Nutritive Value Stage of Maturity (Time) High Low

6. Species

7. AdvantagesDisadvantages High productionLow CP concentration Competitive with weedsNot well adapted to dry, deep, sandy soils Adapted to wet soilsDifficult to cure for hay at advanced growth stages Superior late fall and early spring production Limpograss

8. Species

9. Stockpiled Forage

12. Soil testing

14. Fertilization N fertilization 50 – 100 lb N / acre on September

15. Fertilization N rateCPTDNTDN:CP lb/acre% 455.6509.1 1357.3547.4 Effects of N fertilization on Limpograss nutritive value

16. Grazing 50-65 % grazing efficiency Grazing period: 70-120 d 0.75 acres / pair

17. Stockpiled Forage Weight Gain Calf Weight Preg Rates lbs % Limpograss-11554791.6 Bahia + hay-8853592.2 Comparing Limpograss and Bahia + hay winter grazing systems

18. Grazing Limpograss (0.75 acres) can substitute approximately 1400 lbs of stored hay (15% waste) $ 35 /1000 lbs = $ 49.00 $ 70 / 1000 lbs = $ 98.00

19. Grazing 50-65 % grazing efficiency Grazing period: 70-120 d 0.75 acres / pair Plan B

20. Stockpiled Forages Plan B: “ BARN FULL OF HAY”

21. Winter forage Annual Ryegrass Cold tolerant varieties Late maturity, greater spring production Adapted to most soil types

22. Annual Ryegrass Table 1. Three years average dry matter yield of annual ryegrass at Overton TX. VarietyYield (lb/ac) Jumbo7474 Prine7358 Marshall7126 Ed7067 Jackson6744 TAM 906556 Gulf6256

23. Soil testing

24. Annual Ryegrass Fertilization program N-P-K ~ 30 lb/acre – After germination N ~ 50 lb/acre – Every 6 wks interval

25. Annual Ryegrass Planting method

26. Annual Ryegrass Establishment Method of EstablishmentRyegrass Yield (lb/ac) Control0 Overseeded150 Gramoxone + overseeded630 Light disk + overseeded740 Roundup + overseeded3400 Prepared seedbed + overseeded 3200

27. Annual Ryegrass VERY IMPORTANT! Pulling some type of drag behind the seeder and/or rolling helps to cover the seed, firm the seedbed and allow better seed-soil contact

28. Annual Ryegrass VERY IMPORTANT!

29. Annual Ryegrass Nutritive value

30. Annual Ryegrass Nutritive value

31. ADG (lbs/d) Cottonseed meal (lbs/d) Effect of cottonseed meal supplementation or part-time grazing ryegrass on performance of replacement heifers grazing stockpiled Limpograss

32. ADG (lbs/d) Cottonseed meal (lbs/d) Effect of cottonseed meal supplementation or part-time grazing ryegrass on performance of replacement heifers grazing stockpiled Limpograss RyegrassRyegrass

33. Economics of part-time grazing ryegrass Days Grazing Ryegrass Cost of Ryegrass establishment + fertilization / acre CSM $ Equiv.$100$150$200$250 $ -----$----- 1242-58-108-158-208 2484-16-66-116-166 3612626-24-74-124 481686818-32-82 Stocking rate = 3 heifers/acre of ryegrass Cottonseed meal = $200 / ton Grazing part-time ryegrass 12 d /month = 420 lbs cottonseed meal

34. Questions? http://rcrec-ona.ifas.ufl.edu