Animal Performance and Pasture Characteristics on Cool‐Season Annual Grass Mixtures in North Florida

Abstract

Cool‐season forage mixtures are an option for extending the length of the grazing season. Small grains have a different growth distribution than annual ryegrass and may increase livestock gain per area. This 2‐yr grazing study tested three small grain–annual ryegrass mixtures: (i) cereal rye (Secale cereale L. ‘FL401’)–annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam. ‘Prine’); (ii) oat (Avena sativa L. ‘Horizon 201’)–annual ryegrass Prine; (iii) triticale (×Triticosecale spp. ‘Trical 342’)–annual ryegrass Prine. Stocking rate was adjusted, based on herbage allowance, using continuous stocking. Response variables included herbage mass, herbage allowance, herbage accumulation rate, herbage N, herbage in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), botanical composition, average daily gain (ADG), grazing days, stocking rate (SR), gain per area, and blood urea N (BUN). Seasonal and annual variation occurred for most of the responses, but total season animal production was similar among mixtures. The ADG in 2014 was 0.90 and 0.85 kg head−1 d−1 in 2015. Stocking rate varied among mixtures within sampling dates and years, but season‐long average SR was similar among mixtures. Total season animal gain was 367 kg body weight (BW) ha−1 in 2014 and 313 kg BW ha−1 in 2015. Small‐grain species and varieties resulted in different growing curves, with FL401 cereal rye being the earliest variety in the present study. Oat and triticale demonstrated a more evenly distributed growth rate along the season, facilitating the adjustment of the stocking rate and grazing management.

Animal and forage responses on Maximus, a tetraploid cultivar vs Marshall, a diploid cultivar of annual ryegrass

“…The period effect on HM is another typical response in grazing and clipping studies, particularly those involving annual and perennial cool‐season grasses in temperate regions. Annual ryegrass growth and productivity are biphasic as forage growth is lower in the fall and winter months (late November to early February) juxtaposed to the higher forage growth in spring months (late February to early May), and depending on locations in the south‐eastern USA, it is not uncommon for growth cessation to occur in the month of May (e.g., Dubeux et al., ; Roberts et al., ; Solomon et al., ). Therefore, appropriate timing of utilization and SR imposed on annual ryegrass pastures can ensure maximum sustenance throughout the growing season.…”

Overseeding cool‐season forages on rhizoma peanut fields

“…From an herbage accumulation perspective envisioning decreased seed cost, one should consider planting rye–clovers or ryegrass–clovers, since the accumulation is similar to those of rye–ryegrass–clovers. Nonetheless, in grazing management, mixtures of rye–ryegrass have been shown to extend the grazing season, since rye comes earlier in the season and ryegrass increases its proportion towards the end (Dubeux et al., 2016).…”

Forage-Based Heifer Development Program for North Florida

“…From mid-October to the end of December, the heifers could receive bermudagrass and rhizoma peanut hays with a target average daily gain of 0.5 lb/day. From January until the end of March, when they would breed, they would graze cool-season forages, with an expected gain of 1.8 lb/day (Dubeux et al 2016). The heifers would gain 252 lb in 240 days, averaging 1.05 lb/day from weaning to breeding (Figure 4).…”

“…In order to reach that goal, we must target an average daily gain of 1.2 lb/day from breeding to calving ( Figure 5). Since they will be bred in the spring (late March), they can continue on cool-season forages until May with an average daily gain of 1.8 lb/day (Dubeux et al 2016). During the warm season, these yearling heifers will perform much better than weaned calves on bahiagrassrhizoma perennial peanut pastures.…”