Early‐ and Late‐Season Grazing of Orchardgrass and Fescue Hayfields Overseeded with Red Clover

Abstract

for beef producers. However, Frame et al. (1998) state that a grass-legume sward with no added N can produce Low-cost alternatives to hay feeding for wintering the beef herd the same DM yield as a pure grass sward with 100 to (Bos taurus L.) are needed to design sustainable production systems 250 kg N ha Ϫ1 applied. Red clover is reported to be one for northern Appalachia. This study was conducted to compare forage of the easiest legumes to establish in renovated sods production, quality, and botanical composition of hayfields overseeded with a legume when grazed by beef cattle in early spring and (Bryan, 1985), but the amount of N fixed is related to late fall. Four management systems were applied to fields containing seasonal persistence of the legume (Goh et al., 1996). either tall fescue [Festuca arundinacea Schreb.] or orchardgrass [Dac-Proportions of red clover in the sward can be influenced tylis glomerata L.], each overseeded with red clover [Trifolium praby harvest management (Smith et al., 1985) and grazing tense L.]: (i) early spring grazing, one hay cutting, late fall grazing (Hume et al., 1995). Consequently, hayfield manage-(GHG); (ii) two hay cuttings (HH); (iii) early spring grazing followed ment that includes grazing can influence persistence of by two hay cuttings (GHH); and (iv) one hay cutting followed by red clover over a number of years. For this study, tall grazing in late fall (HG). Total dry matter (DM) was highest for the fescue and orchardgrass hayfields were overseeded with HG management. Early spring grazing (GHH and GHG) reduced red clover. Our objective was to evaluate combinations spring hay yield; quality, however, as indicated by crude protein, acidof spring and fall grazing of these hayfields in regard detergent fiber, and in vitro dry matter disappearance, was higher than for hay not grazed in spring (HH and HG). Fall grazing increased to harvestable forage yield, quality, and sward compoquality of forage grazed in early spring. Tall fescue produced more sition.DM than orchardgrass, primarily in spring hay yield. Red clover contributed 50% of the DM of spring hay in the first year after seeding. MATERIALS AND METHODSFall grazing extended the life of the red clover by one year; however, Experimental Design almost no red clover persisted into the fourth year after seeding. Results suggest that fall grazing after a single hay cutting has the The experiment was conducted over a 4-year period (1986potential to be a viable alternative to exclusively relying on hay for 1989) at the West Virginia University Agricultural Experiment wintering the beef herd. Station, Reedsville, WV. Soils were Gilpin silt loam (fineloamy, mixed, semiactive, mesic Typic Hapludults) and Wharton silt loam (fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Aquic Hapludults). Within columns, paired means are significantly different at the 0.05, 0.01, and 0.001 probability levels, respectively. Bryan, W.B. 1985. Effects of sod-seeding legumes on hill land pasture † Values are means of 3 yr (fall: 1986, 1987, and 1988; spring: 1987, 19...

The effect of herbage mixtures of alfalfa and orchardgrass on the incidence of bloat in cattle

“…Mixed pastures can improve animal performance, especially when grasses are intercropped with clovers (Prigge et al 1999;Papadopoulos et al 2001). Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) also is known for its ability to increase both the yield and quality of pasture mixtures.…”

Effect of different agronomical measures on yield and quality of autumn saved herbage during winter grazing - 1^st communication: Yield and digestibility of organic matter

“…The growths were affected by decomposition processes connected with senescence (Marschner, 1995) and unfavourable weather conditions during winter. The great importance of winter weather conditions for yield and herbage quality was also described by Baker et al (1965), Balasko (1977), Prigge et al (1999), Wolf and Opitz von Boberfeld (2003), Wöhler (2003). Regarding the present results, the prevailing climatic conditions of the regions in Germany, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic influenced DM decisively and were responsible DM (% of DM) Figure 2.…”

Can Festulolium, Dactylis glomerata and Arrhenatherum elatius be used for extension of the autumn grazing season in Central Europe?

“…On the other hand, our results presented in this study show a significant difference not only between Festulolium and Dactylis glomerata but also between Festulolium and Arrhenatherum elatius. A CP content of about 100 g/kg DM is necessary to meet the demand of pregnant suckling cows Prigge et al (1999) observed digestibility in Dactylis glomerata lower than in Festuca arundinacea in winter. The higher silicon (Si) content in the forage of Dactylis glomerata reduced OMD.…”

“…The festucoid hybrids can be better adapted for use at the end of the growing season than the loloid hybrids (Opitz von Boberfeld and Banzhaf 2006). Besides the above-mentioned species, the use of Dactylis glomerata L. at the end of the growing season was shown by Prigge et al (1999). Holúbek et al (2007) found that the quality of Dactylis glomerata sharply decreased if the harvest date of the first cut was exceeded.…”