Forage Kochia—Uzbekistan's Desert Alfalfa

Waldron, Blair L.; Harrison, R. Deane; Rabbimov, A.

doi:10.2458/azu_rangelands_v27i1_waldron

Cited by 5 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…The breeding of Snowstorm was initiated via a germplasm exchange trip by B. L. Waldron to Uzbekistan in October 2002. Twenty‐two collections of forage kochia were obtained during this trip (Waldron et al, 2005) and brought back to Logan, UT for evaluation. Snowstorm traces its parentage to one of these collections (NPGS no.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…PARL 418), which possibly included seed from remnant plants of the Uzbek landrace/population called Otavny. Otavny was described by researchers from the Uzbek Research Institute of Karakul Sheep Breeding and Ecology of Deserts in Samarkand, Uzbekistan as an ecotype‐specific population of the subspecies grisea ( canescens , or stony variety) originating from the foothills of the Kirghizia region; it was collected using mass selection and characterized as very productive with unique regrowth potential (Waldron et al, 2005).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.] has been referred to as the ‘alfalfa of the desert’ (Waldron et al, 2005) and can be used to extend the grazing season into the fall and winter on semiarid rangelands (Waldron et al, 2010). Forage kochia is a perennial semishrub (nonwoody stems) native to the heavily grazed semiarid rangeland regions of Central Eurasia (Waldron et al, 2010).…”

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confidence: 99%

“…For centuries, forage kochia has been an important fall and winter forage for sheep, cattle, horses, camels, and wildlife in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and the surrounding republics (Balyan, 1979; Waldron et al, 2005, 2010). In the United States, Waldron et al (2006, 2011) reported that Immigrant forage kochia increased rangeland forage production by up to sixfold and that cattle grazing on Immigrant during the fall and winter maintained or improved their body condition without any additional protein or nutrient supplementation.…”

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confidence: 99%

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‘Snowstorm’, a New Forage Kochia Cultivar with Improved Stature, Productivity, and Nutritional Content for Enhanced Fall and Winter Grazing

Waldron

Larson

Peel

et al. 2013

J of Plant Registrations

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‘Snowstorm’ (Reg. No. CV‐8, PI 666938) forage kochia [Bassia prostrata (L.) A.J. Scott; syn. Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.] was released on 22 Mar. 2012 by the USDA‐ARS and the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. Snowstorm was evaluated as OTVSEL and Otavny‐select and was developed as a synthetic cultivar using two cycles of recurrent selection for stature, forage production, and adaptation to semiarid environments. Snowstorm was compared with the standard forage kochia cultivar, Immigrant, and other ARS experimental forage kochia populations. Research has shown that Immigrant can increase rangeland productivity three‐ to sixfold and provides critical protein (>70 g kg−1) during the fall and winter for livestock and wildlife; however, Immigrant is easily covered by snow because of its short stature. In field comparisons with Immigrant, Snowstorm was similar to Immigrant in establishment and adaptation on semiarid rangelands but was 64% taller (77 versus 47 cm), produced 68% more forage (2526 versus 1504 kg ha−1), and had a 22% higher protein content (79 versus 65 g kg−1) and 4% higher digestibility (674 versus 648 g kg−1) (P ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, DNA fingerprinting showed that Snowstorm, Immigrant, and experimental populations were genetically unique and distinct from each other. Snowstorm is named for its ability to extend the grazing season into the fall and winter and because it provides ranchers and land managers a new, taller, more productive, more nutritious forage kochia cultivar capable of increasing carrying capacity and nutritional content of fall and winter grazinglands, including locations where snow cover had limited forage kochia use in the past.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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‘Snowstorm’, a New Forage Kochia Cultivar with Improved Stature, Productivity, and Nutritional Content for Enhanced Fall and Winter Grazing

Waldron

Larson

Peel

et al. 2013

J of Plant Registrations

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“…For centuries, forage kochia has been an important fall and winter forage for sheep, cattle, horses, camels, and wildlife in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and surrounding republics (Balyan, 1972;Waldron et al, 2005Waldron et al, , 2010. In the United States, Waldron et al (2006) recently reported that cattle grazing Immigrant forage kochia during the fall and winter maintained or improved body condition without any additional protein or nutrient supplementation.…”

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Relative Cattle Preference of 24 Forage Kochia (Kochia prostrata) Entries and Its Relation to Forage Nutritive Value and Morphological Characteristics

et al. 2010

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Forage kochia [Kochia prostrata (L.) Schrad.] has been shown to be nutritious fall and winter forage on western U.S. rangelands; however, its utilization by livestock is not well understood. This study compared relative cattle preferences among forage kochia accessions, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), and winterfat (Krascheninnikovia spp.), and how they related to nutritional and morphological characteristics. Relative preference was measured as biomass consumed on experimental plots near Promontory, UT, during September of 2002 and 2003. Preference differences (P < 0.01) were found among forage kochia accessions; however, all were consumed to some level, ranging from 71 to 35% of biomass consumed. Traits highly associated with biomass consumed included pregrazing biomass (r = 0.93), phenological maturity (r = −0.85), branch density (r = 0.80), and leafiness (r = 0.70) suggesting that productive, leafy, less mature plants are preferred by cattle. Crude protein, fiber, and digestibility were moderately associated with cattle preference but were not consistent predictors. Overall, we conclude that forage kochia is a palatable shrub for grazing during the fall, with preference and utilization of some entries being comparable to alfalfa and greater than winterfat. Grazing behavior also suggested that forage kochia growing in a mixture with adapted grasses would enhance livestock utilization.

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Stockpiled Forage Kochia to Maintain Beef Cows During Winter

Waldron

ZoBell

Olson

et al. 2006

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Extending grazing into the winter, as opposed to feeding of harvested forages, can increase the sustainability of ranching in the western US. This study was conducted to determine the economic value of grazing stockpiled forage kochia (Kochia prostrata [L.] Scrad.) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyron desertorum [Fisch. Ex Link] Schultes) during the fall and winter. Changes in cow body weight, body condition score, and ultrasound backfat were compared for late-gestation cows grazing forage kochiacrested wheatgrass pastures vs. those fed alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) hay in drylot. The study was conducted from early November to late January for 2 consecutive years near Promontory, Utah. Forage availability and nutritional quality were monitored throughout the experiment. Cows grazing stockpiled forages did not receive any protein or energy supplements. Forage kochia comprised approximately 70% of available forage, with November crude protein content of 116 and 76 g kg À1 in years 1 and 2, respectively. Nutritional quality declined throughout the season, presumably mostly because of removal of higher-quality forage by preferential grazing as opposed to weathering. Averaged over years, cows grazing forage kochia-grass gained body weight (19 kg), increased in body condition (0.3 points), and maintained backfat thickness, finishing well within the range considered optimum for onset of calving and return to estrus. Pasture-vs. drylot-fed cows did not differ with regard to changes in body weight or body condition score. Both treatments increased backfat in year 1, when initial backfat was less than 0.5 cm, but both treatments resulted in loss of backfat in year 2, when initial backfat was greater than 1.0 cm. Grazing was more economical, costing $0.24 cow À1 d À1 less than feeding alfalfa hay in drylot. Forage kochia can be used on western rangelands to extend grazing into the fall and winter, thereby improving the profitability of beef production.

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Forage Kochia—Uzbekistan's Desert Alfalfa

Abstract: Forage kochia germplasm from Uzbekistan may increase fall and winter grazing and habitat for livestock and wildlife on western rangelands.

Cited by 5 publications

References 1 publication

‘Snowstorm’, a New Forage Kochia Cultivar with Improved Stature, Productivity, and Nutritional Content for Enhanced Fall and Winter Grazing

‘Snowstorm’, a New Forage Kochia Cultivar with Improved Stature, Productivity, and Nutritional Content for Enhanced Fall and Winter Grazing

Relative Cattle Preference of 24 Forage Kochia (Kochia prostrata) Entries and Its Relation to Forage Nutritive Value and Morphological Characteristics

Stockpiled Forage Kochia to Maintain Beef Cows During Winter

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