Amazing Graze
Amazing Graze
A publication of The Ohio State University Extension, Clif Little and Mark Sulc, Editors
April, 2000
Dear Friends,
As you've heard by now, we're missing a valued grazing leader, Ed Vollborn. Ed has retired from OSU and his efforts in producing this publication and support in grazing are already dearly missed. However, we'll continue to provide you with six issues annually of the Amazing Graze.
Please keep Mark and I informed of upcoming events and topics you would like to see in this newsletter, as we strive to promote and strengthen the skills of forage producers in our great state.
Sincerely,
When mixed species grazing is mentioned, reactions are quick but variable. A prevalent response is a 'smirky grin' and a short response is NO WAY! As will be noted later, livestock species are quite flexible toward sharing their forage supply. However, the livestock producer can be quite INFLEXIBLE. Past experiences, was stories, misconceptions, etc. rule and force the "not interested" response.
Outside U.S. Acceptance - Multi-species grazing is accepted and practiced in many forage-based world agricultural economies. These forage producers, who often have a limited acreage base, increase their use of more than one species. The land's productivity, topography and forage species composition will usually dictate the livestock species combinations.
As grass producers begin focusing on better utilizing their valuable forage base, they should consider mixed-species grazing.
Improved forage utilization through a more diverse mix of livestock within species has been gaining popularity recently. For example, a cow-calf producer may retain feeder steers as a separate grazing unit. This practice allows a producer to grow and sell additional pounds of beef, but also to better utilize stockpiled regrowth and the flush of spring growth.
General Benefits - Studies analyzing the benefits of mixing grazing have demonstrated some general overriding advantages. These benefits include different grazing habits, different forage species preferences, better parasite control, predator control for smaller species, market diversity for economic stability and more livestock pounds produced per acre.
Different Grazing Habits - Smaller animal species generally graze shorter vegetation. Since cattle prefer longer, higher vegetation, cattle pastures tend to have less tillering. A cattle-grazed pasture will have considerable ungrazed material (up to 30% of production) near dung piles and urine spots. Sheep tend to graze much of this material.
Different Forage Species Preference - Sheep graze many common "weeds" even when high quality forages are available. An observation of a "sheep farm" will show clean pastures - no ironweed. Goats prefer brush, including berry and multiflora rose plants. Cattle prefer more coarse, longer forage, whereas sheep prefer fine material.
Better Parasite Control - Cattle and sheep parasites do not affect the other species. However, sheep and goats share most of the same parasites. Cattle grazed with goats or sheep tend to dilute the available worm load without adverse effects.
Predator Control - Cattle in particular "protect" the smaller species of sheep and goats. Testimonials to reduced predator losses are common.
Market Stability - In multi-species marketing, the diversity of animal species and marketing tends to provide more economic stability.
Stocking Density - Because of differences in grazing habits and forage utilization, a mixed species "harvest team" will have a greater stock density per acre. Van Keuran and Parker in an Ohio study found that a producer could add one ewe per cow-calf pair and not lower the performance on the cow.
While reported benefits varied across studies - more studies showed definite benefits to multi-species grazing. However, for greatest benefit, consideration must be given to fencing, need for more deworming for sheep and handling facilities.
Cattle and sheep appear to be the most suitable species for multi-species grazing systems. The
complimentary association between the two species leads to better utilization of pastures and
higher resistance to adverse conditions such as predator loss, gastrointestinal parasites and toxic
plants. The extent of increases in animal performance depends largely on type of pasture and
cattle-to-sheep ratio.
Is Bermudagrass a Viable Forage Option in Ohio? - Mark Sulc, OSU Forage Specialist
In the past few months, there has been renewed interest in Bermudagrass for forage here in Ohio. I say "renewed interest," because the interest in bermudagrass has come and gone in Ohio over the past 50 years. The fact that the interest faded each time should be reason enough to raise a "red flag" for producers today. The recent interest has been fueled by advertising and the drought of 1999. Certain advertisements make bermudagrass sound like the wonder of all wonders, and a very new development. I encourage you to consider the following truths based on research and experience.
Bermudagrass is a warm-season perennial grass (where adapted) that is most common to the humid south, generally south of a line connecting the southern boundaries of Virginia and Kansas. Historically, bermudagrass has been found persisting (but not highly competitive) as far north as southern Ohio, Illinois, Missouri, and Kansas. Winter sensitivity has been its limitation in out region. The turf specialists here at Ohio State University have evaluated it over the years, and have never been too excited about it since it winterkills almost completely in one out of every 5 years. Steve Barnhart, forage specialist at Iowa State University said, "I have inquired around the country this past spring and have found that 'turf-type' bermudagrass can be found growing in the St. Louis area, but to my knowledge, there are no long-term stands in Iowa.
Being a warm-season species, bermudagrass will be productive only in warm months. Temperatures of 27 to 28F kill stems and leaves back to the ground. It will grow on moderately well-drained soils provided it has adequate supply of moisture and plant nutrients. If very dry conditions prevail during May (as in 1999), bermudagrass likely will not be very productive because this is precisely when it begins growth and new root development for the season. It can tolerate flooding for several days, but it makes little if any growth on waterlogged soils.
The varieties being advertised must be established by sprigging. Sprigging cost is very high! Are you willing to pay over $250 per acre for sprigging a grass that may last five years at best?
Nutritive value of bermudagrass is highly dependent on the stage of growth when harvested and the environmental conditions. Late cut bermudagrass with low N fertility can be as low as 6-7% crude protein, but heavily N fertilized and frequently cut (every 2-3 weeks) bermudagrass can reach CP levels of 19 to 20%. To get high CP levels requires up to 400 lbs N/acre!
Keith Johnson, forage specialist at Purdue University recently wrote the following: "I evaluated bermudagrass 8 years ago. It didn't look too special at West Lafayette. I'd rather have Indiangrass or big bluestem be my warm-season grass in pasture rotation in Indiana. There are many ranchers in the southeast USA that use bermudagrass as their base forage and wish they could more effectively use alfalfa, red clover, ladino clover, orchardgrass, low-endophyte tall fescue, etc. Imagine that, we didn't know we had it so good!"
My advice to growers is to exercise great caution in considering bermudagrass for long-term
forage production in Ohio. In my opinion, the summer annual grasses (pearl millet, sudangrass,
sorghum X sudangrass, and corn) and other perennial warm-season grasses (indiangrass, big
bluestem) are much more viable options over the long term for supplemental late summer forage
production in Ohio.
Maximizing Forage Growth on Pastures Through Split Application of Nitrogen - Clif Little, OSU Extension, Guernsey County
Traditional practices for nutrient application to cool-season pasture grasses are commonly administered as a once-a-year spring application of recommended N-P-K. How are you applying your pasutre nutrients? Do you apply manure? Are you managing for legume growth?
For years soil fertility specialists have advised forage producers to split-apply nitrogen. Despite these recommendations it seems the adoption of this practice has not yet acheived wide acceptance.
In 1999 we decided to duplicate what is seen most frequently in the fields of southeastern Ohio. At the Eastern Ohio Resource and Development Center in Belle Valley we applied the recommended quantities by soil test of P2O5 - 25 lbs./A and 300 lbs. K2O to all of our fescue plots. We then varied the amounts of nitrogen applied: applying 0, 75, 100 and 125 pounds of available nitrogen (N) per acre in the form of ammonium nitrate. Nutrients were applied after 1st cutting, May 28, 1999. A randomized complete block design with four replicates was utilized. Two cuttings were harvested after spring fertilization.
Below are the dry matter yields (Means with the same letter are not significantly different):
| T grouping | Mean | N | Application Rate |
| A | 2275.4 | 8 | 75 |
| B A | 1898.3 | 6 | 125 |
| B A | 1750.8 | 8 | 100 |
| B | 1477.3 | 8 | 0 |
The least significant difference test for comparing pairs of means only shows significant difference between 75 ln. N; and the 0 Control (5% probability level of significance).
These results tell us that on these plots 75 pounds of N was as effective as higher rates of
nitrogen, when applied in a single spring application with P and K. Putting on more than 75
pounds of nitrogen, plus P & K in a single spring application was a poor use of resources.
Furthermore, the research would suggest split applications of nitrogen fertilizer to maximize
production and possibly reduce salt injury from the nitrogen and potassium source.
Events and Happenings
Univ. of Missouri Forage Systems Research Center Tour, May 5-7, 2000; Contact Clif Little (740.432.9300) for details
Hay Day, EORDC, Belle Valley, June 17, 2000; Contact Dave Miller (740.732.2381) or Wayne Shriver (740.732.2682)
Ohio Cattlemen's Association Summer Round-Up, Jackson County, July 8, 2000
Sheep Day, OARDC, Wooster Campus, July 8, 2000; Contact Roger High (614.292.0581)
Joint Meeting of North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference & American Forage & Grassland Conference, July 16-18, 2000; Call 1.800.944.2342.
***
All educational programs and activities conducted by Ohio State University Extension are available to all potential
clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sexual orientation, national origin,
sex, age, handicap or Vietnam-era veteran status. Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Admin. and Director,
OSU Extension. TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868.
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