Sarah Kenyon

Agronomy Specialist 417-967-4545 [email protected]

1.

◦ 2.

◦ What can I grow?

Forage selection What makes a high quality hay?

Forage quality

Tall Fescue Perennial Ryegrass Smooth Bromegrass Orchardgrass

Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

 Fungus found in stem, leaf sheaths & seed  Produces alkaloids toxic to livestock  Increases progressively season long  Minimized in young growth Roberts and Andrae, 2004

Fescue and the Endophyte

  ◦ Toxicity from Ergovaline and Total Ergot Alkaloids Other alkaloids help with disease, insect, and drought tolerance Found in seedheads and stems

(Roberts et al, 2002)

2004

(Roberts et al.,

in prep

)

2005

(Roberts et al.,

in prep

)

Fescue and the Endophyte

   Conclusions from MU Studies Hay – 1/3 disappears in the first 2 weeks; ½ disappears after 6 months of storage Silage – Variable results – Moisture levels can alter the results  High Moisture (60%) – ergovaline disappears; total ergot alkaloids increases  Low Moisture (43%) – Less abrupt changes

Location Fayetteville, AR Mt. Vernon, MO AR4 E E+ Average Daily Gain (lb) 1.43

1.55

0.93

1.21

West et al., 1998 1.21

0.55

  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ Non-toxic endophytes (Novel or Friendly) ◦ ◦ Retain persistent qualities Animal performance similar to E Available Varieties: Jesup Tall Fescue with MaxQ Advance with AR37 Bar-Optima with E34 Texoma with MaxQII Estancia with ArkShield Duramax with Armor Others

Cool season grass Red Clover White Clover Alfalfa Annual Lespedeza

Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

     Improved forage quality Fewer problems with fescue toxicosis Improves animal gain Minimizes the need for Nitrogen fertilizer Longer grazing season

2 1.8

1.6

1.4

1.2

1 0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0 High Endophyte Low Endophyte Without Clover With Clover

Multi-Year Tests on Four Research Farms in TN and GA

 ◦ Conduct soil samples Legumes require higher fertility  Use inoculants  February seeding dates have a 50% better chance than April seeding dates

Cool season grass Bermudagrass Caucasian bluestem

Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

Cool Season Grass Sudangrass Pearl Millet Teff Crabgrass Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

Cool Season Grass Switchgrass Big Bluestem Indiangrass Eastern Gamagrass Feb Apr Jun Aug Oct Dec

Forage Type Bermudagrass CSG Mix Milk Yield (lb/d) 47.0

41.3

   Forage Species Curing and Handling Conditions Stage of Maturity

Yield, crude protein (CP), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) contents of various hay crops.

Forage Species

Alfalfa Orchardgrass Tall Fescue Rye Ryegrass Bermudagrass Johnsongrass Pearl Millet

Yield (ton/Acre)

3-6 2-5 2-4 1-4 1-4 5-8 2-5 2-6

CP (%)

17-22 12-15 10-15 8-10 10-16 10-14 10-14 8-12

TDN (%)

57-62 55-60 55-60 50-55 56-62 52-58 50-60 50-58 Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. Adapted from: D.M. Ball et. al. 2008. Southern Forages

 ◦ ◦ ◦ Poor weather and handling conditions can lower hay quality Rain can cause leaf loss and nutrient leaching from plants Sunlight can reduce Vitamin A by bleaching Raking dry, brittle hay can cause excessive leaf loss

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Average Apr 4.04

4.74

8.26

3.99

7.89

5.78

May 4.07

5.20

5.52

7.14

5.92

5.57

Jun 8.11

13.41

4.61

2.33

0.82

5.86

Jul 2.80

2.66

3.70

6.37

1.71

3.45

Aug 4.34

0.60

4.51

1.53

2.88

2.77

Sept 4.93

8.15

5.63

11.65

4.05

6.88

Oct 1.88

2.38

9.97

1.01

1.28

3.39

Rain-Free Hay % CP 16.7

Rained On Hay Source: Ann Cowen, Iowa State Univ.

13.7

%ADF 42.2

46.2

%NDF 52.4

62.0

%TDN 54.4

49.8



Keep doing what we’ve always done

 The timing of when rainfall occurs after cutting will influence quality 1.

Immediately after cutting 2.

    Plant cells are still turgid so little moisture enters the cells and leaches the water-soluble cell contents some loss does occur, but is minimal After the hay has dried a while plant cells will re-absorb moisture and greater leaching of cell contents will occur drying will make plants somewhat brittle -- if hard pounding rains occur, leaves can be broken off, which will also lead to dry matter losses and lower quality

 

Keep doing what we’ve always done Baleage

  

Keep doing what we’ve always done Baleage April Harvest

   Lower yield Higher quality 1 st and 2 nd cutting If too early, seedheads may still emerge

   

Keep doing what we’ve always done Baleage April Harvest Late Grazing

   March-Early April Late Cutting (June/July) Keeps in vegetative state into a drier season

    

Keep doing what we’ve always done Baleage April Harvest Late Grazing Warm Season Forages

• Native Warm Season Grasses – Switchgrass – Big Bluestem • Introduced Species – Bermudagrass – Crabgrass – Caucasian Bluestem Native Warm Season Grass

TNC = Total Nonstructural Carbohydrates

Burns, et al. 2007 Crop Science, 47:2190-2197

TNC = Total Nonstructural Carbohydrates

Fisher, et al. 2002 Crop Science, 42:231-237

 Within each forage species, the most important factor affecting hay quality is stage of maturity.

 ◦ Clover/Alfalfa 1/3 Bloom  ◦ Grasses Boot Stage

 ◦ ◦ ◦ What is the boot stage?

This is the stage just prior to heading out. The flag leaf is fully expanded, but the seed head is not visible. The seed head can be felt in the flag leaf sheath.   Each plants ultimate goal is survival, which is dependent on seed production Fall production does not contain reproductive structures

 What is the boot stage?

The effect of stage of maturity at harvest on alfalfa hay quality. Stage at Harvest

Pre-bloom

CP (%)

21.1

18.9

Acid Detergent Fiber (%)

30.2

33.0

Digestibility (%)

63.3

62.4

Early bloom Mid-bloom Full bloom 14.7

16.3

38.0

45.9

55.4

53.2

Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Kawas et. al. 1990. Journal of Animal Science. 68:4376.

The effect of age on Tifton-44 bermudagrass hay on yield and quality. Cutting Interval Yield (lb DM/Acre) CP (%) Digestibility (%)

1 Week 2 Weeks 8539 8603 19.8

17.0

61.8

62.2

4 Weeks 8 Weeks 8197 13329 14.1

9.7

61.3

54.3

Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Mason and Burton. 1982. Agronomy Journal. 74.371

The effect of stage of maturity at harvest on timothy hay quality, animal intake, and milk yield. Stage at Harvest CP (%) Acid Detergen t Fiber (%) Intake (lb DM/day) Intake (% body wt) Milk (lb/day)

Late Boot Late Bloom 11.3

5.4

35.9

42.1

33.3

24.3

Values are expressed on a dry matter basis. From: Vinet et. al. 1980. Journal of Animal Science. 60:511.

2.84

2.17

37.5

20.1

Stage of Harvest Late boot to head, cut May 3 DM Intake lb/day % Digest ibility

13.0

Early bloom stage, May 14 Early milk stage – seed forming, May 25

11.7

8.6

68 66 56

% Protein

13.8

10.2

7.6

Lb of hay fed per lb of gain Lb of hay per acre 1 st cutting

10.1

13.5

22.5

1334 1838 2823

Source: Mont Montgomery Univ. of TN 500 lb Holstein Heifers ADG

1.39

0.97

0.42

   Your goal is to harvest as much leaf area as possible Harvest legumes at 1/3 to 1/2 bloom Harvest grasses at the boot stage