Forage-production potential, among other characteristics, of naturalized crabgrasses varies greatly because of ecotype variations. Some naturalized types can produce from 4,000 to 12,000 pounds of useful forage per acre annually, while others may produce fewer than 1,000 pounds and obviously would be relatively useless as farm forage.

Under a double-cropping regimen with winter annual grass, crabgrass usually will produce 2,000 to 4,000, and sometimes up to 6,000, pounds of dry weight per acre per year in southern Oklahoma. Under a single-cropping situation on moderate-quality soils and with moderate fertilization, it will produce 5,000 to 8,000 pounds of high-quality forage per acre per year and can produce 8,000 to 10,000 pounds per acre when irrigated and fertilized. The highest production recorded at the Noble Foundation was over 12,000 pounds of dry-weight forage per acre. Dr. Herb Huneycutt at the University of Arkansas recorded repeated production of about 10,000 pounds of high-quality crabgrass forage per acre per year on well-fertilized silt loam soils.

An Oklahoman producer has realized over 1,000 pounds of stocker cattle beef yield per acre with a winter pasture and crabgrass double crop. Noble Foundation double-cropped pastures of rye and crabgrass have produced over 860 pounds of stocker beef per acre, with the natural crabgrass being about 150 pounds of that total. The potential with 'Red River' crabgrass is much better.

The range in stocker cattle's average daily gain (ADG) is 0.75 pound per day on poor or mature crabgrass to about 2.25 pounds per day on good crabgrass pasture. Typically, gains of 2.00 to 2.50 pounds per day have been realized from well-managed crabgrass pasture.

One Oklahoman producer who has pastured thousands of stocker cattle over many years advises that ADG on bermudagrass is about 1 pound, whereas that on naturalized crabgrass is 1.75 pounds, a 75 percent improvement. These cattle were provided grass, salt, minerals, and water only.

Dairymen operating grazing-based dairies often mention that their cows exhibit about a 25 percent increase in lactation when grazing crabgrass.

Feeding trials comparing 'Midland' bermudagrass and naturalized crabgrass hay with the same protein content have been conducted. Stocker cattle performance was better with the crabgrass hay, averaging an increase of about 0.2 to 0.3 pound of ADG, depending on the trial. In one trial, steers fed crabgrass hay gained 0.5 pound more per day (average) than steers on the bermudagrass hay, probably because crabgrass is more digestible and palatable than bermudagrass.

Crabgrass is best in a rotational grazing program that is well managed. Simulated grazing trials in research plots illustrated that yields after good rotational grazing were over 30 percent higher than those after more frequent use that left grass shorter. In general, residue should be 3 to 6 inches high. Recovery periods in early summer can be as short as three weeks but should be 3 to 6 weeks in summer and fall. Regrazing should occur when crabgrass is about 8 to 18 inches, depending on the climate, and should be done before the grass dries during maturation.

Crabgrass should be cut for hay at 12 to about 24 inches tall to leave a 3- to 6-inch stubble and a green leaf on most stems; regrowth initiates from the green leaf.