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| Energy Requirments for Plant Growth How Plants Manufacture Food Factors Affecting a Plant's Response to Grazing Management for Sustainability Integrating Forage Resources Literature Cited |
Integrating Forage Resources (page 5 of 6)
Integrating forage resources means using a combination of different forage types to maximize the efficiency of forage use by livestock. Matching an animal's nutrient requirement to the quantity and quality of forage available can be one of the most efficient ways to maximize animal performance, thereby reducing the cost of livestock produced per acre. Using a combination of different forage types may allow producers to:
- Extend the grazing season, thus reducing the need for supplemental feed,
- Increase production per unit of land,
- Improve forage quality for better animal performance,
- Reduce overall production costs thereby increasing profitability.
A nativegrass pasture in good condition is an integrated forage resource within itself. It will contain a diversity of mostly warm-season grasses with a few cool-season species in more shaded areas or riparian zones. Plains bluestem, Caucasian bluestem, bermudagrass and Weeping lovegrass are all excellent perennial forage producers in the southern Oklahoma and North Texas area. If you are considering the establishment of one of these, be sure and evaluate soil texture, slope and drainage before making your selection. Crabgrass is an excellent annual forage producer. It is often used as a double crop with many of our annual cool-season forages.
Fescue is probably the most dependable cool-season perennial forage adapted to our area, but it has some manageable problems. The threat of toxicity and reduced animal performance can be minimized by diluting pure stands with clover, ryegrass or other compatible species. Planting endophyte-free varieties will also reduce toxicity and increase palatability, but these varieties are less drought-tolerant, thus more difficult to sustain than the endophyte-infected varieties. If you consider establishing fescue (and probably should if you have proper sites), be aware of its potential toxicity and reduced palatability and have a plan to overcome these problems. Other cool season perennial forages such as Matua rescuegrass, Orchardgrass and Jose tall wheatgrass may be useful but, like Fescue, are often site-specific and difficult to maintain.
Annual ryegrass is an excellent forage producer for winter pasture production and can also be overseeded on permanent pasture such as Bermudagrass. It is an excellent reseeder, which means it isn't necessary to plant every year if managed for seedset and sustained production. Rye, wheat, oats and barley are all cereal grains and can be used for grain, forage or both. Oats and barley are not as cold tolerant and are susceptible to winter kill, so be aware of this potential hazard. Barley is probably the best choice for reclaiming saline soils. Rye and wheat are currently the best choices for clean-till winter pasture production in our area. Let production, site selection and seed availability dictate your choice of variety selections of rye and wheat.
Legumes are often an important component in many pastures. Their potential inputs of nitrogen and grazing value should not be overlooked. Of the annual legumes, Arrowleaf clover is the most widely adapted in our area. Its reseeding success from year to year is one of its primary advantages. Crimson clover offers the greatest probability for early production, but is a poor reseeder. Hairy vetch is also an excellent forage choice, but it too has problems with perpetuating itself. White clovers are mostly perennial, meaning they don't depend on seed production from season to season to survive; however, site selection and management are two very critical factors to consider.
Below is a listing of the major forages grown in our area and their seasonal forage production potential:
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By having a combination of different forage types, the potential for flexibility is greatly increased. The key is to supply enough forage (quantity and quality) to meet the demand by livestock or to supply enough livestock (proper kind and class) to match the forage produced.
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