Johnsongrass
Refer to "Sorghum Grasses, Sudangrasses, and Millets" for johnsongrass information.

Native Grasses
The native range grasses are good horse forages. They are usually managed without fertilization, but weed control is recommended. Native grasses are considerably lower in production than well-managed introduced grasses. They are more susceptible to overgrazing and trampling, and because of their consistently medium to low quality, supplemental feed is often needed. That consistency may be one of the greatest advantages for horses because wide swings in quality are unusual. These grasses require three to ten times more acreage per horse unit for the same forage equivalent than properly managed improved grasses that are well fertilized.

Varieties include 'Caucasian', 'Ganada', 'King Ranch', 'Plains', 'WW-Spar' bluestem, 'WW-Ironmaster', 'WW-B Dahl', and 'PMT-587'. 'King Ranch' and 'Plains' bluestem have been used successfully for horse pasture, and there is no reason why the others can't be used. 'Caucasian' bluestem is the most productive perennial tight-land grass available in our region. 'Plains' bluestem is widely adapted and has proven its forage use. 'Ganada' bluestem is a very dense, low-growing, Old World bluestem. It is more of a conservation bunchgrass because of its density and is expected to be more resistant to horse trampling and short grazing than other Old World bluestems because of its shortness.

These grasses are bunch grasses and, therefore, are more sensitive to overuse, trampling, and mudding-in (pugging) than bermudagrass. Grazing management is definitely more important with these grasses than with bermudagrass because they do not recover as well as bermudagrass after short-grazing and trampling.

These grasses can get ergot. Refer to "Poisonous Plant Considerations."

Bahiagrass
Bahiagrass is a sod-forming bunchgrass useful in southeastern Oklahoma, southwestern and southern Arkansas, and eastern Texas. It can be used like bermudagrass. Varieties available include primarily 'Pensacola' and 'Tifleaf 9'.

Sorghum Grasses, Sudangrasses, and Millets
The sorghum grasses and sudangrasses are not generally recommended for horses and include sudangrass, johnsongrass, sorghum hybrids, and sorghum-sudangrass hybrids. All of these grasses are excellent from a general forage quality viewpoint, however. They can produce massive amounts of forage. All of them require excellent rotational grazing, mowing for residue control, and fertilization for good yields.

If these forages are needed in emergencies, use caution when letting horses graze them. The sorghum-sudangrass can cause cystitis, or ataxia syndrome, a horse health problem. They also develop prussic acid. Refer to "Poisonous Plant Considerations."

The millets include German and pearl. German millet, also called foxtail millet, can be used for short-season emergency grazing or hay. Regrowth is negligible afterward. Pearl and German millet can build up nitrate, which may affect horse health. Refer to "Poisonous Plant Considerations."

All of these sorghums and millet crops require considerable farming, and production is erratic. Grazing management is difficult because of variations in growth, from extremely rapid to very slow or none.

Weeping lovegrass requires haying or definite rotational grazing for best results. It will not tolerate long-term short grazing, especially during fall. It is best to use it with other pasture types.

Weeping lovegrass can make excellent-quality hay with higher fiber content. Weeping lovegrass should be only a minor percentage of forage acreage because of its rapid growth and intensive use demands. One acre per ten to twenty horses may be sufficient when other forages are available.

Teff is the common name for an annual lovegrass that has been largely overlooked in the Southern Plains. It produces well in Oklahoma and has excellent seedling vigor and good production and quality. It is used for horse hay in South Africa and Europe, and its palatability and quality rival that of the best of the grass hays. The only known variety in the United States is 'Dessie' summer lovegrass. Seed sources are uncommon, but the variety is available from Geertsons Seed Farms, Adrian, Oregon.

Dallisgrass can be infested with poisonous ergot fungus in the seed-head stage. Refer to "Poisonous Plant Considerations."