Annual Forages for Grazing or Stored Feed

There are many reasons to look at using annual crops for forages. Winterkill looks likely this spring on forage stands in some parts of Ontario. Graziers also look for alternative forage crops to produce more forage during the typically expected mid-summer slump of traditional grass pastures.

Cereal crops, various forage mixtures, and warm season annual grasses (such as sorghum-sudan grass) can be used to produce quality forage for grazing or stored feed. The timing of production, quality, yield and growing costs of alternative forage crops need to be considered to determine which annual forage is best on your farm. Remember that feed is the number one cost on cow-calf and sheep farms. A well managed perennial forage stand can be productive and is still the lowest cost per tonne of any forage.

There are several annual crops that can be grazed or put up as stored feed. Potential annual forage crops include barley, oats, wheat, triticale, annual ryegrass (Italian and Westerwold), pea mixtures, corn silage, sorghum-sudangrass, sorghum hybrids, sudan hybrids, Japanese millet, pearl millet, forage soybeans and corn silage. To efficiency harvest these crops with livestock, strip grazing is a must in order to reduce wastage and to improve regrowth potential.

Cereal Regrowth

The regrowth after cutting or grazing of spring cereals, such as barley and oats, is variable. Oats has better regrowth than barley. Regrowth will also vary with the maturity of the cereal at first-cut. The more mature the cereal crop is at first-cut, the less regrowth. Low cutting height or over-grazing also reduces the regrowth. As with any crop, rainfall impacts regrowth.

Cereal Mixtures

Seeding in a mixture of species can provide a longer forage season and better forage quality than a spring cereal alone. A winter cereal crop seeded in the spring does not go through vernilization. Without vernilization, a winter cereal will not produce a seed-head during the first growing season. This vegetative growth has a greater leaf/stem ratio than a spring cereal. The other benefit of the intercrop system is it will give two to three harvests per year using the same tillage and seeding pass.

Research on seeding pure and intercropped mixtures was conducted in New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station. Table 1 outlines the seeding rates and Table 2 summarizes the dry matter yields of pure and intercropped mixtures. In pure stands, oats gave the best yield. The intercropped mixture yields were statistically the same, but indicate that Oats + annual ryegrass mixtures should be looked at for the best season-long forage production for grazing.

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New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station

New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station

New Liskeard Agricultural Research Station

Pea Mixtures

Adding peas to a cereal mixture for forage has been shown to increase crude protein by 2 - 4%, and decrease NDF by 2 - 6%. To obtain this improved forage quality, a 50:50, peas:cereal mixtures needs to be seeded. Depending on pea seed price, this mixture can be costly. Peas are very competitive with underseeded perennial forages, so stand

Warm Season Annuals

If forage seeding is delayed into late-May and June, warm season annual forages are more productive. Sorghum-sudan grass, hybrid pearl millet, hybrid sorghum, sudan grass and Japanese millet can be grown. These plants are frost sensitive and should be planted when the risk of frost has passed. Seed when soil temperatures have reached 12 to 15 °C. Warm soil temperatures are important for quick emergence to be competitive against emerging weeds. A first-cut is ready about 60-65 days after planting and a second-cut can be cut or grazed 30 - 35 days after 1st cutting or grazing. Pearl millet should be planted only on a sandy to sandy–loam soil type. On heavier soils, hybrid sorghum, sudan grass or sorghum-sudangrass are better suited.

Livestock Needs & Feed Costs

Livestock needs are also important in selecting the annual forage species that is best for your farm. Forage yield and quality varies between crop species as well as harvest management. Table 3 provides a comparison of the dry matter yield, crude protein and total digestible nutrients (TDN) of several forage species. Figure 1 provides a yield and cost comparison of several annual forages.

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Figure 1 - Yield & Cost Comparison of Annual Forages

Link to data table equivalent description of chart

Use Your Own Assumptions & Costs

Note: Costs are calculated using current seed costs, recommended seeding and fertilizer rates, herbicides where appropriate, and custom rates for tillage and planting. They do not include any harvesting costs such as labour, fencing or cutting, silage or baling costs or land costs. You should use your own assumptions to calculate your options for your operation.

The right forage species for your farm will depend on your livestock’s forage needs, the availability of equipment or custom operators, storage if required, how it compliments the other available feeds on your farm and the cost of each annual forage option. As illustrated in Figure 1, a well managed pasture or perennial forage stand is still the lowest cost forage.

Further information sources include Agronomy Guide for Field Crops (OMAFRA Publication 811), Pasture Production (OMAFRA Publication 19) or the OMAFRA Forage Web Site.

Related Link:

• OMAFRA Forage Web Site
• Agronomy Guide for Field Crops, OMAFRA Publication 811
• Pasture Production, OMAFRA Publication 19

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