Pastures: Perennial Plant Species
for Pastures
Excerpt from Publication 19, Pasture Production, Order
this publication
Table of Contents
- Perennial Plant Species for Pastures
- Legumes
- Grasses
- Meadow Bromegrass
- Other Pasture Recommendations
- Related Links
Perennial Plant Species for Pastures
Legumes
Birdsfoot Trefoil
Birdsfoot trefoil has leaves composed of 5 small leaflets on fine stems,
60-90 cm tall. The leaves are distinct. They consist of 2 leaflets close
to the stem separated from the other 3 by a definite stalk. Its flowers
are bright yellow to orange yellow and borne in clusters. Trefoil flowers
from June to September. The roots consist of 1 deep taproot with many
branching side roots near the surface. Under close grazing, trefoil takes
on a recumbent growth habit and produces many small leaves. The plants
there-fore look smaller than mechanically harvested plants or infrequently
grazed plants. In fact the yields will probably be the same, since the
lower growing plants produce more leaves.
Trefoil is adapted to good soils but will grow on soils where marginal
pH or drainage limit other legumes. It is productive from mid June to
fall, and can be stockpiled for late fall grazing. The feed quality is
still good at that time, as trefoil does not lose its leaves when frosted.
If 10 cm of growth is left at all times, trefoil can be grazed frequently;
or trefoil can be grazed closely and rested for 30-40 days.
Trefoil grazed closely during the grazing season should not be grazed
during the critical fall harvest period identified for alfalfa crops.
The same 6 week period is needed by the trefoil plants to store sufficient
carbohydrates to allow the plants to overwinter and grow well in the spring.
If trefoil is grazed during the critical fall harvest period, either leave
it to grow to 20 cm or just lightly graze it the following spring.
Trefoil is an excellent legume for pastures because it does not cause
bloat and can remain productive for many years. Trefoil will reseed itself
if:
- areas are left ungrazed and the plants allowed to go to seed, or
- if the stands are rotationally grazed with 10 cm of growth left at
all times.
The palatability of trefoil varies because of tannin, a bitter-tasting
compound. Some strains of trefoil have low tannin levels, while others
have high levels. Tannin levels increase in trefoil plants under stress.
Trefoil seedlings are not competitive and trefoil is slow to establish.
It may be thin in first-year stands but thickens with time. Spring growth
is also slow; but mid-summer yields are good if it is not overgrazed early
in the season. Trefoil does quite well when established by frost seeding
(see Chapter 3, Pasture Improvement).
Trefoil seed contains many hard seeds, seeds that are slow to germinate.
Therefore the germination of all of the seed is staggered over a long
time and many plants escape late spring killing frosts. Trefoil cannot
be established into stands that already contain Kentucky Bluegrass. Evidence
indicates bluegrass produces a chemical toxic to trefoil seedlings.
White Clover
White clovers have stems that creep on the ground with erect or upward-slanting
branches. Leaves consist of 3 rounded, stalkless leaflets with shiny undersides.
The edges of the leaves may have a few shallow teeth. The flowers form
a spherical head and are usually white but may be pink-tinged. Roots are
shallow and fibrous and develop from the nodes of the creeping stems.
Three types of white clover are used in Ontario. They look similar but
differ in size:
- wild white clover is the smallest, ranging from 5- 17 cm tall
- intermediate white clovers (also called Dutch or New Zealand White)
grow to 40 cm
- ladino clovers can grow up to 60 cm.
The intermediate types are more suited for pastures than the ladino,
and tend to have more stolons per square meter than the ladino varieties.
White clover is adapted to soils that range from well drained to those
with some drainage problems. Its shallow root system limits production
on excessively drained soils and during droughty periods. White clover
roots generally grow to the same depth as roots of commonly used grasses.
This creates intense competition between white clover and the grasses
for soil nutrients and moisture. White clover often disappears from pastures
because it cannot compete with the grasses for nutrients present at low
levels. Grasses growing with white clover receive approximately 200 kg/ha
of nitrogen over the grazing system.
If rotationally grazed, white clovers produce very palatable forage for
the full season. Grazing trials headed by Dr. Jock Buchanan-Smith, University
of Guelph, found that the legume content would rise from 20%-50% of the
stand over the grazing season. Bloat was not a problem with white clover
at that level. The general recommendation is that bloat may be a problem
if susceptible cattle are introduced to a white clover-dominant pasture
at the start of the grazing season, or switched from a grass pasture to
a heavy legume pasture at any time during the pasture season.
White clovers are short-lived perennials that will reseed if not grazed
severely. They can be frost seeded to maintain their presence in the stand.
Red Clover
Red clover has leaves consisting of 3 stalkless leaflets on tall plants
(15-60 cm) with large rose purple to magenta flowers. Stems and leaves
are hairy. Red clover has a weak taproot with many fibrous, side-branching
roots. There are 2 types of red clover: single cut (mammoth) and double
cut (medium). Single cut is taller, coarser, later to flower and slower
to regrow after grazing than double cut.
Red clover tolerates imperfect drainage and lower pH levels. It is productive
in the first year but tends to thin over winter, resulting in lower yields
in succeeding years.
Red clover has traditionally been thought a short-lived perennial. The
older varieties and plants from common seed tend to live just 2-3 years
beyond the seeding year. Newer varieties are promising to be longer-lived.
Red clover is very competitive and easy to add to a stand by frost seeding.
When seeded in mixtures, red clover can suppress the establishment of
other legumes because of its competitive nature.
Red clover can cause bloat. Use pastures and hay aftermath
with more than 50% red clover carefully. Red clover can contain compounds
with an oestrogenic effect on the reproductive cycle of sheep.
Kura Clover
Kura clover is a very winter-hardy species that is adapted to a wide
range of soil conditions, including imperfect drainage, low fertility
and lower pH soils. It spreads by rhizomes (underground stems) and has
an extensive root system. The initial spring growth consists of upright
stems, each with a large white-pink flower. The regrowth consists of leaves
and petioles which originate from crowns. The leaves are more pointed
and larger than those of other clovers.
It is very important to inoculate kura clover with the
right strain of Rhizobium bacteria.
As kura clover is new to Ontario, there is not yet a good natural population
of the required bacteria in the soil to infect the plants, thus ensuring
nitrogen fixation proceeds. Kura clover has poor seedling vigour and can
be difficult to establish. Weed control can also be a problem in direct
seedings. However, kura clover thickens with time and produces productive
stands.
Table 1-3. Yields of Dry Matter of Simple Legume-Grass Mixtures*
(kg/ha)
| Mix |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
3 Year Total
|
| Cut 1 |
Cut 2 |
Cut 1 |
Cut 2 |
Cut 1 |
Cut 2 |
| 2,789 |
2,936 |
3,457 |
2,877 |
3,161 |
941 |
16,161 |
| 3,102 |
2,690 |
3,427 |
3,298 |
5,090 |
1,969 |
19,576 |
| 1,715 |
3,022 |
2,865 |
2,395 |
3,539 |
908 |
14,447 |
| 1,470 |
2,925 |
2,247 |
3,232 |
3,692 |
2,274 |
15,780 |
* harvested twice a year at the new Liskeard Research
Station, U. of Guelph
1 orchardgrass suffered winterkill in the first year of
the trial
When seeding kura clover, vary the seeding rate according to the competitiveness
of the other components in the mixture. Low seeding rates of 6-8 kg/ha
for kura clover are fine when it is planted with a non-competitive species
such as reed canarygrass or timothy. With competitive grasses such as
orchardgrass, use 10 kg/ha. Once established, kura clover can tolerate
severe continuous grazing. It can cause bloat, so take precautions once
it makes up more than 30% of the stand.
Kura clover based mixtures provide a high quality feed.
Table 1-4. Quality of Legume/Grass Mixtures at Second Cut
| Mixture |
1995 |
1996 |
| CP |
ADF |
NDF |
CP |
ADF |
NDF |
| 16.3 |
39.0 |
54.1 |
21.9 |
29.9 |
34.7 |
| 17.8 |
32.5 |
45.4 |
21.3 |
28.7 |
30.9 |
| 16.2 |
34.5 |
50.1 |
16.4 |
40.1 |
47.6 |
| 17.6 |
32.3 |
44.8 |
20.9 |
30.3 |
34.6 |
Personal communication, Jim Johnston, NLRS, U. of Guelph
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a tall growing plant, 60-100 cm, with hollow or solid stems.
Leaves consist of 3 leaflets that are 2 to 3 times longer than wide, with
serrated tips. The flowers are usually blue or purple but may be yellow
or white. The roots can be tap, branching tap, rhizomatous or creeping,
but most varieties grown in Ontario have taproots.
When growing conditions are good, alfalfa is the most productive of the
legumes. It requires well-drained (or tiled) soils with a pH of 6.2 or
above, plus good fertility. Under less than ideal conditions it is susceptible
to root-diseases and winterkill. Alfalfa is productive for the entire
growing season, but should not be harvested during the critical fall harvest
period. (see Figure 1-1. Start of the Critical Harvest Period for Alfalfa)
Figure 1-1. Start of the Critical
Harvest Period for Alfalfa
Text Equivalent of Image
Alfalfa greatly increases the carrying capacity of pastures, but limit
its use to highly managed pastures. Graze alfalfa when it is 30 cm high
and graze it down to 5 cm. Leaving more residual height actually slows
regrowth and lengthens the time required for alfalfa to grow back. Alfalfa
normally requires a rest period of 30-35 days between grazings.
Creeping-rooted alfalfas may require a 45-50 day rest period. In most
Ontario pastures creeping rooted alfalfas will not show the creeping behaviour.
Alfalfa that is closely grazed throughout the season, or not allowed to
reach at least 25% bloom, will eventually have extremely low carbohydrate
levels. Carbohydrates are needed by alfalfa to survive winter. If carbohydrate
levels get too low, it is impossible to restore them to the level needed,
even with a fall rest period.
Alfalfa plants are sensitive to physical damage from the hooves of grazing
animals. To reduce the chance of hooves slicing the crowns of the alfalfa
plants, keep animals off the field when the ground is soft. When used
in pastures, alfalfa does not usually last more than 3 years. Yet there
are new varieties bred for improved persistence when grazed. They have
a lower crown set than the majority of the recommended varieties for Ontario,
and produce an extra 10%-13% of alfalfa after 3 years of grazing.
Bloat is a concern with alfalfa-based mixtures, especially when alfalfa
is in the pre-bud stage since the plants digestibility is high and fibre
content low. Follow the recommendations for bloat control found in Chapter
7, Animal Health Problems. Alfalfa can cause photosensitivity in livestock
and may have an oestrogenic effect on sheep. This occurs if the alfalfa
is suffering from severe insect or disease damage.
Alsike Clover
Alsike leaves have 3 stalkless leaflets with fine serrations on the edge
borne on smooth slender stalks. The stems may be upright, up to 50 cm,
or prostrate, bearing distinctive white and rose flowers. The roots consist
of a shallow branching taproot. Alsike will grow on soils that range from
wet and acid, to soils that are well drained and neutral.
Alsike produces most of its growth in June. Performance is not
consistent from year to year and adding alsike to a mixture usually lowers
yields.
Alsike can cause photosensitivity and liver damage in
horses, as well as bloat in ruminants.
It is not normally recommended for pasture mixtures.
Sweetclover
Sweetclover is a tall, up to 2 m, branched, coarse plant that is not
a true clover. Its leaves have 3 oblong leaflets with serrated edges.
Both stems and leaves have a distinctive sweet odour when crushed. The
flowers, white or yellow, are numerous in long, loose flower arrangements
called racemes. Sweetclover's main advantage is its deep taproot. It is
ideal on land that needs a deep taproot to break up a hardpan. It grows
on infertile soils, provided the pH is near neutral or higher.
Crownvetch
Crownvetch has course, hollow stems that grow 30- 150 cm long and are
semi-reclining. It will not climb like a vine because it does not have
tendrils. Overall height is about 70 cm. The compound leaves are made
up of 5-25 pairs of narrow, oblong leaflets. The whitish-pink to purplish-pink
flowers are borne in a cluster at the tip of a long stalk in a crown-like
arrangement. The plant has a deep taproot with many side-branching roots.
Crownvetch requires well-drained, fertile soils. It is usually difficult
to establish, but is long lived once begun. Crownvetch needs warm temperatures
to germinate, usually late May or June. The young seedlings are not vigorous,
making crownvetch susceptible to competition from earlier and more vigorous
growing plant species.
Crownvetch's deep branching root system makes it a good choice for stabilizing
steep slopes and preventing erosion. Seed is expensive.
Table 1-5. Dry matter Yield of Crownvetch on Shallow Soil Pastures
|
Country Location
|
Year Seeded (kg/ha) |
Crop (kg/ha) |
| Year 1 |
Year 2 |
Year 3 |
Year 4 |
| 1,969 |
4,645 |
2,945 |
2,873 |
2,580 |
| 1,971 |
7,022 |
--- |
--- |
--- |
| 1,971 |
5,554 |
3,460 |
--- |
--- |
Yields are from one cut only
Source: Watkin, E.M. and J.E. Winch. An assessment of shallow soil pastures
in Ontario. A.R.D.A. Project Report #85045
Black Medic, Hop Clover and Tufted Vetch
These 3 legumes often appear in pastures without having been sown in
the recent past. Like other legumes they provide nitrogen to surrounding
grasses and have good quality feed value. The drawback is an extremely
low yield.
Grasses
Orchardgrass
Orchardgrass has become the most recommended grass for pastures -it is
high yielding, has good distribution and can withstand grazing. However,
it is not suitable for every location and does require intensive management.
Orchardgrass is an aggressive, light green bunchgrass. It has long, wide
leaf blades and a coarsely tufted panicle. The cross section of the stems
is oval shaped.
Orchardgrass requires well-drained soils with good surface drainage. It
is normally ready for grazing by late April or early May. Start spring
grazing when the orchardgrass is 4-5 cm tall. It will remain productive
for the full season if moisture conditions are good and the stand is rotationally
grazed. Graze heavily with an 18- 25 day rest period in the summer. A
longer rest period is needed if the orchardgrass is allowed to mature
before grazing. Graze orchardgrass lightly in the fall to remove thick
growth that could lodge and cause winterkill. Orchardgrass will winterkill
on average 1 year out of 4.
Orchardgrass is known for being unpalatable. This is especially true with
mature plants. Feed quality also quickly declines as the plants mature.
For grazing, it is best if orchardgrass is prevented from heading out.
Latematuring orchardgrass varieties are easier to manage than the fast-maturing
earlier varieties. If left ungrazed, orchardgrass forms tough, unpalatable
clumps.
Orchardgrass responds very well to high rates of nitrogen fertilizer.
Orchardgrass accumulates nitrates easily. This can lead to nitrate poisoning.
Limit mid- or late-season nitrogen applications to 75 lbs/ac. See Chapter
7, Animal Health Problems for more details. Grass tetany is a concern
on early pastures dominated by orchardgrass, as the grasses may not have
sufficient levels of magnesium to meet animal needs.
Smooth Bromegrass
Smooth bromegrass is a tall grass, varying in colour from light to dark
green. Leaves are long, wide and flat with a pointed tip and a 'W' marking
on the leaf. Roots have blunt, brownish rhizomes that allow the plant
to spread to form an open sod. The inflorescence is a large spreading
panicle, similar to oats, giving rise to the older name of "oatgrass".
With deep fibrous roots, brome adapts to well-drained or droughty soils.
Drain fields well to prevent animal foot problems and forage damage during
early grazing. Smooth bromegrass is most productive during spring and
fall, with mediocre to good mid-season production.
Smooth bromegrass is best suited to rotational grazing where it can be
grazed heavily in the spring, lightly in the summer and heavily again
in the fall. It tolerates continuous grazing with low stocking rates,
but summer productivity will be low and fall growth will be lowered. When
rotationally grazed bromegrass should be eaten down to a height of 10
cm and then allowed to recover. In the summer this usually takes 30-35
days. It is suitable for mixtures with birdsfoot trefoil. The bromegrass
can be grazed early, allowing the trefoil to grow and provide pasture
for the summer.
Bromegrass is palatable and keeps its nutritional value better than most
grasses, giving pasture managers more flexibility in grazing schedules.
Late June production could be stockpiled for use in August.
Smooth bromegrass has a very large, light, fluffy seed. This causes seeding
difficulties when planting with many types of seeders. If using the grain
box, make sure the seed is not planted too deeply. Seed less than 2 cm
deep. Once established bromegrass is a good competitor that can compete
with legumes on low potash soils
Meadow Bromegrass
Meadow bromegrass is a reduced creeping type of bromegrass that regrows
quickly after being grazed. It has more basal leaves than smooth bromegrass.
Leaves are light green in colour, slightly hairy, and narrower than leaves
of smooth bromegrass. With better frost resistance than the smooth type,
meadow bromegrass is a better choice for late fall grazing. The inflorescence
of meadow bromegrass is similar in appearance to smooth bromegrass. However
seeds are larger, with longer awns and are slightly hairy. The seeding
problems associated with smooth bromegrass can be worse with meadow bromegrass.
Meadow bromegrass can be used wherever smooth bromegrass can be grown.
Substitute meadow bromegrass for smooth bromegrass in the recommended
mixtures. Adjust the seeding rate for meadow bromegrass upwards to take
into account its larger seed size.
Meadow bromegrass is attractive as a pasture species for several reasons.
It is a palatable grass that starts growth early in the spring, remains
productive during the entire grazing season and can extend the grazing
season into late fall. Meadow bromegrass starts growing earlier in the
spring than smooth bromegrass. It has faster recovery rates after grazing
with its regrowth coming from existing tiller bases, a trait similar to
orchardgrass. The regrowth for smooth bromegrass is initiated from crowns
and the rhizomes. Meadow bromegrass remains in a vegetative state after
first grazing, producing a nice leafy mass for grazing animals. (see Figure
1-2, Amount and Distribution of Dry Matter from Pastures Differing in
Trefoil Content)
Figure 1-2. Amount and Distribution
of Dry Matter from Pastures Differing in Trefoil Content
Text Equivalent of Image
Meadow bromegrass is best used in rotational grazing schemes. Delay grazing
until the meadow bromegrass is 20-25 cm tall. Have the animals graze it
down to 10 cm within a week. A longer grazing period can let animals graze
any regrowth and weaken the pasture. Remove animals and allow pasture
to grow back to 20 cm in height.
Reed Canarygrass
Reed canarygrass is a tall, up to 2.5 m, coarse grass with rhizomatous
roots that form a loose sod. It is easily distinguished by its wide leaves.
The inflorescence is a panicle similar to orchardgrass, but with finer
tufts.
Reed canarygrass is very widely adapted. It tolerates excessive soil moisture,
including prolonged flooding or grows on droughty soils. While it also
tolerates a low soil pH and poor fertility, it does best when grown on
well-drained, fertile soils. It is ready to pasture early in the season
and remains productive if kept vegetative.
Reed canarygrass has typically been seeded on wet pastures where animals
could not graze until the grass was well past heading and producing seed.
It can be the basis of a productive, drought-resistant pasture if seeded
on well-drained soils where it can be pastured on a quick rotation for
the full season. Reed canarygrass develops coarse stems and leaves, loses
palatability and digestibility quickly once it heads. Time grazing to
keep the plants vegetative (not exceeding 30 cm of growth at any time).
Reed canary grass can be used with any of the legumes.
It is slow to establish and is not aggressive in the seeding year. It
may take up to 3 years to get a strong reed canarygrass presence in a
pasture. Older varieties of reed canarygrass contain alkaloids, which
depress animal performance. Most current recommended varieties are free
of undesirable tryptomine and carboline alkaloids. Palatability of the
new reed canarygrass varieties is excellent and animal performance is
good.
Timothy
Timothy has soft, light green leaves with wide, medium length (7-25 cm)
blades. The head is a distinctive, very dense spike-like panicle. It has
an onion-like bulb or corm at the base of the stems and a shallow root
system. It is a non-aggressive bunchgrass with limited tillering ability.
Timothy is widely adapted to heavier soils, variable drainage, fertility
and pH. It is most productive in the spring, followed by lower mid-season
productivity and little fall growth (Figure 1-3, Percent Timothy in Second
Production Year). Earlier varieties do produce slightly more regrowth
than later maturing varieties. The shallow root system makes it very susceptible
to drought and high temperatures.
Figure 1-3. Percentage Timothy in
the Second Production Year
Text Equivalent of Image
To maximize production, allow timothy to reach the boot
stage before first grazing. For this reason, and the lack of mid-summer
production, timothy is not an ideal pasture grass. It is best used in
mixtures where the first cut is harvested for stored feed and the aftermath
grazed. Timothy is commonly added to pasture mixtures because it is a
grass most producers are familiar with and is easy to establish.
Creeping Red Fescue
Creeping red fescue is a short plant with narrow, bristly, dark green
leaves. On older leaves the basal leaf sheaths are a reddish-brown, giving
the plant its name. The roots are rhizomatous and form a dense sod. The
inflorescence is a fine, open panicle.
Creeping red fescue grows and spreads on most soils, including fertilized
subsoils. It grows throughout the entire season and retains good nutritional
value in the fall. Productivity is limited as the grass is short and most
varieties were developed for turf or soil conservation purposes.
Creeping red fescue is best used for streambank or grassed waterway protection,
as the roots hold the soil while the thatch of top growth slows water
movement and protects the soil surface. These characteristics also make
it a good "bottom" grass - a species added to the mixture to
give turf qualities to the forage. As such, add it to mixtures for exercise
yards, laneways and wet fields damaged by animal traffic in rainy periods.
Tall Fescue
The leaves of tall fescue are dark green and ribbed with wide, long blades
and sharp pointed tips. This deep- rooted, tall, coarse-growing plant
forms tussocks if it is not grazed or cut after several years. It is basically
a bunch grass, but frequent grazing will produce a tough sod resistant
to trampling damage.
Tall fescue is adapted to most soils, including those with imperfect drainage.
Spring growth is slow, followed by steady production throughout the season.
It fits well into a rotational grazing system and is an ideal partner
with birdsfoot trefoil for providing season-long forage. It can be rotationally
grazed up until late June-early July and then left to stockpile in late
summer for fall grazing. Research at the New Liskeard Research Station
has consistently shown that the fibre levels of tall fescue are lower
than all other grasses in the fall (Table 1-6, Total Digestible Nutrient
Content of Five Grass Species).
Table 1-6. Total Digestable Nutrient Content of Five Grass Species*
|
Grass Species
|
Total Digestible Nutrients (%) |
| 1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
| 61.4 |
61.5 |
59.2 |
| 56.7 |
57.2 |
54.1 |
| 58.4 |
58.0 |
55.9 |
| 54.5 |
57.3 |
55.1 |
| 56.2 |
--- |
--- |
| 57.4 |
58.5 |
56.1 |
*Harvested in early November at new Liskeard
Alternate Forages for Hay, Silage and Pasture. Jim Johnston. Forage Feeds
Profit 1997 OFC Conference
Tall fescue is useful for erosion control and protection of fragile lands.
Its deep roots, long-lived perennial nature and tolerance to marginal
conditions allow it to establish and survive on most areas where permanent
cover is required.
A seed-borne fungus (an endophyte) has been linked with reduced animal
performance on tall fescue pastures. Once introduced to the stand by infected
seed it cannot be removed. If cattle, sheep and other livestock graze
on large amounts of infected tall fescue, their health may be compromised.
Cattle may also be more sensitive to heat stress.
Remove pregnant horses from fields with infected tall
fescue 30 days prior to foaling. Refer to Animal
Health Problems for more information.
The seed supply of recommended varieties of tall fescue is basically
endophyte-free and animal health problems should not be a concern.
Palatability, or the lack of it, is also associated with this grass. Use
endophyte-free seed to reduce palatability problems. Palatability is also
better in the fall with the onset of cooler weather and frosts. Tall fescue
hay is palatable to cattle and sheep.
Meadow Fescue
Meadow fescue has bright green leaves with narrow, long (up to 50 cm)
blades and sharp-pointed tips. Leaves are dull on the upper sides and
shiny on the undersides. Meadow fescue is a bunch grass with short rhizomes
that give it a weakly creeping habit.
Meadow fescue grows best on deep, fertile soils but will tolerate variable
drainage and low fertility. It has a shallower root system, is shorter
lived and is not as tolerant of poor conditions as tall fescue. Meadow
fescue is most productive in summer and fall, and maintains feed quality
into the cooler fall months
It fits well with trefoil to give summer and fall grazing. This allows
it to be used on fields that tend to be wet in spring and cannot be grazed
until later in the season.
Meadow Foxtail
Meadow foxtail resembles timothy but has smaller, ribbed leaves. It is
a shorter plant and heads out much earlier than timothy. Roots are shallow
and fibrous.
Meadow foxtail tolerates poor drainage and low pH. It is extremely early,
with most fields heading out by early May. Once headed out it is very
unpalatable. Meadow foxtail is the earliest pasture species, but is often
seeded on fields too wet to carry animals at the time grazing should start.
The shallow roots contribute to low production during periods of high
temperatures and drought. It is best used mixed with species that produce
through the summer.
Meadow foxtail seed is light, fluffy, and hairy, making it difficult to
seed. Use coated seed to avoid problems at seeding.
Bluegrasses
Kentucky bluegrass is a dark green grass with long narrow
leaves. Blades have a boat-shaped tip and shiny undersides. It grows 30-100
cm tall with an open, fine panicle. Kentucky bluegrass forms a dense sod
on fertile soils.
Canada bluegrass is a bluish-green grass with shorter
leaves with boat-shaped tips. The plant is shorter than Kentucky bluegrass
with a similar open, fine panicle. Canada bluegrass forms an open sod
and is found on less fertile soils.
Both bluegrasses have a dense but shallow root system that limits summer
productivity where water is limited. Bluegrass grows most strongly in
spring, and must be stockpiled for midsummer production. Early growth
is palatable, but total production is limited.
Bluegrass withstands animal traffic and can be added to a mixture for
areas were high resistance to trampling damage is needed or as a bottom
grass in horse pastures. The dense root system and thatch from bluegrasses
provides a good cushion for horse's hooves and legs. These grasses, especially
Kentucky bluegrass, form the basis for the dark green lawns for display
paddocks.
Perennial Ryegrass
Perennial ryegrass is a soft, fine, bright green grass. Leaves are narrow
and short, with ribbed tops and smooth, shiny undersides. It produces
a lot of tillers and is 30-60 cm tall with an inflorescence composed of
a slender stiff spike with each spikelet edgewise on the central axis.
Perennial ryegrass requires well-drained, fertile soils. It is easy to
establish and competitive in mixtures.
It grows quickly during periods of cool, wet weather, making it most productive
in spring and fall. During those periods, perennial ryegrass regrows quickly,
enabling frequent grazing of a highly palatable and digestible forage.
(Table 1-7, In-Vitro Digestibility of Two Grass Species). It cannot tolerate
hot or dry conditions and is unproductive in summer. It is suited to rotational
grazing where other species are available for summer grazing.
Table 1-7. In-Vitro Digestibility of Two Grass Species*
| Species |
June |
July |
August |
September |
Average |
| 82.5 |
79.8 |
77.6 |
79.4 |
79.8 |
| 79.0 |
76.7 |
73.6 |
75.4 |
76.0 |
* collected from ratationalloy grazed pastures at Elora Research Station,
1990
Alternate Forages for Hay, Silage and Pasture 1997, Johnston, Jim, OFC Conference
If irrigation is possible, consider pure stands of perennial ryegrass. Ryegrass
responds well to nitrogen fertility and the resulting yields could warrant
the cost of irrigating. Do not apply nitrogen after July on the forage types
of perennial ryegrass. This appears to lower their overwintering ability
- a problem associated with perennial ryegrass in Ontario.
"Experience at the Elora Research Station and on farms in Ontario
has shown that turf-type varieties persist better under grazing than the
European forage-types… Using turf varieties should allow perennial
ryegrass to be grown across western Ontario, and in much of central and
eastern Ontario. Areas with prolonged ice cover or extreme cold without
sufficient snow cover will not support perennial ryegrass."
Jim Johnston, Alternative Forages For Hay, Silage and Pasture,
Forage Feeds Profit - The 1997 OFC Conference.
Graze or cut off any fall growth before winter to lessen the likelihood
of snow moulds developing and damaging the ryegrass.
Redtop
Redtop has dark green leaves with a purplish inflorescence that turns
red as it opens. It has fine leaves and stems that are both upright and
creeping. Redtop forms a loose sod.
Redtop is tolerant of very low fertility, low pH and poor drainage but
does not yield well. It is not competitive on fertile soils and often
disappears if soil conditions are improved. Productivity and feed quality
are lower than with timothy. Redtop can be used on ditchbanks or grassed
waterways where its tolerance to wet soils and sod forming habits reduce
erosion.
Related Links
... on forages and pastures, visit Forages
and Pastures (OMAFRA)
... on weed control, order Publication
75 Guide to Weed Control: Forage Crops
... on agronomy for field crops, order Pub.
811 Agronomy Guide for Field Crops: Chapter 3 Forages
... on field crop protection, order Publication
812, Field Crop Protection Guide
... on livestock, visit Livestock
(OMAFRA)
