Download Understanding Forages - Plant Science - Lecture Slides and more Slides Plant Biotechnology in PDF only on Docsity! Understanding Forages Docsity.com Forage Defined • Forage: – herbaceous plants, generally referring to pasture, hay, silage, and green chop, utilized for animal nutritional requirements. – Provides protein and energy Docsity.com Typical Forages • Warm season vs. cool season • Cool season: – rye – fescue – bluegrass – orchard grass – timothy Docsity.com Typical Forages, cont’d • Warm season: – alfalfa – pearl millet – red and white clovers Docsity.com Rye • Winter pasture crop • Can be planted in late fall • Will germinate in temps close to freezing • Winter hardy • Can seed as early as August • Undesirable for dairy cattle • Good spring green manure crop • 14% protein; 53% TDN Docsity.com Orchard Grass • Deep rooted • Can’t graze closely • Good vigorous growth • Winter killed • 15% protein; 71% TDN Docsity.com Timothy • Shallow rooted • Better for hay than for pasture • Adapted to cool/humid climates • Establish in late summer, early fall • 8% protein; 57% TDN Docsity.com Alfalfa • Complements energy from corn with high protein content • High in Ca, P, Mg • Spring seeding Feb 1 - Mar 15 • Summer seeding after first good rain in Sep. • 17-22% protein; 57-67% TDN Docsity.com Selected Beef Cattle Nutritional Requirements Animal Group Crude Protein % TDN % Dry cows 8 50 Average milk cows 10 56 High milk cows 12 65 1st calf heifers, avg. milk 11 63 1st calf heifers, high milk 12 65 Developing heifers 12 68 Stockers—350lbs 15 68 Stockers—550lbs 13 68 Stockers—750lbs 11 68 Docsity.com Forage Quality Indicators Forage Type High Quality Average Quality Low Quality Legumes (eg. alfalfa) CP: 18-23% TDN: 60-65% CP: 15-17% TDN: 55-66% CP: below 15% TDN: below 55% Grass/Legume Mixes (eg. fescue/clover) CP: 15-18% TDN: 57-62% CP: 11-14% TDN: 55-57% CP: below 10% TDN: below 55% Grass (eg. bermudagrass) CP: 12-14% TDN: 57-60% CP: 9-11% TDN: 54-57% CP: below 7% TDN: below 54% Docsity.com Activity • Select an appropriate forage or forage mix for the following animals: – 1st calf heifer in high milk – 350lb stocker – Developing heifer – Dry cow Docsity.com Developing heifer • Requires 17% protein, 68% TDN – Orchard grass and pearl millet mix – Orchard grass (15% protein, 71% TDN) – Pearl millet (18% protein, 67% TDN) Docsity.com Dry cow • Requires 8% protein, 50% TDN – Tall fescue and timothy – Tall fescue (10% protein, 59% TDN) – Timothy (8% protein, 57% TDN) Docsity.com Summary • Important to be aware of forage nutritional value • Can either cost or save producer money • Values differ among species and years • Values change during different growing stages Docsity.com
