Forages

Types of Forages:

• cool- season grasses (cool, moist conditions early spring/fall). Don't graze below 3-4 inches.

  • Examples: Fescue, orchard grass, kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, timothy, reed canary, quack grass, brome grass

• warm- season grasses (grow best in hot, dry midsummer weather); more efficient at gathering CO2 and use less H2O. Ideally grow 16-20 in before grazing and leave 6-8 inches before winter dormancy.

  • Examples: switchgrass, big bluestem, corn, millet, sudan grass, bermuda grass, johnson grass

• Legumes - from the plant family Fabeaceace. Many form symbiotic relationships with bacteria called Rhizobia within root nodules of their roots. These bacteria have a special ability of fixing nitrogen. This arrangement makes the plants rich in plant proteins.

  • Examples: Alfalfa, Red clover, white clover, crimson clover, black medic

• Forb/ weeds - herbaceous, flowering plant

  • Examples: dandelion, chicory, plantain, wild bergamot

• Browse- woody brush/trees

  • coppice- cutting back at stump of woody species

  • pollard- cutting back of woody species above cattle/deer browse line

**Ideal forage is a diverse mixture, dense, with no bare soil visible.

Diagram of grass - UC IPM

GOOD GRAZING GUIDELINES:

1- Allow plants enough time to fully regrow and recover after each grazing

2- Graze livestock in each area for a relatively short time (prevent re-grazing)

Observing plants:

• what is the growth stage? (vegetative, elongation, reproductive)

• how many leaves? (want 3-5 new leaves to regrow before grazing again)

• stem?

• color?