The Bermudagrass Hay Summit is an in-state Extension workshop that began in 2017. The objective of this workshop has been to provide recent updates and advanced information to bermudagrass hay producers in Northern Alabama. Topics have included insect pests, weed control, soil nutrients, and hay storage techniques. In 2021, organizers of the meeting were left with the conundrum of canceling the event or converting the event into a virtual-only platform as current Alabama Cooperative Extension guidelines would not allow an in-person meeting. As a result of deciding to convert the meeting to a virtual format, the organizers broaden the promotion of the event. The meeting was a 6-hour workshop with multiple speakers. The videoconferencing software Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc., San Jose, CA) was used to register and deliver the workshop. The workshop was advertised on social media, through an Extension communications press release, email blasts, and word of mouth. All presentations were delivered remotely from different locations across Alabama. To ensure technology problems could be resolved quickly, an Extension information technology specialist participated in the videoconference, as well as a graduate student to communicate any chat questions/discussions from participants and assist individual participants as necessary. There were 129 people registered for the meeting, a 1,075% increase over the average from the four previous years (12 participants). Of those registered, 26% were out of state and 1 participant was out of the US. Even though the platform was virtual, the overall satisfaction of the meeting did not change in 2021 (4.7 on a 5-point scale) compared with 2020 (4.8 on a 5-point scale). While it is important to continue in-person and one-on-one interactions in Extension, the ability to provide virtual or hybrid events will allow Extension agents to be relevant to a broader audience, as well as inform potential clients of Extension’s mission.

Beef cattle producers engaged in the Alabama Beef Cattle Improvement Association (BCIA) Commercial Record Keeping Program are encouraged to expand records for evaluation of whole herd performance. Collection of cow weight at calf weaning can be used as a metric to estimate cow performance for overall productivity. From 2019 to 2021, five beef cattle operations annually collected individual cow weight at calf weaning (n = 284 observations). Cow age was classified as 2 to 4 years old, 5 to 8 years old and 9 years and older. Cow weight was classified into three categories as small (1199 lb or less), moderate (1200 to 1499 lb) or large (1500 lb or greater). Average cow weight per category was small 1108 lb (n = 37), moderate 1353 lb (n = 180) and large 1605 lb (n = 67). Within each age range and size category, cow performance was measured by average calving interval, average calf adjusted weaning weight and percentage cow body weight weaned. For 2 to 4 years old, average calving interval was 18 days longer between small to moderate categories and 96 days longer between moderate to large categories. For 5 years of age and older, modest impact on average calving interval due to an increase in body weight was observed (3 to 7 days small to moderate; 19 to 8 days moderate to large). Across all ages, moderate impact on average calf adjusted weaning weight due to cow weight was reflected (19, 38, 43 lb. small to moderate; 37, 27, 37 lb. moderate to large). As cow age and weight increases, percentage of cow body weight weaned decreases (2 to 4 years 57%, 48%, 42%; 5 to 8 years 50%, 45% 40%; 9 years 47%, 44% 39%). In summary, measuring cow weight at calf weaning enhances genetic and management practices to illustrate and improve cow herd productivity.

The development of newer alfalfa cultivars with improved adaptation to local growing conditions and dual-purpose applications has increased alfalfa incorporation into grass systems in the southern United States. The complementary growth of both species helps to extend the forage production season length, decreasing producer reliance on supplementation. The objective was to determine forage mass (FM) and nutritive value, botanical composition, and structural responses of alfalfa-bermudagrass systems managed under five stockpiling strategies (6-, 8-, 10-, 12- and 14-weeks of accumulation) in Shorter, AL. A randomized complete block design with eight replications was used. Harvested forage samples were manually separated into individual components and placed into 60° C until constant weight, then weighed. Measurements of ground cover, and alfalfa density and persistence were taken prior to plot harvest. There was a treatment × year interaction (P= 0.009) and greater FM was observed for 10- and 12-wks of regrowth (4,279 and 4244 kg DM/ha, respectively) in Year 2. This response was associated with greater (P < 0.001) bermudagrass percentage in the mixture in Year 2 than 1 (averaged 57 vs 23%, respectively). Weeds remained below 4% in both years. There was a direct relationship between increased regrowth period length with leaf shattering and lodging. Over 10-wks of regrowth, percentage of lodging was >30% and rate of leaf shattering doubled. This response directly affected leaf area index observed for the alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures at 14-wk with a reduction of 30% when compared to 6-wks regrowth (2.6 vs 3.9, respectively). Greater (P < 0.001) digestibility was associated with shorter regrowth period (6-wk), although the values observed ranged from 62 to 87% which represents high nutritive value forage that can meet higher animal requirements. Based on results, stockpiling alfalfa-bermudagrass mixtures using varying accumulation period lengths may be a viable system to provide high quality feed and extend the grazing season length into the fall and winter. This can also be an important strategy aiming to increase diversity and sustainability in forage-based livestock systems.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has shown promise in the Southeastern United States when interseeded into bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon) to reduce reliance on synthetic N fertilization while also providing a high-quality grazable forage. However, data is limited when grazing alfalfa interseeded into different bermudagrass bases with stockers in the Southeastern U.S. A two-year grazing evaluation was conducted in a randomized complete block design with two replications from June-October 2020 (Y1) and April-October 2021 (Y2) at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Better Grazing Program in Tifton, GA, to compare stocker cattle performance when grazing ‘Bulldog 805’ alfalfa interseeded into either ‘Russell’ or ‘Tifton-85’ bermudagrass (RAG and TAG, respectively). Paddocks (1-ha) were split into 4 (0.25-ha) sections and rotationally grazed to 10 cm using the put-and-take stocking method with two tester steers for each treatment (Y1 BW=228.3±27.02 kg; Y2 BW=183.1±20.8 kg). Paddock sections were evaluated pre- and post-grazing for herbage availability, botanical composition, and nutritive value. Stocker steers were weighed at study initiation, conclusion, and on a 28d interval for calculation of ADG and gain/ha. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4. Differences for herbage mass, gain/ha, and stocking density were not detected seasonally but were observed within grazing cycle with RAG being greater in the earlier season, TAG being greater in the later portion of the grazing season, and no difference during the grazing cycles that occurred in the hot summer months. This study suggests that the bermudagrass variety utilized in the alfalfa-bermudagrass mixture will influence stocking management decisions.

Adequate pasture management can decrease costs related to supplemental feed in horse operations. However, the purpose of the horse operation may influence the level of pasture management applied. An online survey was conducted from 2018 to 2020 to evaluate if pasture management strategies used on Florida horse farms are associated with the purpose of the operation. This survey also provided inputs as needs assessment for educational programs in Florida and the Southeast United States. Survey data (n = 79 respondents) were submitted to descriptive analysis and Fisher’s exact test. Significantly associated variables were also evaluated using multiple correspondence analysis. The primary function of the operation most reported was recreational (62%), followed by training (15%), boarding (8%), breeding (6%), and other (5%). Horses were turned out onto pasture full time (24 h/d) in 57% of operations. The purpose of the operation tended to be associated with turnout practices (P = 0.08). Multiple correspondence analysis revealed that boarding- and recreational-purpose operations tended to turn horses out full time or most of the day (12 h/d), while training facilities tended to turn horses out during the night or for a short duration (~4 h/d) during the day. As for level of pasture management, pasture establishment but no maintenance was implemented by 3% of the respondents, 9% implemented pasture establishment and maintenance, 82% performed maintenance only, and 6% did not implement any pasture management. Concerning types of pasture management, pastures were overseeded by 34% of the operations, fertilized by 57%, and continuously stocked by 52%. The purpose of the operation was not associated (P > 0.05) with the level or type of pasture management strategy. Results demonstrate that pasture management practices were implemented similarly among Florida horse operations regardless of their purpose. These results illustrate an educational need to provide information and resources for horse owners aiming to improve the adoption of best pasture management strategies and decrease feeding costs.