Growth and Nutritive Value of Perennial C₃ Grasses in the Southern Great Plains

Abstract

Spring and fall gaps in forage production systems utilizing winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) forage in the southern Great Plains have led to an interest in additional resources such as C3 perennial grasses. We evaluated the potential of nine cool‐season perennial grass entries to fill the gap in forage production and nutritive value through the fall and spring seasons over 3 yr in Oklahoma. Yield of dry matter and crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) concentrations were regressed on days to determine daily changes. Following excellent growth in the spring of the establishment year, yields in the fall were less and declined markedly in 1997. Spring growth achieved the minimum amount of forage (1100 kg ha−1) for good animal productivity, with most exceeding 2500 kg ha−1 by 1 February in the first 2 yr. In general, nutritive value (CP and IVOMD) declined with maturity, but most entries were adequate through March each year, but seldom exceeded minimum requirements for 1 kg steer gain d−1 When herbage was sequentially removed (staged), subsequent regrowth was not different due to month of staging through March of each year, after which yield was significantly reduced. When fall moisture was adequate for wheat pasture, wheat yield and nutritive value were higher than any perennial grass, but when moisture was limited, yields of wheatgrasses (Thinopyrum spp.) generally exceeded those of wheat.

Perennial cereal rye performance and comparisons with winter annual cereal forages in the semiarid, subtropical southwestern United States

“…All of the cereals harvested at boot stage in the present study (Table ) provided levels of CP and ADF, except for P‐CR, that were consistent with those reported by Beck et al. (), supporting gains > 1.2 kg d −1 by 250‐kg grazing steers (Coleman et al., ). Beck et al.…”

“…Winter annual cereal forages are a significant component of livestock operations in the southwestern United States for backgrounding stocker cattle (Bos taurus) in either grazeout or graze-grain systems (Coleman, Rao, Volesky, & Phillips, 2010;Lauriault & Kirksey, 2004;MacKown & Northup, 2010;Marsalis, Lauriault, & VanLeeuwen, 2008) and other regions (Beck et al, 2008;Entz et al, 2002) where they are used to supplement native rangeland (Entz et al, 2002). Currently, autumn through spring forage gaps are filled with winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.; WW) (Beck et al, 2008;Coleman et al, 2010;Lauriault & Kirksey, 2004;Marsalis et al, 2008), cereal rye (Secale cereale L. × S. montanum Guss.) (Beck et al, 2008;Lauriault & Kirksey, 2004), triticale [× Triticosecale Wittm.…”

Agronomic and genetic diversity in intermediate wheatgrass (Thinopyrum intermedium)

“…Within the populations examined, there was a 5% difference in NDF values ranging from 596 to 630 g/kg and well within the forage nutrient requirements of 500 g NDF/kg for a 300 kg animal (Coleman et al. ).…”

Productivity of Annual and Perennial Cool‐Season Grasses Established in Warm‐Season Pasture by No‐till Overseeding or By Conventional Tillage and Sowing

“…Problems of forage supply during the cool‐season in the southern Great Plains (SGP), when temperatures are too low for active growth of warm‐season species, are well recognized (4,19). Cool‐season annual grasses, notably wheat used as graze‐out (19) or as a dual‐purpose graze and grain crop, have been extensively used to provide a source of forage and to extend the grazing season during this deficit period.…”