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COOL SEASON GRASS WARM SEASON GRASS COOL SEASON LEGUMES WARM SEASON LEGUMES FORAGE MIX FORAGE LINKS FORBS FORB LINKS FORAGE TREES AND SHRUBS TREE AND SHRUB LINKS WIND BREAKS GRAZING LINKS MOVING ANIMALS ABATTOIRS DISEASE CONTROLS BOOKS Temperate Climate Pasture Crops and Management
**********************************************************Cool Season Grasses:
Grass is the primary source of calcium.
Tall fescue (Festuca arundinaceae Schreb.):
(Point of origin: Europe and North Africa) Season: cool Hay: Y, best for fall hay stockpiling Yield: high, best in fall, works well with milk vetch Nutrition: moderate, alkaloids produced by endophyte infected tall fescue can be toxic Intense grazing: N, can be bitter, difficult to tear, less persistent if overgrazed Bunch: Y, mixes well with alfalfa Planting: in early spring or fall Propagation: tillers, blooms in spring Drought tolerant: moderate Disease / Insect Problems: endophyte friendly has better persistence than endophyte freeSmooth Brome Grass (Bromus inermis):
(Point of origin: Hungary and Russia) Season: cool Hay: Y, best in spring, harvest in early vegitative state while quality is good but yield has not peaked , cattle may refuse if it becomes too course Yield: high if properly managed, suppresses milk vetch Nutrition: awnless are easiest to digest Intense grazing: N, persistence problems if harvest or grazed too low (4 in.) Bunch: N, sod Planting: spring or early fall Propagation: rhizomes, flowers in spring Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: Kansas State - Smooth BromeKentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.):
(Point of origin: Europe) Season: cool Hay: N Yield: high yield under intense grazing, works well with Ladino / White clover Nutrition: high Intense grazing: easy to get a bite full Bunch: N Planting: spring Propagation: rhizomes, persistent under intense grazing Drought tolerant: N Disease / Insect Problems:Western Wheatgrass (Pascopyrum Smithii):
ORNorthern Wheatgrass (Elymus lanceolatus):
(Point of origin: North America) Season: cool Hay: N Yield: higher with grazing, easy to get a bite full Nutrition: high Intense grazing: Y Bunch: N Planting: in early spring, mixes well with Kentucky Bluegrass Propagation: rhizomes Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: USDA - Western Wheatgrass Northern State University SD - Western WheatgrassOrchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata L.):
(Point of origin: Europe) Season: cool Hay: Y Yield: high, best in spring, moderate summer growth , best in partial shade with crownvetch Nutrition: high, potentially toxic to horses Intense grazing: can create persistence problems, best for orchards, hard to bite , requires consistent grazing Bunch: Y Planting: spring Propagation: no rhizomes, bloom mid spring Drought tolerant: moderate Disease / Insect Problems: get varieties with resistance to leaf disease **********************************************************Warm Season Grasses:
Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii):
(Point of origin: North America) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: high, C4 Nutrition: high Intense grazing: moderate Bunch: N Planting: Propagation: robust, perennial, rhizomes, bunch, blooms summer Drought tolerant: high Disease / Insect Problems:Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans):
(Point of origin: North America) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: high, C4 Nutrition: high, hydrocyanic acid poisoning possible if grazed too low Intense grazing: moderate Bunch: N Planting: spring Propagation: tall robust perennial, rhizomes Drought tolerant: moderate Disease / Insect Problems:Eastern Gama grass (Tripsacum dactyloides):
(Point of origin: Eastern North America) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: high, C4 Nutrition: high quality forage Intense grazing: moderate Bunch: N Planting: Propagation: perennial, rhizomes Drought tolerant: tolerates moisture and drought Disease / Insect Problems: **********************************************************Cool Season Legume:
Legumes are the key to productivity and health. They are the primary source of magnesium. Legumes should make up 30-40% of a pasture.
Milk vetch (Astragalus cicer L.):
(Point of origin: Europe and Russia) Season: cool Hay: Y, less palatable, best in fall Yield: high protein due to high leaf to stem ratio, works well with tall fescue Nutrition: skin sunburn Bloat: N Intense grazing: Y, long lived Planting: spring, scarify seed within 1 week of spring planting, in alternate rows with grass. Propagation: difficult to establish, non spreading rhizomes Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: FAO - MilkvetchLadino or White Clover (Trifolium repens ):
(Point of origin: Europe) Season: cool Hay: Y for Ladino Yield: high, works well with Kentucky Bluegrass Nutrition: extremely high protein, low fiber, possible prussic acid poisoning Bloat: high, especially if wet with dew Intense grazing: easy to get a bite full, can outcompete grass if grass is overgrazed Planting: spring or fall Propagation: 3 year perennial, long lived perennial in north by stolens, high reseed potential Drought tolerant: N Disease / Insect Problems:Kura (Trifolium ambiguum):
(Point of origin: Europe) Season: cool Hay: N Yield: high, works well with Kentucky Bluegrass Nutrition: high Bloat: Moderate Intense grazing: Y Planting: Propagation: perennial Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: Iowa State - Kura clover University of Wisconsin - Kura cloverBirds Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus):
(Point of origin: Europe) Season: cool Hay: use upright cultivar for hay Yield: high Nutrition: high Bloat: N Intense grazing: Must not overgraze Planting: allow to reseed every 2-3 years Propagation: perennial with rhizomes that do not recharge until fall Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: **********************************************************Warm Season Legume:
There are very few warm season legumes suitable for cool temperate climates. The legumes listed below are not ideal, but with proper management, they can be made to work.
Crownvetch (Coronilla varia):
(Point of origin: Africa, Eurasia) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: moderate, will tolerate some shade Nutrition: palatable Bloat: N Intense grazing: N Planting: spring Propagation: perennial, rhizomes Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems:Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea):
(Point of origin: North America) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: low, palatible Nutrition: high Bloat: low Intense grazing: N Planting: bloom mid to late summer, allow to reseed Propagation: perennial Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: None Purple Prairie CloverIllinois Bundleflower (Desmanthus illinoensis):
(Point of origin: North America) Season: warm Hay: Y Yield: palatable Nutrition: Moderate Bloat: N Intense grazing: N Planting: bloom early to mid summer, allow to reseed Propagation: perennial Drought tolerant: Y Disease / Insect Problems: None Illinois Bundleflower University of Minnesota- Illinois Bundleflower Land Institute - Bundleflower University of Purdue - Bundleflower University of Minnesota - Bundleflower University of Wisconsin - Bundleflower **********************************************************Forage Mix:
The philosophy behind this mix was to choose species that can be used to establish a permanent pasture with little maintenance in a cool temperate climate.
Midwest Example Mixes: Spring: Kentucky Bluegrass / Wheatgrass - White, Kura Fescue - Milk Vetch - Light Grazing Brome - Trefoil, Ladino for late spring hay Summer: Bluestem / Indian / Gama - Crownvetch, Bundleflower, Purple Prairie Fall: Kentucky Bluegrass / Wheatgrass - White, Kura Brome - Trefoil, Ladino - light grazing Winter: Fescue - Milk Vetch - stockpiled hay Legume Grass Mixes Legume Grass Mixtures **********************************************************Forage Links:
Grass and legume links: Ohio State - perennial grasses University of Purdue - forage grasses and legumes North Dakota State University - grass varieties. Iowa State - warm season grasses USDA - pasture and hay species Ohio State - warm season grasses Texas A&M - legumes University of Missouri - grass and legume seeding Michigan State - grass and legumes Kansas State - grass / legume mixtures Cornell University - forage and grazing management **********************************************************Forbs:
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale): (Point of origin: Eurasia) Advantages: High calcium Short lived perennial Edible by humans also. Disadvantages: Low growing Nettle (Urtica dioica): (Point of origin: Eurasia) Advantages: High calcium Perennial Edible by humans also. Disadvantages: Prickly Plantain (Plantago spp.): (Point of origin: ) Advantages: High in calcium and copper Short lived perennial Disadvantages: Low growing. Illinois wild flowers - plantain Narrow Leaved Plantain Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.): (Point of origin: Europe ) Advantages: Drought tolerant. Rich in calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc. Tannins can reduce nematode infestations in animals. Disadvantages: High mineral content may cause imbalance in the wrong situation. Requires specfic management to keep stands long term and prevent bolting. Low growing. The Free Library - chicory Forage chicory Forage Guide - chicory Auburn University - chicory University of Kentucky - chicory Kansas State - chicory Australia - chicory **********************************************************Forb Links:
Encyclopedia of Animal Science Pastoral Guide Organic Beef - herbs **********************************************************Forage Trees and Shrubs:
Most trees must be kept as shrubs so cattle have easy access.
*******Honey Locust (Gleditsia triacanthos):
(Point of origin: ) Advantages: Leaf and bean forage. Disadvantages: *******Willow (Salix babylonica spp.):
(Point of origin: ) Advantages: Leaf forage. Also the hybrid Salix matsudana x alba. Disadvantages: *******Poplar (Populus spp):
(Point of origin: ) Advantages: Disadvantages: Black Poplar is toxic *******Mulberry (Morus alba):
(Point of origin: temperate Asia) Advantages: Palatable High protein Disadvantages: Recovers well if grazed in fall ******* Mimosa (Leucaena leucocephala): (Point of origin: ) Advantages: Very high nitrogen fixation. Leaf has high forage quality. When freezes back will often regrow. Disadvantages: Hardy to zone 6 Potential goiter **********************************************************Forage Tree and shrub links:
Cornell University - forbs and shrubs Mulberry Permaculture Willow Small Stock Australian Trees and Shrubs Forage for Goats Fodder Trees of Nepal Fodder trees of Pakistan Human Developement Library - Honey Locust FAO - Mulberry IRRD - Mulberry **********************************************************Wind Breaks:
Deciduous wind breaks are most useful around row crops since they lose their leaves in winter when wind breaks are needed most by cattle. Evergreen windbreaks are most useful around cattle pastures.
Blue Spruce (Picea pungens): (Point of origin: western North America) Advantages: Drought tolerant Disadvantages: Not heat tolerant Cyprus or bamboo are better for hot / dry regions. Temperate Evergreen Windbreaks Spruce Cyprus University of Florida *****************************************************Grazing Management Links:
Utah State - goat management Good overview of alternative methods. ATTRA - pasture PDF index Multiple PDF on pastures. MOSES Multi-species grazing. FORAGES Forage species characteristics. RANGE FORAGES Species consumption selection. Improving pasture with Mycorrhizae Twice over grazing management for increase in Mycorrhizae. All Flesh Is Grass Bales left in the field for feed during snow. Holistic Management Long term grassland maintenance. Livestock for Landscapes Lists weeds that livestock can eat. Pasture Management Extension Central pasture management. Free Choice Enterprises Free Choice Enterprises ration balancing for beef nutrition. *****************************************************LINKS TO MOVING ANIMALS:
Bud Williams Bud Williams - low stress handling Temple Grandin Temple Grandin - low stress methods *****************************************************LINKS FOR ABATTOIRS:
USDA Small processors. ATTRA - processing *****************************************************LINKS TO NATURAL DISEASE CONTROLS:
ATTRA Integrated Pest Management for Livestock. ATTRA FAMACHA system for selecting resistant animals. University of Aberdeen Alternative Methods of Controlling Ruminant Internal Parasites. Skylines Farm Skylines Organic Internal Parasite Control. Ecological Agriculture Project Alternative methods for controlling internal parasites in ruminants. *****************************************************BOOKS:
BEGINNERS: Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle Heather Smith Thomas Beef Cattle Production Verl L. Thomas ********** INTERMEDIATE: Beef Cattle Science Part A / B Ensminger & Perry Forages, Volume 1: An Introduction to Grassland Agriculture (Volume I) Forages, Volume 2: The Science of Grassland Agriculture (Volume II) Robert F. Barnes ************** ADVANCED: Grass Productivity Andre Voisin Greener Pasture on Your Side of the Fence: Better Farming Voisin Management-Intensive Grazing (4th Edition) (Volume 4) Bill Murphy Back to Garden for Nutrition Index