Virtual Winter School – 2011 | January 10 th. Over the next few minutes… The increasing value of forage quality Interpreting forage quality reports Busting

Dr. Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Specialist

Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA

Dr. Dennis Hancock Extension Forage Specialist

Crop and Soil Sciences – UGA

2010 Forage ManagementAgent Training

2010 Forage ManagementAgent Training

Virtual Winter School – 2011 | January 10th

Over the next few minutes…Over the next few minutes…

• The increasing value of forage quality

• Interpreting forage quality reports

• Busting a few myths

• A little miscellany

• Plus, a few diversions…

Take Time to Focus on Forage Quality

The least used and least understood element of a good forage management plan.

The least used and least understood element of a good forage management plan.

Photo credit: Bobby Smith, Morgan CEC

Forage Quality has High Value Now


Crop Maturity CP TDNSupplement

† Cost‡

-- % -- -- % -- lbs/hd/day $/hd/day

Bermudagrass

4 weeks 10-12 58-62 0 $0

6 weeks 8-10 51-55 4.8 $0.45

8 weeks 6-8 45-50 7.5 $0.72

Tall Fescue Late boot 14-16 66-70 0 $0

Early head

11-13 60-63 0 $0

Dough 8-10 50-54 5.3 $0.50

† Assuming soyhulls supplementation for forage quality on low end of the range.

‡ Approximate prices for December 2010.

Supplementing a Lactating Beef Cow




† Cost‡

-- % -- -- % -- lbs/hd/day $/hd/day

Bermudagrass

4 weeks 10-12 58-62 0 $0

6 weeks 8-10 51-55 4.8 $0.45

8 weeks 6-8 45-50 7.5 $0.72


Early head

11-13 60-63 0 $0

Dough 8-10 50-54 5.3 $0.50







† Cost‡

-- % -- -- % -- lbs/hd/day $/hd/day

Bermudagrass

4 weeks 10-12 58-62 0 $0

6 weeks 8-10 51-55 4.8 $0.45

8 weeks 6-8 45-50 7.5 $0.72


Early head

11-13 60-63 0 $0

Dough 8-10 50-54 5.3 $0.50




What is the difference?What is the difference?

1) Digestible energy2) How much can be eaten

The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

The Relationship between Fiber (NDF) and Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Fiber (NDF) Level

Inta

ke

Intake toMeet Needs

Intake is Physically Limited

Dry Matter Intake (DMI)

Dig. Energy Intake

Low Digestibility High Digestibility

What is “high quality forage?”

What is “high quality forage?”

• Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN)

• Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI).

• Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) =

TDN * DMI/1.23

• Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN)

• Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI).

• Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) =

TDN * DMI/1.23

Relative Forage Quality (RFQ)75 100 125 150 175 200 225

• Heifer, 18-24 mo.• Dry cow

• Mature horse, lt. work

• Heifer, 12-18 mo.• Lactating beef cow

• Lactating mare• Mature horse, mod. work

• Dairy, last 200 days• Heifer, 3-12 mo.• Stocker cattle• Weanling horse

• Mature horse, int. work

• Dairy, 1st 120 days• Dairy calf

Qu

ality

Req

uir

ed

Typical Range in Quality of

Common Forages

Typical Range in Quality of

Common Forages

Relative Forage Quality (RFQ)

Summer Annual Grass

Bermudagrass

Cool Season Peren. Grasses

Other Legumes

Alfalfa

75 100 125 150 175 200 225

Cool Season Annual Grasses

Qu

ality

Pro

vid

ed

There’s No Way to Know Without a Forage Test

There’s No Way to Know Without a Forage Test

Photo credit: Bobby Smith, Morgan CEC

Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage

Quality Data

Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage

Quality Data

Reading Forage Quality DataReading Forage Quality Data

Reading Forage Quality DataReading Forage Quality Data

1

2

3

Price

4

Let’s Do Some ComparisonsLet’s Do Some Comparisons

A

B

C

Nutrient Requirements: 1200 lb cow*

Nutrient Requirements: 1200 lb cow*

Req.

TDN 58.1%

CP 9.6%

* First 3-4 mo postpartum, prep to rebreed

Comparing One Lot of Hay To Another


Lot ID A B C

Kind of Hay Tift 85 TF/OG Coast

RFQ 96.2 109.7 118.5

CP, % 10.7 14.6 14.3

NDF, % 65.8 58.5 56.1

ADF, % 40.6 36.2 32.7

Lignin, % 7.0 6.6 4.8

TDN, % 52.8 56.9 61.2

Which lot is best for our lactating beef cow?

Req.

TDN 58.1%

CP 9.6%




Lot ID A B C

Kind of Hay Tift 85 TF/OG Coast

RFQ 96.2 109.7 118.5

CP, % 10.7 14.6 14.3

NDF, % 65.8 58.5 56.1

ADF, % 40.6 36.2 32.7

Lignin, % 7.0 6.6 4.8

TDN, % 52.8 56.9 61.2

Price, $/ton 95 110 125

Which lot is best for our lactating beef cow?

Req.

TDN 58.1%

CP 9.6%


Tools For Taking a Forage Sample


“Penn State Probe”



“Colorado Hay Probe”

How To Take a Forage Sample

How To Take a Forage Sample• Sample from each field AND

cutting (“Lot” of hay).

• Use bale corer to get a representative sample from 20 bales per lot.

• Insert the sampler fully and cross-ways to the stems.

• Sample from each field AND cutting (“Lot” of hay).

• Use bale corer to get a representative sample from 20 bales per lot.

• Insert the sampler fully and cross-ways to the stems.

How To Take a Forage Sample

How To Take a Forage Sample• Fill a clean quart-size plastic bag

with about ½ lb of forage.

• Label each bag with details.

• Send to an accredited lab (National Forage Testing Association), such as the UGA Feed and Environmental Water Lab.

• For details, see the FAQ page on www.georgiaforages.com

• Fill a clean quart-size plastic bag with about ½ lb of forage.

• Label each bag with details.

• Send to an accredited lab (National Forage Testing Association), such as the UGA Feed and Environmental Water Lab.

• For details, see the FAQ page on www.georgiaforages.com

http://www.georgiaforages.com/


A Brief InterludeA Brief Interlude

Some Famous Horses of the Civil War






Daily Ration During the Civil War:

Daily Ration During the Civil War:

1. 14 lbs (6.4 kg) hay2. 12 lbs (5.4 kg) of grain (usually oats, corn, or barley)

3. Any available pasturage (rare)

Simple Online Dietary Assessment for Horses

Simple Online Dietary Assessment for Horses

http://nrc88.nas.edu/nrh/

A. True

B. False

C. Mythbuste

The best stocking rate (as a rule of thumb) for horse pastures in Georgia would typically be: 1 medium-sized horse (1100-lbs) per acre.




Graphical Description of Diet ChoiceGraphical Description of Diet Choice

GrassLegume Browse

Flat

SteepLow

High

CATTLE

HORSE

Forage Type

Slope Preference

Sele

ctiv

ity

SHEEP

GOATS

Approximate Diet Selection of Grazing Animals when Given

Choice

Approximate Diet Selection of Grazing Animals when Given

Choice

Type of DietAnimal Species Grasses Legumes Browse

Cattle 65-75 20-30 5-10

Horses 70-80 15-25 0-5Sheep 45-55 30-40 10-20Goats 20-30 10-30 30-50White-tailed deer 30-60 40-50 10-30

What is the best bermudagrass variety for horse hay?

What is the best bermudagrass variety for horse hay?

A. Alicia

B. Coastal

C. Tifton 44

D. Tifton 85

E. None of the above.

• Varieties differ in quality

• Vigor

• Coarseness & drying rate

BermudagrassBermudagrass

Selecting the appropriate variety.

Palatability of Bermudagrasses

Palatability of Bermudagrasses

Highly acceptable: Coastal = Tifton 44 = Tifton 78

(= Russell)

Acceptable if given no other choice: Tifton 85 Coastcross

A. True

B. False

C. Mythbusted

True or False: Horses cannot eat bermudagrass … they’ll get impacted and die!


Impaction on BermudagrassImpaction on

Bermudagrass

• High NDF Content Somewhat related to bermudagrass

variety As a rule of thumb for bermudagrass

hay, keep NDF < 65%. • Insufficient Water Availability • Insufficient Mastication (chewing)

Fed only 1-3 times per day Horses in stall

• Inactivity/lack of exercise

Myth or Truth?Myth or Truth?



A. True

B. False

C. Mythbusted

Any grass hay can cause founder or laminitis in my horses.Any grass hay can cause founder or laminitis in my horses.

Any grass hay can cause founder or laminitis in my horses.Any grass hay can cause founder or laminitis in my horses.

GroupCarbohydrat

e Stored Location

Warm Season Perennial Grasses

Starch Stolons, stem base, rhizomes

Warm Season Annual Grasses

Sucrose Lower stem

Cool Season grasses (A & P)

Fructan Stem base

Legumes Starch Taproot, stolons, rhizomes

Carbohydrate Storage in Forage SpeciesCarbohydrate Storage in Forage Species

Laminitis and High Quality Hay

Laminitis and High Quality Hay

Myth or Truth?Myth or Truth?

Tall FescueTall Fescue• Most widely used

forage grass in the U.S. High yields and

persistent.

• Endophytic fungus produces toxic alkaloids Fescue toxicosis Alkaloids aid drought

tolerance and persistence

ADG Gain(lbs/hd/d) (lb/acre)

E+ 1.10 126NE 1.83 186E+ & WC 1.60 150NE & WC 2.61 252

Effect of Tall Fescue, Endophyte, and White Clover on Stocker Production in

the Spring


the Spring

Jesup Tall Fescue and Durana White Clover. 3-yr trial. Eatonton, GA.Hill, Andrae, and Bouton (unpublished data)

Tall FescueTall Fescue• Most widely used

forage grass in the U.S. High yields and

persistent.

• Endophytic fungus produces toxic alkaloids Fescue toxicosis Alkaloids aid drought

tolerance and persistence

• Novel Endophyte TF gives persistence benefit w/o toxicosis problems.

NE Tall FescueNE Tall Fescue• Novel Endophyte

Endophyte from different TF population

• UGA and AgResearch (NZ) researchers developed and tested Jesup MaxQ.

• NE TF gives persistence benefit w/o toxicosis problems.


E+ 1.10 126NE 1.83 186E+ & WC 1.60 150NE & WC 2.61 252


the Spring


the Spring



E+ 1.10 126NE 1.83 186E+ & WC 1.60 150NE & WC 2.61 252


the Spring


the Spring


A. True

B. False

C. Mythbuste

Tall fescue should be avoided as a component in horse pastures.Tall fescue should be avoided as a component in horse pastures.

Tall fescue should be avoided as a component in horse pastures.Tall fescue should be avoided as a component in horse pastures.

Effect of Toxic Endophyte-Contaminated Fescue on Gestation

Length in Gravid Mares

Series1300

320

340

360

380

400

(Monroe et al, 1988 - Clemson)

E- E+

Gesta

tion

Len

gth

(d

ays)

+ 27 days

From: D.L. Cross and T. Gimenez “Fescue Toxicosis in Horses” (ppt online)

Effect of Toxic Endophyte-Contaminated Fescue on Foals and Mares

Effect of Toxic Endophyte-Contaminated Fescue on Foals and Mares

Stillborn Foals Agalactic Mares

Retained Placentas

Mares Rebred0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

(Monroe et al., - Clemson)

E- E+

Rep

ort

ed

In

cid

en

ces

• Remove from TF pasture or hay 60-90 days before anticipated foaling

• Alkaloid toxins are very stable

• Very low levels of fescue (%?, Probably less than 20%) can cause severe problems

• Keep accurate records of breeding and anticipated foaling dates

Mare Mgmt. BMPsMare Mgmt. BMPs

NE Tall FescueNE Tall Fescue

GA 186 AR584

Texoma MaxQ II -More persistent after summer drought

Texoma MaxQ II -More persistent after summer drought

Courtesy of Dr. Joe Bouton, Noble Foundation

SpringSpring


Late SummerLate Summer


AutumnAutumn


Following SpringFollowing Spring


Summer Dormancy Trait in Tall Fescue

Summer Dormancy Trait in Tall Fescue

Summer Winter


NE Tall FescueNE Tall Fescue

A good option, but…• Expensive• Requires renovation of

entire pasture or hayfield

• Down time in pastures• Risky (weather)

Other curative options?

Yield TrialsYield Trials

Grazing Persistence TrialsGrazing Persistence Trials

Grazing Persistence TrialsGrazing Persistence Trials

“Safe” Tall Fescue“Safe” Tall Fescue• Marketed as an

alternative to MaxQ• Has performed well

in other, more northern locations.

• Has performed poorly in UGA yield trial Lowest stand rating

after 2 years. Has not been

evaluated under grazing in GA.

• Marketed as an alternative to MaxQ

• Has performed well in other, more northern locations.

• Has performed poorly in UGA yield trial Lowest stand rating

after 2 years. Has not been

evaluated under grazing in GA.

Tifto

n 85

Coast

cros

s II*

Russe

llP2

*

Coast

cros

s I

UF-Ria

ta

TifQ

uik

Tifto

n 9

Coast

al

Pens

acol

a

Tifto

n 44

Cheye

nne

Lare

do

Wra

ngle

r0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

Fora

ge Y

ield

s(l

bs D

M/a

cre

)Warm Season Perennial

Grass Variety Trial – Tifton (avg. over 2006-2008)

Warm Season Perennial Grass Variety Trial – Tifton

(avg. over 2006-2008)

UF-RiataUF-Riata

• Pensacola-type

• Less sensitive to daylength

• High yields, slightly improved digestibility

• Seed available through Ragan and Massey (www.raganandmassey.com)

• Pensacola-type

• Less sensitive to daylength

• High yields, slightly improved digestibility

• Seed available through Ragan and Massey (www.raganandmassey.com) Dr. Ann Blount, Univ. of FL

http://www.raganandmassey.com/

http://www.raganandmassey.com/

TifQuik BahiagrassTifQuik Bahiagrass

• Faster establishment in early spring Aids competition with weeds Fits with crop rotation

• Improved grazing in est. year Vigorous seedlings

• Seed available: Shiloh Farms (shilohfarmsinc.com

)

• Faster establishment in early spring Aids competition with weeds Fits with crop rotation

• Improved grazing in est. year Vigorous seedlings

• Seed available: Shiloh Farms (shilohfarmsinc.com

)

http://shilohfarmsinc.com/

http://shilohfarmsinc.com/

MiscellanyMiscellany

New Summer Annuals that Sound Too Good to

Be True


Be True

Teff – warm season annual grass

Oregon


Be True


Be True


Ohio


Be True


Be True


Georgia

An Opportunity for High Quality Forage

An Opportunity for High Quality Forage

Peanut Hay QualityPeanut Hay Quality

Peanut Hay Mineral Content

Peanut Hay Mineral Content

Parting ThoughtsParting Thoughts

• High energy prices and a weak U.S. dollar will cause supplement (and fertilizer prices) to continue to be a major limit to profitability. We need to focus on producing

high quality forage.

• There are a large number Pay now, or pay a lot more later.

• High energy prices and a weak U.S. dollar will cause supplement (and fertilizer prices) to continue to be a major limit to profitability. We need to focus on producing

high quality forage.

• There are a large number Pay now, or pay a lot more later.

Hay ProductionSchool 2011

March 29-30th

Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office

Macon, GA

Hay ProductionSchool 2011

March 29-30th

Georgia Farm Bureau Home Office

Macon, GA

www.georgiaforages.com



QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?

www.georgiaforages.com1-800-ASK-UGA1

www.georgiaforages.com1-800-ASK-UGA1

Documents

Virtual Winter School – 2011 | January 10 th. Over the next few minutes… The increasing value of forage quality Interpreting forage quality reports Busting