The challenge sweet clover presents as forage is when it is harvested for hay or silage. Its aggressive seedlings make orchardgrass easy to establish. The presence of coumarin in sweet clover makes it less palatable to livestock. During the breakdown of fiber in the rumen, heat and energy are created. Because of their expense, annual pastures may not be the best types of pastures for dry pregnant cows, which can be maintained very well on less expensive forages such as high quality hay. Providing a supplement with an ionophore such as Rumensin® as well as the use of poloxalene (Bloatguard®) several days before turning cattle into pasture with legumes can help reduce the risk of bloat. Sericea lespedeza: Better adapted to soils with acid subsoils in southern IN. Proper nutrition for common livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses is vital. Since birdsfoot trefoil seedlings are slow to establish, at least a year is required to get a satisfactory stand. For high yields and persistence, alfalfa requires well-drained soil, a pH above 6.1, adequate fertility and proper harvest management. Meadow bromegrass is useful as a pasture species because of its early spring growth and faster recovery rate after grazing. Also check for foreign material in the bales, such as rocks, sticks, baling twines or wire. Grasses are lower in protein than legumes when cut at a similar stage of development. Kentucky Bluegrass is a highly palatable grass that tolerates heavy traffic and close, frequent grazing better than other cool-season grasses, making it well adapted for permanent pastures. It also tends to be more palatable than other hay types. Problem of hay with moldy sweet clover. About 2/3 of the energy and 3/4 of the protein and other nutrients are in the leaves of a forage plant (whether grass or legume). Good grass hay that’s cut while green and growing can have a … In Florida, the following types of hay … dry hay with 6 to 10% protein to young clover with over 25% protein (dry weight basis) and a moisture content of about 85% is a shock to the microflora and protozoa in the rumen. Timothy is the most widely sown forage grass in New England and is commonly grown in mixtures with alfalfa or birdsfoot trefoil. They have very fibrous roots that help bind the soil together, thereby reducing erosion. Odor also gives a good clue to quality. It is palatable when young but loses palatability and digestibility more quickly than other grasses. It is used for grazing, hay, and silage, as well as a green manure and cover crop.The name alfalfa is used in North America. Dairy cattle need the best hay— with the most nutrients per pound— since they are producing more milk than a beef cow. Pigs may also be fed hay, but they do not digest it as efficiently as ruminants. The hay can be tested for nitrate content if you are considering using this type of hay. But the stems become coarser and more fibrous. Top and bottom bales will weigh more (adding cost) and have spoilage. My goal is 50% total legumes in pastures. Hay that grows fast doesn’t have as much time to absorb minerals from the soil, for instance, and some types of plants mature too quickly; they may be too coarse and stemmy (and past bloom stage, with less nutrient quality than green, growing plants) by the time the hay is harvested. Better drought tolerance results in more regrowth in second cut. In some parts of the country fescue, reed canary grass, ryegrass and Sudan grass are common. Yields are good the year after establishment but are often quite low the following year. But, three new varieties, bred specifically for high crude protein and dry matter levels, may offer beef producers another annual forage option. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (containing grass and a legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). It is a leaf protein with well-balanced amino acid profile; alfalfa is one of the major sources of protein for livestock, including poultry birds in free-range system or organic poultry farming. They can be overseeded into permanent pastures or seeded with winter annual pastures. Orchardgrass is not as winter-hardy as either timothy or bromegrass and will not persist in wet soils. Thus alfalfa is often fed to animals that need more protein and minerals. All recommended varieties are endophyte-free. It grows best on deep, fertile soils, but will tolerate variable drainage and low fertility. Grass hay can be lower in phosphorus and is always lower in calcium than alfalfa, but a combination hay made up of alfalfa and grass is better for beef cows than straight alfalfa hay. Ongoing studies at Utah State University are demonstrating that spring-born cattle can be finished on legume pastures in a time frame similar to feedlot-finished cattle. Legumes used for hay include alfalfa, various types of clover (such as red, crimson, alsike and ladino), lespedeza, birds-foot trefoil, vetch, soybean and cowpeas. Legume hay has more protein than grass hay, and some grasses have more protein than others. Meadow fescue is shorter, has finer leaves and a shallower root system than tall fescue and is not as persistent. Regrowth is vegetative and does not form a seed head, so second- and third-cuts can be high quality. Perennial ryegrass is not well suited to areas with prolonged ice cover and extreme cold without adequate snow cover. The pasture-adapted varieties tend to have finer leaves, smaller and more numerous tillers, and are later maturing than the hay varieties. Alfalfa is normally sown between mid-August and … Legume forages might also be considered for a livestock operation. These recently released forage soybeans distinguish themselves at first glance; the rather leggy legumes can stand more than six … If hay is expensive, beef cattle can often get by eating a mix of straw and some type of protein. This will influence the grass-to-legume ratio of an established stand. However, once established, kura clover is very persistent, winter-hardy and can tolerate less-than-ideal drainage, fertility, pH and grazing management. Grass species differ in their competitiveness with legumes. It is slow to establish but spreads to form a dense sod. Hay quality can vary greatly, depending on growing conditions (wet or dry weather, hot or cool). Orchardgrass develops earlier and is much more aggressive than timothy or bromegrass. The quality of the hay needed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves, or dairy cattle. Meadow fescue yields well during the summer and fall and maintain its feed quality later into the season than most grass species. Alfalfa (/ æ l ˈ f æ l f ə /), also called lucerne and called Medicago sativa in binomial nomenclature, is a perennial flowering plant in the legume family Fabaceae.It is cultivated as an important forage crop in many countries around the world. The digestibility, palatability and nutrient value is highest  when the plant is young—with more leaves and less stems. Proper soil fertility and pH, along with well-drained soils, are critical for high forage yields and long-lived stands. Tall fescue is a coarse, leafy grass that is useful in long-term pastures and erosion control. h . White clover is used mainly in pastures. Some of these native grasses, when cut before seed heads mature, are very palatable and high enough in protein content for calves and lactating cows, without having to add a supplemental protein source. Hay samples can be tested; core samples from several bales can be sent to a hay testing lab for analysis. If feeding cereal grain hay (cut while still green and growing, rather than at maturity, as straw), be careful with this type of hay, and have it checked for nitrate levels, to avoid nitrate poisoning. Usually the protein range for Alfalfa is 16% to 18% . Smooth bromegrass is palatable and tends to retain its nutritional value with increasing maturity better than most grasses. You should also open a few bales and look at the hay inside, to check texture, maturity, color and leafiness. It is easy to establish in early spring or late summer and is adapted to heavier soils and variable drainage. I’ve been slightly droughty, and on my third rotation through the pastures, over 50% of the forage was clover from the spring seeding. Alfalfa hay can contain almost two times the protein and three times the calcium of grass hay. Legumes. Birdsfoot trefoil has a lower yield potential and is more difficult to dry than alfalfa, so it is recommended for hay production only in areas where alfalfa will not grow well. Rained-on hay that had to be redried will be dull in color—yellow or brown, rather than bright green. Adapted statewide. Alfalfa hay that has heated excessively may be brown and “caramelized,” smelling sweet or a little bit like molasses. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Other factors that affect nutritional value include plant species, fertility of soil, harvesting methods (whether the hay was crimped and conditioned to dry faster, losing less leaves and nutrients during drying) and curing time. The hay will be more nutrient dense and digestible (with less woody lignin), than if the stems snap like twigs. The bottom layer of bales may also be moldy if the stack sat on ground that draws moisture. It does not do well in hot climates, however. These plants can provide a highly digestible, high-protein diet. The protein and energy levels of alfalfa-based forage are determined by stage of growth at the time of cutting. It produces more protein per unit area than other forage legumes and can be grown alone or in combination with various grass species. Although individual plants live for only a few years, stands of birdsfoot trefoil have remained productive for 10 or more years when allowed to go to seed. It will reseed itself, making it an excellent choice for steep or stony land not suitable for cultivating. If harvested properly, this makes good hay, especially when it is grown with peas (a legume). Alfalfa cut at full bloom drops to 15.5 percent crude protein, compared to 6.9 percent for late bloom timothy and 7.6 percent for late bloom orchard grass. It d… Single-cut does not flower in the seeding year or after the first cut in succeeding years. Temperate legumes include clovers, medics, peas, vetch and alfalfa. 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