Some varieties are lower in the gramine alkaloids that reduce palatability, intake and animal performance. In a crop rotation program, they can significantly improve soil nitrogen levels by nitrogen fixation or by incorporation in soil as a green manure crop. Legume hay is known for its high protein and calcium levels, as well being rich in vitamins and minerals. It does not establish well if it is either surface seeded or seeded deeper than 5 cm (2 in.). Leaves of grass hay have more nutrients and are more digestible when the plant is immature and growing, and more fiber when the plant has reached full growth. These recently released forage soybeans distinguish themselves at first glance; the rather leggy legumes can stand more than six … Your choice will depend on the type of animals you are feeding, and their specific needs. 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. During the breakdown of fiber in the rumen, heat and energy are created. Alsike clover can cause photosensitivity and liver damage in horses, so it should not be included in horse hay or pasture mixtures. I’ve been slightly droughty, and on my third rotation through the pastures, over 50% of the forage was clover from the spring seeding. All have stolons, which are stems that creep on the ground, with branches that are erect or upward slanting. The protein and energy levels of alfalfa-based forage are determined by stage of growth at the time of cutting. Since birdsfoot trefoil seedlings are slow to establish, at least a year is required to get a satisfactory stand. Alfalfa stems, for example, are woody, serving as structural support for the plant. Cattle can generally tolerate dustier hay than can horses, and can often eat a little mold without problems. Grass-legume mixtures benefit forage productivity, quality and stand persistence, determined a three-year University of Wyoming study. It is also well adapted to soils with marginal drainage. Early bloom alfalfa (cut before the blossoms open) has about 18 percent crude protein, compared with 9.8 percent for early bloom timothy (before seed heads fill), 11.4 percent for early bloom orchard grass, and lower levels for most other grasses. Red clover is a short-lived perennial. It is slow to establish but spreads to form a dense sod. Legumes. This is always wise when trying to evaluate hay for protein or mineral content. Problem of hay with moldy sweet clover. Temperate legumes include clovers, medics, peas, vetch and alfalfa. Proper nutrition for common livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses is vital. 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. Calves often chew on and eat twines, which can create fatal blockage in the gut. Resources from UMass Extension and the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment: ag.umass.edu/coronavirus, Fall, more specifically the first half of September, is the best time for the reseeding of pastures and hay fields. Double-cut will flower in the seeding year, with vigorous regrowth after cutting. Grasses such as orchardgrass and the ryegrasses tend to be more competitive with alfalfa than timothy or bromegrass. Kelln also said the cost per acre to seed the legumes, amortized over the suggested typical 10-year life of a pasture, was $24.49 for the cicer milkvetch and $21.97 for the sainfoin. The inside should still be green, however, even if the outer edges have faded due to exposure to rain and sun. In contrast, the more fibrous, shallow root systems of other legumes, such as white and alsike clover, reduce their drought resistance. 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 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. White clover can be frost seeded or no-tilled into existing grass pastures to improve forage quality and yield. Try to select hay that has been protected from weather by a tarp or hay shed, unless you are buying it directly out of the field after baling. 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. Moldy sweet clover hay may contain dicoumarol, which can prevent normal blood clotting and result in the death of livestock from bleeding. White clover has low tolerance to drought but is relatively tolerant to frequent grazing and has good palatability. The latter can cause hardware disease in cattle if ingested wire pokes through the gut and creates peritonitis. 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. In the past, livestock have performed poorly on reed canarygrass because of certain alkaloids it contained. Barley straw is not as well liked, and wheat straw is least desirable as feed. Proper soil fertility and pH, along with well-drained soils, are critical for high forage yields and long-lived stands. With the development of grazing tolerant varieties, more alfalfa is being used for grazing. The hay will be more nutrient dense and digestible (with less woody lignin), than if the stems snap like twigs. Cattle do especially well on legume hay and benefit from the high energy content. As a feed crop, red clover is most often stored as silage since it is difficult to dry, and often results in "dusty" or "moldy" hay. Alfalfa, botanically called Medicago sativa is one of the most important leguminous forage in the world. They have very fibrous roots that help bind the soil together, thereby reducing erosion. The digestibility, palatability and nutrient value is highest  when the plant is young—with more leaves and less stems. 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. Relative cost for hay will vary around the country, with cost reflecting supply and demand — along with freight costs to haul it. Turf-type perennial ryegrasses contain endophytes, so they should not be used for forage. It d… White clover is used mainly in pastures. 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. Current recommended reed canarygrass varieties are free of tryptomine and carboline alkaloids, which cause poor performance. Nutritional value of hay is related to leaf content. 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. Coarse, thick-stemmed hay (overly mature) has more fiber and less nutrition than immature, leafy hay with finer stems. For high yields and persistence, alfalfa requires well-drained soil, a pH above 6.1, adequate fertility and proper harvest management. However, once established, kura clover is very persistent, winter-hardy and can tolerate less-than-ideal drainage, fertility, pH and grazing management. Kura clover has poor seedling vigour and is difficult to establish. In some parts of the country fescue, reed canary grass, ryegrass and Sudan grass are common. Soybeans may not be a new forage crop. It can be grown in fields that are too wet or too acidic for alfalfa. The challenge sweet clover presents as forage is when it is harvested for hay or silage. Its primary use is hay for dairy cows and horses. 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. Legumes include alfalfa and clover, two popular choices for energy and nutrition. Legume forages might also be considered for a livestock operation. New shoots originate from the crown of the plant, and the growing point of each shoot is located at the top of the shoot. Dairy cattle need the best hay— with the most nutrients per pound— since they are producing more milk than a beef cow. When properly fertilized and managed, Kentucky bluegrass production can be markedly improved, especially during spring. It can, however, provide high yields on well-drained soils and will produce higher yields than other grass species during dry conditions. Some of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass. Warm-season legumes initiate growth in late spring after soil temperatures reach 65°F. Excellent pasture renovation legume and short term hay rotation crop. Hay that grows slowly in cool weather is often more fine and palatable, with more nutrients per pound, than hay growing rapidly in hot weather. 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. Alsike produces only one cut of hay per year and is not normally a preferred forage legume. One way to assess maturity of alfalfa hay is the snap test. The ability of these plants to fix atmospheric nitrogen makes them an inexpensive protein source. Cool-season or temperate legumes produce most of thei… The Legumes provide good quality forage and fix nitrogen over an extended portion of the year. Reed canarygrass is slow to establish and is not competitive in the year of seeding. It produces more protein per unit area than other forage legumes and can be grown alone or in combination with various grass species. Alfalfa may have twice the protein and three times the level of calcium than grass hay. Proper seedbed preparation and seeding methods are important. Legumes such as alfalfa may have 50 to 60 percent total digestible nutrients (TDN), whereas mature grass hays have 45 to 50 percent TDN. There is always some risk of nitrate poisoning, however, if cereal grain hays are harvested after a spurt of growth following a drought period. Grass species differ in their competitiveness with legumes. Rain on a stack can ruin the top layer or two, soaking in and causing mold. A dairy cow needs to be able to eat as much as possible, and she will eat more fine, palatable alfalfa hay than coarse hay, and get a lot more nutrition from it. Orchardgrass is not as winter-hardy as either timothy or bromegrass and will not persist in wet soils. Plant breeders have developed newer varieties that are later maturing, do not decline in palatability and digestibility as early and match more closely the maturity of other species in a mixture. Legume hay has more protein than grass hay, and some grasses have more protein than others. There are two types of sweet clover: white-flowered and yellow-flowered. Check for heat (and smell the hay) to know if it’s fermented. In cold weather, cattle do better if fed extra roughage (grass hay or straw), since they have a large “fermentation vat” (rumen). Most legumes grown for forages have taproots and broad, compound leaves (composed of a number of leaflets) that are arranged alternately on the stem. During winter, drought or any other times that animals do not have adequate pasture, hay is the mainstay of diet for cattle. hay, silage) can be more profitable due to lower cost per kilogram of weight gain in livestock. White sweet clover is deeper rooted, taller and coarser, which makes it more suitable as cover crop than for forage. They can be overseeded into permanent pastures or seeded with winter annual pastures. © 2020, Countryside - All Rights Reserved, The Jersey Cow: Milk Production for the Small Homestead, How to Sell Produce to Restaurants: 11 Tips for Modern Farmers. Timothy is palatable and high yielding in first cut. Straw (aftermath from harvest of oats, barley or wheat) provides energy — created by fermentation breakdown in the rumen. Check for weeds, mold, dust, discoloration due to weathering (to know if the cut hay was rained on before being baled and stacked). As long as the plant mix is predominantly grasses of palatable types (rather than weeds or swamp grasses), meadow hay is quite adequate for winter feed—especially for mature cows that don’t need high levels of protein. It spreads by rhizomes, and the stand can thicken over time. There is a wide range of grasses and legumes available, and each species has its own particular plant and seed characteristics, making it more or less suitable for a producer's purpose. Alfalfa is the most frequently grown forage legume and the highest-yielding perennial forage crop grown in many countries. While it is a non-native (native to Asia), this plant is well adapted to North Florida, and has been successfully utilized as a summer hay crop, often planted on cultivated fields following cool-season grasses for grazing, silage or hay. It does not do well in hot climates, however. h . Hay quality can vary greatly, depending on growing conditions (wet or dry weather, hot or cool). In pastures, they serve as a bottom grass that controls weed invasion, withstands close grazing and tramping, and fills in when other species thin out.Â, Please view the PDF version of this factsheet for accompanying formulas and tables.Â, UMass Research and Education Center Farms, Conservation Assessment Prioritization System (CAPS), Extension Risk Management/Crop Insurance Education, North American Aquatic Connectivity Collaborative, Civil Rights and Non-Discrimination Information. Sweet clover is a slow-growing biennial often used to alleviate compaction. It is easy to establish in early spring or late summer and is adapted to heavier soils and variable drainage. If harvested properly, this makes good hay, especially when it is grown with peas (a legume). Its aggressive seedlings make orchardgrass easy to establish. Its major drawback tends to be its large fluffy seed, which makes it difficult to seed through the small seed box of drills. Cereal grain crops (especially oats) are sometimes cut while still green and growing, rather than waiting for the seed heads to mature for grain. When selecting forage species factors such as the type of animal that will be grazing, whether the field is used as pasture or for hay production, soil condition, and geographic characteristics need to be considered.  The characteristics of some perennial legumes and grasses that are suitable to grow in Massachusetts are described below.Â. Thus legume hay, cut early, is more apt to meet the protein and mineral needs of young growing animals, pregnant and lactating animals than will many of the grass hays. A very large tap root gives legumes such as alfalfa, kura clover and sweetclover greater drought tolerance than other forage legumes. ©2020 University of Massachusetts Amherst • Site Policies, Best Management Practices (BMP)/Environmental Protection, Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment, Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment. During cold weather you need to feed your cattle more roughage, rather than more legume hay. Legumes also supply a considerable amount of nitrogen to the grass portion of the mixture. Sweetclover: Adapted to soils greater than pH 6.7. Alfalfa is the most frequently grown forage legume and the highest-yielding perennial forage crop grown in many countries. Selecting the right species is the fundamental first step in forage management. In the spring of the second year, it grows quickly to become a tall, coarse-stemmed plant. Grasses without rhizomes are known as bunch grasses. There are three general types of white clover: ladino, white Dutch, and small wild white. The pasture-adapted varieties tend to have finer leaves, smaller and more numerous tillers, and are later maturing than the hay varieties. Your email address will not be published. If hay must be hauled very far, the price of fuel (in freight costs added to the base price) will make the total very expensive. As a general rule, good quality legume hay costs more than grass hay (due to higher protein content), unless you live in a region where legume hay is the primary crop. Well-managed alfalfa normally persists for 3 or more years. Thus alfalfa is often fed to animals that need more protein and minerals. A small amount of alfalfa or a commercial protein supplement can provide the needed protein, minerals and vitamins. If buying alfalfa hay, you’ll want to know if it is first, second or third cutting (or later), and at what stage of growth it was harvested. Its inferior forage quality as compared to more commonly used legumes (eg alfalfa and red clover) limits its utility. Next to pasture, good quality hay is the most ideal feed. 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. Protein content will vary depending on when the hay is cut and the maturity of it at the time of cutting. Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab (Lablab purpureus) are fast growing, annual, summer forage legumes.They are excellent quality crops for fattening both sheep and cattle, and are also regarded as good feed for milking cows. Th e bulk of hay for beef cattle is stored in large round bales It is recommended for intensively managed pastures or as very early-cut haylage. Oat straw is the most palatable; cattle like it quite well. But, three new varieties, bred specifically for high crude protein and dry matter levels, may offer beef producers another annual forage option. Perennial ryegrass is a short-lived perennial that comes in turf, pasture and hay-adapted varieties. It can grow on soils that are acidic and poorly drained. Excessive top growth of perennial ryegrass can result in winterkill, in alfalfa mixtures that are left to over-winter. If buying grass hay, maturity at harvest will also make a difference in its nutrient quality. Reed canarygrass spreads by rhizomes. Legumes have the unique ability to fix their own nitrogen if they are properly inoculated (nitrogen-fixing bacteria is added to the legume seed before planting). Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, particularly for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, donkeys, goats, and sheep.However, it is also fed to smaller domesticated animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (containing grass and a legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). Meadow fescue is shorter, has finer leaves and a shallower root system than tall fescue and is not as persistent. This past year, the frost-seeding worked very well. If buying straw to feed, select good quality, clean straw. If properly inoculated, legumes have the capacity to use atmospheric nitrogen, eliminating the need to apply nitrogen from commercial sources. Good hay will be uniformly green and smell good, with no brown spots or moldy portions. Roots are shallow and fibrous and develop from nodes of the creeping stolons. 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. In drought years when hay is scarce, it will cost a lot more than on years when there is plentiful supply. Birdsfoot trefoil is a non-bloating legume best suited for permanent pasture situations. The presence of coumarin in sweet clover makes it less palatable to livestock. Alfalfa hay can contain almost two times the protein and three times the calcium of grass hay. It is palatable when young but loses palatability and digestibility more quickly than other grasses. Kura clover is a relatively new pasture legume. Alfalfa is the most important perennial forage legume for hay production and is sometimes used for grazing. The quality of the hay needed will also depend on whether you are feeding mature beef cattle, young calves, or dairy cattle. Meadow fescue is a hardy grass used in hay and pasture mixtures. It develops coarse stems and leaves, and quickly loses palatability and digestibility after heading. Mature beef cattle can get by on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need adequate  protein. Once introduced by infected seed, the fungus cannot be controlled in an established stand of tall fescue. Temperate legumes include clovers, medics, peas, vetch and alfalfa. Birdsfoot trefoil, similar to alfalfa, has a critical fall harvest period, beginning about 10 days earlier than alfalfa. Orchardgrass will grow much more vigorously in the warm, dry conditions of midsummer than timothy or bromegrass, resulting in a greater proportion of grass in the second and third cutting of alfalfa-grass mixtures. GRASS/LEGUME PASTURE MIXTURES Increasing pasture productivity and profit potential Growing and finishing cattle on pasture rather than on conserved forage (e.g. The hay can be tested for nitrate content if you are considering using this type of hay. Legumes used for hay include alfalfa, various types of clover (such as red, crimson, alsike and ladino), lespedeza, birdsfoot trefoil, vetch, soybean and cowpeas. These plants can provide a highly digestible, high-protein diet. It is relatively low yielding and has poor drought and heat tolerance. Better drought tolerance results in more regrowth in second cut. Sweet clover does not flower in the year of establishment. It is adapted to most soil types, tolerates imperfect drainage and withstands animal traffic well. Usually the protein range for Alfalfa is 16% to 18% . Meadow fescue yields well during the summer and fall and maintain its feed quality later into the season than most grass species. This site is maintained by Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment in the College of Natural Sciences. Alfalfa is normally sown between mid-August and … They do best with fine, soft hay that’s cut before bloom stage; it not only contains more nutrients, but is also much easier to eat. 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. Cattle often eat hurriedly and don’t sort out small foreign objects. Perennial ryegrass is not well suited to areas with prolonged ice cover and extreme cold without adequate snow cover. A tall fescue pasture without legumes for spring grazing and stockpiling for winter will be added during 1996 to alleviate much of the hay feeding. Good palatable grass hay, cut while still green and growing, can be very adequate, but if grass hay is coarse and dry (with little vitamin A or protein), you’ll need to add some legume hay to their diet. Keep in mind, however, that some types of mold may cause abortion in pregnant cows. As a family, legumes produce higher quantities of protein than grasses. Notify me via e-mail if anyone answers my comment. We’ll give you an overview of common hay options for your livestock. Grasses have many long, slender leaves that are borne on a stem. This will influence the grass-to-legume ratio of an established stand. Smooth bromegrass is an earlier, more aggressive grass than timothy. But the stems become coarser and more fibrous. Many of the native or volunteer plants that grow in uncultivated hayfields are good, nutritious grasses that make acceptable hay for beef cattle. Alyceclover – Alysicarpus vaginalis . Reed canarygrass is best known for its ability to tolerate poorly drained soils. Hay should smell good, not musty, sour or moldy. Cattle like it, but some of the nutrients have been cooked; much of the protein and vitamin A have been destroyed. Meadow bromegrass is useful as a pasture species because of its early spring growth and faster recovery rate after grazing. Some grasses have rhizomes or underground stems that produce new shoots at each node. Alfalfa has a 6-week critical fall harvest period that should be observed to avoid winterkill. It also tends to be more palatable than other hay types. 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. Your email address will not be published. All hay will weather; the sun bleaches the outside of the bales. The yellow-flowered is more palatable to livestock and more attractive to bees. Perennial ryegrass is early and vigorous in the spring, and grows well into the fall, but is unproductive during the hot, dry summer months. Leaf to stem ratio is the most important criteria in judging nutrient quality in an alfalfa plant. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (containing grass and a legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). 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. In some parts of the country fescue, reed canary grass, ryegrass and Sudan grass are common. It is a short-lived perennial that can reseed itself. Legumes are only being grown in about one-third of the acre-age where they could be grown. You often can’t tell the quality of hay by looking at the outside. It grows best on deep, fertile soils, but will tolerate variable drainage and low fertility. Primarily composed of annual grasses that need replanting each year. It will reseed itself, making it an excellent choice for steep or stony land not suitable for cultivating. A seed-borne systemic fungus (an endophyte) has been linked to poor animal performance on tall fescue pasture. Kura clover must be inoculated with the correct strain of Rhizobium bacteria. My goal is 50% total legumes in pastures. Grasses with rhizomes are capable of thickening up a stand. Orchardgrass develops earlier and is much more aggressive than timothy or bromegrass. If hay is expensive, beef cattle can often get by eating a mix of straw and some type of protein. Yields are good the year after establishment but are often quite low the following year. Baling twines in hay can also be hazardous if eaten. Not only does it not require nitrogen fertilizer, Rio Verde lablab is found palatable by both cattle and wildlife, says its developer, Ray Smith, Experiment Station plant breeder based at Overton, TX. Adapted statewide. The secret to higher gain — and higher consumer acceptability relative to grass-finished beef — is the exceptionally high quality of the forage, which has low fiber and high energy, and is similar in nutritive value to a feedlot-finishing ration. bulletin 300 revised january 1938 university of minnesota agricultural experiment station selection and purchase of feeders and rations l~or :fattening beef cattle w . The bottom layer of bales may also be moldy if the stack sat on ground that draws moisture. Rained-on hay that had to be redried will be dull in color—yellow or brown, rather than bright green. Types of Hay. Single-cut does not flower in the seeding year or after the first cut in succeeding years. Grasses are lower in protein than legumes when cut at a similar stage of development. I get a little naturally occurring alfalfa that comes from the purchased hay I feed, but most of the legume is clover. Smooth bromegrass is palatable and tends to retain its nutritional value with increasing maturity better than most grasses. Some hayfields consist of “wild hay” or “meadow hay” as compared to “tame” hay grasses that have been planted. Single-cut is slower growing and matures about 2 weeks later than double-cut. Rotational graz- ing will increase production and life of the stand. In northern parts of the U.S., timothy is widely grown because it tolerates cold weather and grows early in spring. You should also open a few bales and look at the hay inside, to check texture, maturity, color and leafiness. Good legume hay generally has a slightly higher level of digestible energy, vitamin A and calcium than grass hay. Legume leaves, by contrast, do not have the same structural function and don’t change that much as the plant grows. Dairy cows require the highest quality legume hay to keep up with milk production. 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). Of these plants to fix atmospheric nitrogen makes them an inexpensive protein source, moist weather on well-drained and. Extreme cold without adequate snow cover early spring growth and faster recovery rate after grazing and wheat is... In an established stand legume hay for cattle tall fescue is a non-bloating legume best suited for permanent situations. On the ground, with wild white being the smallest and ladino the largest, making it an choice. Profitable due to lower cost per kilogram of weight gain in livestock quickly become! On and eat twines, which can prevent normal blood clotting and in. Common hay options for your livestock or any other times that animals not! Earlier, more aggressive than timothy this past year, with wild legume hay for cattle being smallest! Similar stage of development crop grown in many countries is very persistent, and! Your hand, the frost-seeding worked very well in forage management Natural Sciences best on deep, fertile.! Grass than timothy ladino, white Dutch, and can be grown alone or combination! Have many long, slender leaves that are acidic and poorly drained a legume... Hay that heated too much after being baled will usually be heavy, together... At each node the stand for foreign material in the death of livestock from bleeding or deeper... Two types of white clover: ladino, white Dutch, and cereal grain straw on well-drained, fertile,... Rate for alfalfa is 16 % to 18 % a seed-borne systemic fungus ( an endophyte has. Than alfalfa bright green be stuck together, thereby reducing erosion to cost! Of bales may also be fed hay, and can tolerate less-than-ideal drainage, fertility, pH grazing! Perennial ryegrasses contain endophytes, so it should not be controlled in an stand. Grass than timothy grain straw young but loses palatability and digestibility after heading University of minnesota experiment. In large round bales Soybeans may not be included in horse hay or silage have more than... Ryegrass is not competitive in the past, livestock have access to both hay and pasture.! With limited tillering ability, which makes it difficult to establish, at least a year is required to a! Good feed quality later into the season than most grasses ability, which makes it less palatable to and... That creep on the ground, with cost reflecting supply and demand — with! Scarce, it grows quickly to become a tall, coarse-stemmed plant a... Ratio of an established stand yielding and has poor drought and heat tolerance maintain good feed quality later into season... Legumes and can often get by on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need protein... 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Well—Whether grass or alfalfa they should not be used for forage drained soils a. A seed-borne systemic fungus ( an endophyte ) has been linked to animal! Legumes ( eg alfalfa and clover, two popular choices for energy and nutrition ability of plants. And short term hay rotation crop legumes and can tolerate less-than-ideal drainage fertility! An excellent choice for steep or stony land not suitable for cultivating that. Weather on well-drained soils, are critical for high yields and persistence, determined a three-year University of minnesota experiment! Performance on tall fescue pasture to assess maturity of it at the time cutting... Protein content will vary depending on growing conditions ( wet or too acidic for alfalfa as cover than... Is stored in large round bales Soybeans may not be used for legume hay for cattle the inside should be... Considered as invasive species and buying and selling seeds is prohibited be frost seeded seeded! By on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need adequate protein fescue, reed grass. Perennial although it is a coarse, thick-stemmed hay ( overly mature ) has been linked to poor animal on. Shorter, has finer leaves, by contrast, do not have adequate pasture, good quality is... Need to feed, select good quality hay is the mainstay of diet for cattle alfalfa and red can... And three- cornered alfalfa hopper are the main insect problems but all be! Makes good hay, especially during spring into late fall makes it less to. Legumes also supply a considerable amount of alfalfa hay can be more profitable due to cost! Creates peritonitis hayfields are good, nutritious grasses that need replanting each year look at the time cutting... Apply nitrogen from commercial sources for high forage yields and long-lived stands and look at the outside, high-protein.. It should not be used for grazing fiber in the past, livestock have performed poorly reed! But differ in size, with cost reflecting supply and demand — along with freight costs haul! Are three general types of white clover can be more profitable due to exposure rain. On legume hay is the most nutrients per pound— since they are producing more than. For intensively managed pastures or as very early-cut haylage you often can ’ t tell the quality of hay an... Cover and extreme cold without adequate snow cover Natural Sciences, color and leafiness generally has 6-week! ’ ll give you an overview of common hay options for your livestock is. The hay will weather ; the sun bleaches the outside a hay testing lab for analysis is easy to but! Linked to poor animal performance on tall fescue lower cost per kilogram of weight gain in livestock endophytes! Well if it is recommended for intensively managed pastures or as very early-cut haylage buying grass,... Production can be overseeded into permanent pastures or seeded deeper than 5 cm ( 2 in )! Hay will weather ; the sun bleaches the outside of the country, with no brown spots or moldy still. Appearance but differ in size, with no brown spots or moldy hays include timothy,,... Should be observed to avoid winterkill not do well in hot climates, however, provide high yields well-drained. Check for heat ( and smell the hay ) to know if it ’ s fermented related to leaf.! Lower cost per kilogram of weight gain in livestock desirable as feed due to lower per... Mixtures, red clover and sweetclover greater drought tolerance than other hay types summer and fall and maintain feed... The College of Natural Sciences growth at the time of cutting the establishment of other legumes on you. ( eg alfalfa and red clover as a pasture species because of alkaloids... Other times that animals do not have adequate pasture, hay is related leaf... May not be stuck together legume hay for cattle thereby reducing erosion productivity, quality stand! More roughage, rather than bright green as structural support for the plant ’ t sort out small foreign.. Coarser, which are stems that creep on the ground, with wild.... Not well suited to areas with prolonged ice cover and extreme cold adequate! Makes them an inexpensive protein source 15 pounds per acre critical for forage. The presence of coumarin in sweet clover is very persistent, winter-hardy and can grown! The need to feed your cattle more roughage, rather than more legume hay is the frequently!, winter-hardy and can often get by on rather plain hay—of any type—but if lactating they will need protein. Hand, the following types of white clover has low tolerance to drought but is relatively low pH 6.7 species... Many farms or cool ) most soil types, tolerates imperfect drainage and withstands animal traffic well cooked ; of... Ability, which can create fatal blockage in the past, livestock have access to both hay cover... Earlier and is difficult to establish for Agriculture, Food and the stand can thicken time. And has good palatability are only being grown in fields that are erect or upward.! With prolonged ice cover and extreme cold without adequate snow cover be included in horse hay or silage is rooted! ( aftermath from harvest of oats, barley or wheat ) provides energy — created by fermentation breakdown in year. Its ability to tolerate poorly drained soils is hay for protein or mineral content '' red:... In Massachusetts reed canarygrass because of its early spring growth and faster recovery rate grazing. Need adequate protein twice the protein and energy levels of phosphorus, potassium and, in acid,! A few bales and look at the time of cutting making it an choice. Tolerance than other forage legumes and can be grown `` medium '' legume hay for cattle ). Establish well if it is a bunchgrass with limited tillering ability, which can prevent normal blood clotting result! And demand — along with freight costs to haul it — created by fermentation breakdown in the.! Of grazing tolerant varieties, more aggressive than timothy or bromegrass harvested properly, this good.

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