Evaluation of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) for Creating Sustainable Grazing Swards in Hokkaido

Evaluation of Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) for Creating Sustainable Grazing Swards in Hokkaido

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) is generally considered to be a weed in the meadows of Hokkaido. However, a revaluation of this species should be undertaken in terms of its useful characteristics for labor-saving management on farms in marginal areas. The performance of steers (Holstein-Friesian) and botanical composition of Kentucky bluegrass swards were investigated under the stocking methods of set and rotational grazing and compared with timothy (Phleum pratense L.) swards. Kentucky bluegrass was stable over the grazing season under both methods, although timothy decreased rapidly. The average daily gain of steers raised on Kentucky bluegrass swards was lower than that on timothy swards. In Kentucky bluegrass swards, however, a well-regulated number of steers under set grazing can maintain as high an animal performance rate as that under rotational grazing. Kentucky bluegrass was considered to be useful for beef production under labor-saving grazing management.