Publication Date
1993
Description
Alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) does not persist under continuous stocking with grazing animals. The creeping-rooted cultivars developed in the past were low yielding and varied in grazing persistence. The method and results of a breeding effort to develop and test high yielding, grazing-tolerant alfalfa cultivars are reported here. Replicated small plots within grazing paddocks subjected to intensive,continuous stocking with beef cattle (Bos indicus) over 2 years were used for selection and testing. This procedure was successful in producing the Alfagraze cultivar; and when used to test for grazing persistence among available cultivars, Alfagraze was consistently the most grazing tolerant in terms of plant survival, yet also possessed high yield and for 3 years averaged animal gains of 430 kg gain/ha (0.64 kg/day) at high grazing pressure. Populations selected for tolerance from among existing cultivars using the same selection procedures were found to be more grazing tolerant than their original cultivars, but showed increased resistance to diseases in only a few cases. Developing grazing-tolerant alfalfa cultivars, therefore, requires time and grazing animals during selection and testing
Citation
Bouton, J H.; Smith, S R. Jr; Hoveland, C S.; and McCann, M A., "Evaluation of Grazing-Tolerant Alfalfa Cultivars" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1993-2023). 43.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/1993/session12/43
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Evaluation of Grazing-Tolerant Alfalfa Cultivars
Alfalfa (Medicago saliva L.) does not persist under continuous stocking with grazing animals. The creeping-rooted cultivars developed in the past were low yielding and varied in grazing persistence. The method and results of a breeding effort to develop and test high yielding, grazing-tolerant alfalfa cultivars are reported here. Replicated small plots within grazing paddocks subjected to intensive,continuous stocking with beef cattle (Bos indicus) over 2 years were used for selection and testing. This procedure was successful in producing the Alfagraze cultivar; and when used to test for grazing persistence among available cultivars, Alfagraze was consistently the most grazing tolerant in terms of plant survival, yet also possessed high yield and for 3 years averaged animal gains of 430 kg gain/ha (0.64 kg/day) at high grazing pressure. Populations selected for tolerance from among existing cultivars using the same selection procedures were found to be more grazing tolerant than their original cultivars, but showed increased resistance to diseases in only a few cases. Developing grazing-tolerant alfalfa cultivars, therefore, requires time and grazing animals during selection and testing
