Theme 2-2: Forage Production and Utilization--Poster Sessions

Description

Forages make up a large part of the feed requirements of beef cattle, and grazing remains the most economical form of feed delivery. However, several years after pasture establishment, forage productivity and longevity usually decline. Maintaining productive forage stands in the long term becomes a major challenge that beef producers face. A 3-yr on-farm study was conducted to determine the comparative effects of several pasture rejuvenation methods, such as spraying of herbicides to control weeds and brush, Spray herbicide + direct seed in spring (RSS), forage seeding methods, fertilizer application (FERT), and pasture rest as well as aeration/spiking in fall (AF) and aeration/spiking in spring (AS) on forage dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality. Breaking & reseeding (B&R), which is a grassland renovation method, was compared to these four pasture rejuvenation methods. A no treatment method (control) was included for comparison. Three years after treatments were implemented, pasture rejuvenation methods did significantly affect (P< 0.05) grass botanical composition but did not significantly influence (P> 0.05) total DM yield and legume botanical composition. The only method that involved land cultivation and reseeding (B&R) showed higher total input costs than other methods. Overall, RSS as well as AS, AF and FERT had greater 2-year total forage production, revenue and returns, and profit over control than the other treatment methods.

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Improving Pasture Productivity and Persistence by Renovating or Rejuvenating

Forages make up a large part of the feed requirements of beef cattle, and grazing remains the most economical form of feed delivery. However, several years after pasture establishment, forage productivity and longevity usually decline. Maintaining productive forage stands in the long term becomes a major challenge that beef producers face. A 3-yr on-farm study was conducted to determine the comparative effects of several pasture rejuvenation methods, such as spraying of herbicides to control weeds and brush, Spray herbicide + direct seed in spring (RSS), forage seeding methods, fertilizer application (FERT), and pasture rest as well as aeration/spiking in fall (AF) and aeration/spiking in spring (AS) on forage dry matter (DM) yield and forage quality. Breaking & reseeding (B&R), which is a grassland renovation method, was compared to these four pasture rejuvenation methods. A no treatment method (control) was included for comparison. Three years after treatments were implemented, pasture rejuvenation methods did significantly affect (P< 0.05) grass botanical composition but did not significantly influence (P> 0.05) total DM yield and legume botanical composition. The only method that involved land cultivation and reseeding (B&R) showed higher total input costs than other methods. Overall, RSS as well as AS, AF and FERT had greater 2-year total forage production, revenue and returns, and profit over control than the other treatment methods.