Bob WoodsArea Extension Agronomy Specialist

Northeast Oklahoma

Complementary Forages in a Stocker System

Complementary Forages

Introduced to complement native

range

Increased Carrying Capacity Improved Forage Quality

Lengthened Grazing SeasonHeavy Traffic Tolerance

Hay Production

Complementary Forages

You can double your stocking rate with 10% of your acreage in introduced forages – Dr. Wilfred McMurphy

9 acres native range with a harvestable yield of 1280 pounds per acre = 11,500 pounds

1 acre bermudagrass fertilized with 300 pounds of N per acre = 12,000 pounds

Bermudagrass Yield Trial Summary -

Variety

OzarkMidland 99Tifton 44Wrangler (S)

ERS/Haskell, OK2000-02

7.317.776.986.15

100 lbs. N applied 3 times

Web Soil Survey

Complementary ForagesWarm Season Perennials –

bermudagrassCool Season Perennials – fescueCool Season Annuals – wheat, rye,

ryegrass(?)Legumes – Red Clover, Arrowleaf

Clover, Ladino Clover, Hairy vetch, Alfalfa, Lespedeza

Warm Season Annuals – crabgrass, sorghum types

OSU Cooperative Extension

Soil Probe

Get a Useful Sample

Clean Bucket

Right Depth (plow layer or 6 inches

15-20 cores

NE Oklahoma Fertilizer Prices

11/14/06N - 34¢

P2O5 - 22¢K2O - 22¢

1/9/09N - 42¢

P2O5 - 30¢K2O - 68¢

1/9/0946-0-0 $38618-46-0 $4280-0-60 $813

$/lb

.

Increased Carrying CapacityHay production

Bermudagrass – Complementary Uses

Bermudagrass Yield Response to Precipitation

02468

101214

0 200 400 600 800 1000

Nitrogen rate (lb/acre)

Yie

ld (t

ons/

acre

)

Wet year Dry year

Burton and Hanna, 1995

Split N Effects on Bermudagrass Yield ERS, Haskell, OK

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Dry

Mat

ter,

T/A

100

+ 1

00

200

100

+ 1

00

100

+ 1

00

200

200

19791978 1980

200

+ 2

0040

0

N Fertilizer Applications(1971-2000) Rainfall for Osage County

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Warm Season Grass

•P and K annually according to soil test recommendation•50 lbs N per ton of forage based on yield goal

Forage Yield

Nutritive Value

High

Low

Stage of Maturity

Effect of Stage of Maturity on Yield and Forage Quality of Bermudagrass

Bermudagrass 4 Weeks

Multiple Harvests

Effect of Nitrogen Fertility and Maturity on Crude Protein in Bermudagrass Lbs. of N/A

O

50

100

Stage of Maturity

4 weeks6 weeks8 weeks

4 weeks6 weeks8 weeks

4 weeks6 weeks8 weeks

Estimated CP %

765

975

1297

Bermudagrass Grazing Study, Perkins - 1985 - 87

Variety

HardieMidlandGuymon

ADG

1.631.461.56

Steer Daysper acre324292269

Gain/Acre

529422418

1985 May 6 to Sept. 23140 days535 in wt.

1986May 1 to Aug. 21112 days507 in wt.

1987May 15 to Oct. 2140 days545 in wt.

124 crossbred heifers – 485 lb. Avg.46 acres2.7 hd./A – 1350 lbs/A75 lbs N/A (P&K) April 20, 92 lbs N/A

June 24 Grazed April 10 to August 16 (128 days)Mowed late May and Early July (baled

excess)

2 pasture rotation on bermudagrass – 1982Mayes County

1982 Mayes Co. Grazing Demonstration Performance

1.4 ADG475 lbs. Beef/A

Native$60/Stocker

Bermudagrass½ A/Stocker = $62/hdRent $20/A150 lbs N, $66/A40 lbs P2O5, $11.60/A40 lbs K2O, $26.80/A

Fescue

Cool Season Perennial Grass TrialERS

Planted 1996Picture Taken Spring 2000

N Fertilizer Applications(1971-2000) Rainfall for Osage County

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Cool Season Grass

•P and K annually according to soil test recommendation•60 lbs N per ton of forage based on yield goal

Cool Season Grass

Fall Fertilized Fescue 2001

CherokeeCraigDelawareMayesMuskogeeNowataOkfuskeeOttawaWagonerWashington

Unfert.Lbs/A8651108778885111765913291382885723

FertilizedLbs/A3803217421112281320124193733452054801574

IncreaseLbs/A293810671333139620841760240431384596851

02468

1012141618

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

ControlFert + grazeFert + stockpile

Treatment effect on tall fescue crudeTreatment effect on tall fescue crudeprotein level in northeast Oklahoma,protein level in northeast Oklahoma,

1994-951994-95

Cru

de P

rote

in le

vel (

%)

Cru

de P

rote

in le

vel (

%)

Lactating cow

GrowingSteer

DryCow

Treatment effect on tall fescue TDN levelTreatment effect on tall fescue TDN levelin northeast Oklahoma, 1994-95in northeast Oklahoma, 1994-95

TDN

leve

l (%

)TD

N le

vel (

%)

Lactating cow

Dry cow

52

54

56

58

60

62

64

Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul

ControlFert + grazeFert + stockpile

Growing Steer

Effects of white clover on steer growth performance in toxic endophyte-infected tall fescue pastures

Toxic E+ Tall Fescue E- Tall FescueForage Clover

%Steer ADG,

lbClover

%Steer ADG,

lbGrass alone 0 0.79 0 2.03Grass + Regal White Clover

5 to 7 1.47 0 to 2 1.96

Grass + Durana white clover

35 to 54

2.55 35 to 53

3.21Source: J. H. Bouton. 2002. 29th Annual Conference Proceedings. Arkansas Forage and Grassland Council.

Stocker cattle average daily gains grazing tall fescueStudy Location and Duration Cattle

Tall Fescue Cultivar

Endophyte Status

Average Daily Gain,

lbFayetteville, AR; 2-year study

Steers HiMag 4 (ArkPlus) 1.43Endophyte-free 1.55

Kentucky-31

Toxic endophyte-infected

0.93

Eatonton, GA (Central Georgia Branch Station); 3-year study

Hereford Steers

Jesup (MaxQ™) 1.72Endophyte-free 2.14Toxic endophyte-infected

0.68

Legumes are not a free fertilizer option!

P, K, pH – According to Soil Test

3 Tons/A contribution that did not require N

Legume ManagementResidue Management – 2 inches or less in

late summer or fall.Follow soil test recommendationDrill to establish if possiblePlant cool season legumes in late summer or

early fall, lespedeza in late winter or early spring

Innoculate the seed

Small Grains Planting Dates

Picture taken 11/30/99

9/10/99

10/21/99 9/23/99

11/4/99

10/7/99

First planting was clipped 10/27/99 removing 1,880 lb/a of forage

Sod Seeded Small Grains for Fall Grazing??

Count on spring grazing ONLYPerennial grasses too competitive

earlyDry soil profile

Insufficient time for fall growth

Consider a Legume instead of Ryegrass

Save spring N topdressavoid ryegrass as a weed in wheat for

grainSame growing seasonEqual or better forage nutritive valueRed clover, Arrowleaf clover, hairy vetch

N Fertilizer Applications(1971-2000) Rainfall for Osage County

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Cool Season Grass

Warm Season Grass

•P and K annually according to soil test recommendation•50 lbs N per ton of forage based on yield goal

Cool Season Grass

Complementary ForagesJan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Cool-season Grass

Cool-season legumes

Bermudagrass

Native Range

Native Range