Forages

SCS-2006-05

Annual Winter Pastures for East Texas J. Vendramini, G.W. Evers, and L. Redmon Soil and Crop Sciences Department

Warm-season perennial grasses poorly drained soils. Ryegrass is Table 1. Three-year average (2001-02 dominate most of the pastures in very responsive to N fertilization to 2004-05) dry matter yield of annual ryegrass at Overton, East Texas, but climatic with the peak growth occurring TX (Nelson and Crowder, conditions allow for use of cool- during the spring. Ryegrass personal communication) season annual grasses and produces forage that is high in legumes, either overseeded or in nutritive value, and thus, Variety Yield (lb./ac) prepared seedbeds, in the fall for provides excellent animal Jumbo 7474 winter and spring grazing. performance. Ryegrass also Prine 7358 Reasons for use of cool-season tolerates close grazing, although Marshall 7126 annual forages include extending if repeatedly grazed too closely, the grazing period and improved growing animal performance will Ed 7067 animal performance due to their be reduced. When overseeded on Jackson 6744 high nutritive value. Although warm-season grasses, producers Brigadier 6570 cool-season annual forages can be must be prepared to utilize the TAM 90 6556 expensive to plant and grow, they rapid spring growth, otherwise it Passeral Plus 6552 can be a less costly substitute for will significantly delay the Gulf* 6375 energy and protein supplements subsequent warm-season grass WD-40 6256 purchased off the ranch. growth. Ribeye 6200 Annual fertilization 244 lbs./ac. of N, 131 lbs./ ac. of P O and 131 lbs. ac of K O. Species, Varieties and Pure stands of ryegrass should be 2 5 2 * 2 year average 2001-02 and 2002-03 Seeding Rates seeded from 25 to 30 lb/acre. There are several varieties of ryegrass adapted to East Texas. Small grains Ryegrass Small grains are usually mixed Annual ryegrass, a high-yielding, The 3-year average forage yield results of the ryegrass variety with annual ryegrass to improve nutritious grass, is the most late autumn and winter forage widely grown cool-season annual trial conducted at the Texas A&M Agricultural Research and production. Small grains are forage in the southern and more productive from late southeastern USA. It is adapted Extension Center-Overton TX are shown in Table 1. autumn to mid-February than to most soils and tolerant of wet, annual ryegrass. Small grains are high in nutritive value and provide good animal Assistant Professor, Forage Specialist - Overton; Regents Fellow and Professor - Overton; performance over their growing and Professor, State Forage Specialist - College Station season when grazing is managed primary growing area is central each clover species, the seed must to keep the small grains in the Texas and south Texas. The most be inoculated with the proper vegetative stage of growth. When planted varieties are Dallas, Rhizobia strain before planting. mixed with annual ryegrass, the Chapman, and Heavy Grazer 76- Pre-inoculated seed of most mixture provides the longest 30. legume species is available. The grazing season and the highest majority of N in legumes is level of forage production. Small Clovers transferred to the soil by unused grains provide the majority of the Cool-season legumes make most plant material that is returned to forage production from of their growth in the spring the soil and by grazing livestock November to February and when temperature and rainfall that return over 90% of the ryegrass will predominate from are favorable. Most of the consumed nutrients to the soil March to late May. Small grain legumes adapted to East Texas through the feces and urine. If the seeding rates used in East Texas are annual legumes and should clover crop is removed from the ranges from 90 to 100 lb/acre be reestablished from seed each pasture as hay, haylage, or silage, when planted in pure stands or fall. Some clovers such as the legume N contribution is mixed with annual ryegrass. arrowleaf, ball, rose, and white reduced. clover (a true perennial that acts Rye (cereal rye; Secale cereale L.) is like an annual in much of Texas) Because cool-season legumes are the most winter hardy of the produce a high percentage of more site-specific than grasses, small grains and is well adapted hard seed which allows them to producers must know their soil to sandy soils. Rye produces reseed if managed properly. Cool- type and select the best adapted grazable forage earlier after season legumes are high in legume species. Clover species seeding; however, it is also the nutritive value and when grazed grown in East Texas, their earliest maturing. The most by beef cattle provide excellent preferred soil requirements, widely planted rye varieties in animal performance. Cool-season plants characteristics, and East Texas are Maton, Oklon, legumes can be grown in recommended seeding rates are Elbon, and Bates. mixtures with annual ryegrass. shown in Table 2. The ryegrass provides earlier Wheat is similar to rye in forage grazing and decreases potential Planting Date and yield but somewhat less cold bloat caused by legumes. Establishment hardy and several weeks later in Mixtures of clovers and small maturity. Wheat is more adapted grains are not usually The general recommendation is to loam-clay soils and is used in recommended because the faster to overseed cool-season annual the northwest and north-central autumn growth of small grains forages from 4 to 6 weeks before part of the State. In addition, shades the clover seedlings and the average first killing frost. wheat is commonly used as a decreases clover stands and Cool-season grasses are planted dual purpose crop for both forage production. in East Texas from mid- and grain. Among the varieties September through October. planted in East Texas are Sisson, Clovers are an attractive option to Optimum planting date is early Roane, Pioneer 25R57, and decrease the production cost October but will vary with Pioneer 25R78. associated with N fertilization location and type of winter because legumes have the ability pastures. Correct timing for cool- Although oat will provide earlier to fix atmospheric N. Annual season annual forage fall grazing and more forage in clovers can contribute about 75- establishment cannot be over- warm weather than rye and 100 lbs N/acre for the subsequent emphasized. If planted too early, wheat, it is the least cold hardy of grass crop. They are, however, warm temperatures and the the small grains, and in some only able to fix N from the air if competitive nature of the warm- years stand loss from severe cold specific strains of Rhizobia season perennial grass sod can greatly reduces forage bacteria are present in nodules on result in stand failure; if seeded availability. Oat matures several their roots. To ensure that the best late, cool temperatures retard weeks later than wheat. The strain of Rhizobia is present for autumn yield. Table 2. Preferred soil characteristics and plant characteristics and seed rates for different clover species in East Texas

Preferred Soil Characteristics Plant Characteristics Seeding Clover Bloat Reseeding Cold rate Species pH Texture Drainage Maturity Potential Potential Tolerance (lb/ac) Arrowleaf 6.5-7.0 sandy, good late low high good 8-10 loam Ball 6.0-7.5 loam, fair medium high high good 2-3 clay Berseem 6.5-8.5 loam, poor medium low low poor 12-16 clay Crimson 6.0-7.0 sandy, good early medium low good 16-20 loam, clay Persian 6.0-8.0 loam, poor medium high medium fair 6-8 clay Red 6.5-8.0 loam, good late low low good 10-12 clay Rose 6.0-8.0 sand, good early- low high good 12-16 loam, medium clay White 6.0-7.5 loam, poor late high high good 3-4 clay Adapted from Evers (2005)

Overseeding cool-season forages economic importance because planted approximately 1/8 to 1/4 on a warm-season perennial grass winter forages will retard warm- inch deep. Ball and white clover sod has been an attractive option season grass growth. Another have very small seed and should for cow-calf producers in East practice to reduce the warm- be broadcast on the soil surface Texas. Overseeding cool-season season grass competition and and rolled. forages on warm-season grass provide earlier grazing is a light sods (bermudagrass, bahiagrass, disking about 1 to 2 inches deep When using a drill, small grains dallisgrass, etc.) provide firm on sandy soils. This practice and ryegrass should be placed in footing for livestock during wet provides some bare soil that different seed boxes, if possible, conditions and helps optimize the enhances seed-soil contact and to allow placing the seed at use of warm-season perennial sets the warm-season grass back, appropriate depths. If small grass pastures. Grazing of winter decreasing the warm-season grains are broadcasted on a forages overseeded on grass sods grass competition; however, disked sod, the area should be starts usually two to three months spring recovery will be slower lightly disked again to cover the later than that planted in a well than if the warm-season grass seed with approximately 1 to 1.5 prepared seedbed. The warm- was not disked. inches of soil. Ryegrass and most season grasses should be grazed of the small-seeded clovers can be short or removed as hay before Planting cool-season forages with broadcasted on the soil surface overseeding. Beginning with a a drill is usually better than followed by some type of drag to short sod in the establishment broadcasting. More of the seed is increase the contact between seed phase helps to minimize warm- placed at the proper depth. When and soil. Rolling a disked seedbed season perennial grass broadcasted, the seeding rates after planting is a recommended competition and allows seed to should be increased 25 to 30% to practice because it increases the more readily come in contact compensate for fewer seed seed-soil contact and moisture with bare soil. It is, however, becoming established plants. retention in the soil, resulting in generally not a good strategy to Small grains should be planted better seedling establishment. overseed hay meadows if a first from 1 to 1.5 inches deep, and harvest of spring grass hay is of ryegrass and clovers should be Fertilization Ammonium nitrate is the liveweight/acre during the preferred source of N fertilizer spring, gained 2.5 lb/d. Most The selection of planting site, soil over urea and ammonium sulfate winter pastures in East Texas are test, and liming should be done in in East Texas. Although urea is primarily used by cow-calf the spring before planting winter usually the most economical operations. A 7-year average of pastures in the fall. Small grains fertilizer per pound of N, there is clover-ryegrass and cow-calf and ryegrass grow well on soils greater N loss by volatilization responses to multiple stocking with pH from 6.0 to 6.5 but when applied to the soil surface. rates at TAMU-Overton TX clovers species differ in soil pH Ammonium sulfate is the least showed suckling, fall-born calves requirements (Table 2). desirable source of N fertilizer for average daily gain of 1.94, 2.75, Phosphorus and potash East Texas because it increases and 3.2 lbs/day respectively at fertilization for cool-season soil acidity two to three times that stocking rates of 2.13, 1.31, and forages should be based on soil of ammonium nitrate or urea. 0.82 cow-calf pairs (1500 lbs liveweight) per acre. test recommendation and Grazing fertilizer should be applied at planting or after emergence, In general, cool-season annual Cool-season annual pastures can except for phosphorus, which forages have high nutritive value be used as a source of protein for should be applied several weeks averaging 70-80% TDN and 20- beef cows. During the winter, ahead of the anticipated planting 25% CP, thereby meeting or cows can limit-graze winter date. exceeding the nutrient forages for 2 hours/day or 4 hours requirements of all classes of beef every other day and the Nitrogen fertilization of cattle. Although winter pastures remaining portion of the diet overseeded small grain-ryegrass provides forage that is high in should consist of hay. The grazing is usually split in three to four nutritive value, establishment time can be increased as forage applications of 50 to 60 lbs/acre and maintenance costs are growth increases and nutritive each. The initial N application relatively high. Therefore, winter value decreases in the spring. should be delayed until after the pastures containing small grains Supplementation of cool-season small grain-ryegrass is should be carefully used to forages with protein concentrates established and cool temperatures maximize the return on the is not recommended because of have reduced warm-season grass investment. While spring-calving the high crude protein growth, thus reducing N cows may only require the use of concentration of most cool-season utilization by warm-season ryegrass or clover systems, small species. Energy supplementation grasses. Additional N is applied grain winter pastures should of stocker calves usually results in about every 6 weeks. probably only be used in the case increased stocking rates with a of fall-calving cows or winter small increase in animal Clovers and clover-ryegrass stocker cattle programs. Also note performance. mixtures should not receive any that winter forage production N or only one N application to with small grains-ryegrass Budgeting for Winter enhance ryegrass production after pastures is about a third of the Pasture Establishment the first frost. If N is applied to a spring production; therefore, clover-ryegrass mixture, research stocking rates will likely have to An important part of the from the Overton Center suggests be adjusted according to forage planning for any agricultural that only 50-60 lbs of N should be availability. enterprise is to estimate costs of applied in late December or early production. Listing some major January. If additional N fertilizer Research done by TAMU- inputs should help show a is applied, the amount of N fixed Overton TX has shown that steers budget’s value in winter pasture from the air is decreased and grazing rye-ryegrass pastures at planning. The major items competition from ryegrass and/or stocking rates of 650 to 800 lbs involved in winter pastures cost weeds with the clover increased. liveweight/acre during the fall- are listed in Table 3. In general, N winter and 1500-2000 lbs fertilizer accounts for 45% of the small grains-ryegrass production Table 3. Estimated production costs breakdown for small grain ryegrass cost. On clover-ryegrass pastures, pastures establishment no N or a single application of Item Cost Cost ParticipationParticipation (%)(%) about 60 lb/ac applied in December results in lower input Cash expenses* costs. The clover-ryegrass system, Lime 5% however, has a shorter grazing N 45% season and is less productive than a small grain-ryegrass system but Phosphorus 5% should be less costly to fertilize. Potash 5%

References Seed 15%

Evers, G.W. 2005. A guide to Custom planting 10% overseeding warm-season Hired labor 5% perennial grasses with cool- season annuals. On line. Total cash expenses 85% Forage and Granzinland doi:

10.1094/FG-2004-06XX-01-MG. Interest on cash Evers, G.W., D.H. Bade, and S.A. Reeves, Jr. 1995. Annual Interest 10% winter pasture establishment, management, and utilization. Fixed Costs Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. MP-1769. Fences, Water tubs, etc 5%

Nelson, L., and J. Crowder. 2004. Total interest and FC 15% Oat forage yields at Overton *The rates of lime, phosphorus, and potash should follow soil test recommendation for 2002-2003 and three years means. Forage livestock field day report. Texas A&M Nelson, L., and J. Crowder. 2004. For additional information visit University-Overton, TX. Wheat forage yields at our websites at: Overton for 2002-2003 and Nelson, L., and J. Crowder. 2004. three years means. Forage Rye forage yields at Overton livestock field day report. http://forages.tamu.edu for 2002-2003 and three years Texas A&M University- http://soilcrop.tamu.edu means. Forage livestock field Overton, TX. http://tcebookstore.org day report. Texas A&M University-Overton, TX. Rouquette, Jr., F.M. 2001. Grazing management and utilization Nelson, L., and J. Crowder. 2004. of cool-season annual Ryegrass forage yields at pastures. Beef Cattle Short Overton for 2002-2003 and Course, 47th Edition. Texas three years means. Forage A&M University. Aug 6-8 livestock field day report. 2001, College Station, TX. Texas A&M University- Overton, TX. Educational programs of Texas Cooperative Extension and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station are open to all people without regard to race, color, sex, disability, religion, age or national origin. The information given herein is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Texas Cooperative Extension or Texas Agricultural Experiment Station is implied.