Understanding Forages Karen Hutchinson Virginia Cooperative Extension This is a presentation from Virginia Tech and it has not been edited by the Georgia Curriculum Office.

Forage Defined Forage: –herbaceous plants, generally referring to pasture, hay, silage, and green chop, utilized for animal nutritional requirements. –Provides protein and energy

Forages Defined, cont’d. Protein –Quantified by taking the percentage of Nitrogen in a sample and multiplying by 6.25 Energy –Measured as TDN (total digestible nutrients), or what the animal can actually take away from the forage

Importance of Forages Provide roughage Keep rumen working Source of energy and protein Can be less expensive than grain or other supplements

Typical Forages Warm season vs. cool season Cool season: –rye –fescue –bluegrass –orchard grass –timothy

Typical Forages, cont’d Warm season: –alfalfa –pearl millet –red and white clovers

Rye Winter pasture crop Can be planted in late fall Will germinate in temps close to freezing Winter hardy Can seed as early as August Undesirable for dairy cattle Good spring green manure crop 14% protein; 53% TDN

Tall Fescue Big root system Tolerates drought and poorly drained soil Good for late fall, winter grazing Good for stockpiling for later grazing Plant in spring to use in later summer 10% protein; 59% TDN

Bluegrass Shallow rooted Tolerates close, continuous grazing Very palatable Unproductive during mid-summer Best adapted to soils with limestone base Plant in late summer to early fall for following year 15% protein; 50% TDN

Orchard Grass Deep rooted Can’t graze closely Good vigorous growth Winter killed 15% protein; 71% TDN

Timothy Shallow rooted Better for hay than for pasture Adapted to cool/humid climates Establish in late summer, early fall 8% protein; 57% TDN

Alfalfa Complements energy from corn with high protein content High in Ca, P, Mg Spring seeding Feb 1 - Mar 15 Summer seeding after first good rain in Sep % protein; 57-67% TDN

Pearl Millet Both a warm and a cool season crop 65 day growing season 600,000 acres grown in SE U.S. Seeded after danger of last frost Good VA summer pasture Leafy and palatable 18% protein; 67% TDN

Red Clover Easily established Short-lived (2yr. Max) Comparable nutritionally to alfalfa Seed in late summer to early fall for following spring

Selected Beef Cattle Nutritional Requirements

Forage Quality Indicators

Activity Select an appropriate forage or forage mix for the following animals: –1st calf heifer in high milk –350lb stocker –Developing heifer –Dry cow

1st calf heifer in high milk Requires 13% protein, 68% TDN –Orchard grass and clover mix –Orchard grass (15% protein; 71% TDN) –Red clover (17% protein; approx. 70% TDN)

350lb stocker Requires 15% protein, 68% TDN –Orchard grass and alfalfa mix –Orchard grass (15% protein, 71% TDN) –Alfalfa (17-22% protein, 57-67% TDN)

Developing heifer Requires 17% protein, 68% TDN –Orchard grass and pearl millet mix –Orchard grass (15% protein, 71% TDN) –Pearl millet (18% protein, 67% TDN)

Dry cow Requires 8% protein, 50% TDN –Tall fescue and timothy –Tall fescue (10% protein, 59% TDN) –Timothy (8% protein, 57% TDN)

Summary Important to be aware of forage nutritional value Can either cost or save producer money Values differ among species and years Values change during different growing stages