Outline What’s New in 2008 Weed Control Refresher Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage Quality Data Potential research/demo projects.

Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage Quality Data

How good is this hay? Crude Protein = 13.5%

Crude Protein and Hay Quality CP is the most overrated measure of quality!  Total N x 6.25 = CP, % Tells you nothing about the form nitrogen is in  Protein (AA), Bound Protein, Nitrates etc. Tells you very little about energy content Protein requirements are (typically) easily met Somewhat related to maturity Important- just overemphasized CP is the most overrated measure of quality!  Total N x 6.25 = CP, % Tells you nothing about the form nitrogen is in  Protein (AA), Bound Protein, Nitrates etc. Tells you very little about energy content Protein requirements are (typically) easily met Somewhat related to maturity Important- just overemphasized

Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage Quality Data High Quality Forage: Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) and capable of being consumed in large amounts (i.e., high DMI). RFQ = TDN * DMI/ NDF and NDFd HORSES?

The Plant Cell Pectins Hemicellulose Cellulose Lignin Silica Protein Oil Minerals Sugars Organic Acids Easily Digestible Neutral Detergent Fiber Total Digestible Nutrients Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Metabolizable Energy TDN RFQ Metabolizable Energy

Reading Forage Quality Data

What can you make out of Crude Fiber? Crude fiber is not an accurate measure of total fiber  Much of the lignin and hemicellulose is lost during the analysis.  Even cellulose is not totally recovered in the CF fraction. Crude fiber is not an accurate measure of total fiber  Much of the lignin and hemicellulose is lost during the analysis.  Even cellulose is not totally recovered in the CF fraction.

The Plant Cell Pectins Hemicellulose Cellulose Lignin Silica Protein Oil Minerals Sugars Organic Acids Neutral Detergent Fiber Total Digestible Nutrients Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Metabolizable Energy

What can you make out of Crude Fiber? Crude fiber is not an accurate measure of total fiber  Much of the lignin and hemicellulose is lost during the analysis.  Even cellulose is not totally recovered in the CF fraction. Most testing labs no longer report CF.  It is required on tags of purchased feeds. Crude fiber is not an accurate measure of total fiber  Much of the lignin and hemicellulose is lost during the analysis.  Even cellulose is not totally recovered in the CF fraction. Most testing labs no longer report CF.  It is required on tags of purchased feeds. Feeding the Dairy Herd: Section: Feed Nutrients

Forage Quality Question On the forage reports, it lists: Net energy....lactation maintenance gain Metabolizable energy What is the practical significance of these variables? Is there a target range for these variables?

Energy Fractionation Gross Energy Digestible Energy Metabolizable Energy Net Energy Maintenance Growth Milk Other Loss in feces Loss in urine & gas Loss as heat

Forage Quality Question On the forage reports it lists: Net energy....lactation maintenance gain Metabolizable energy What is the practical significance of these variables? Is there a target range for these variables?

What is the value of forage quality information? $60/1000 lb roll 51% TDN $65/1000 lb roll 58% TDN A) B) Scenario: Dry Cows Bale A cost:  No supplement; $65/bale Bale B cost:  56 lbs of supplement/1000 lb bale  $4.20 supp. + $60 = $64.20  + labor

What is the value of forage quality information? $60/1000 lb roll 51% TDN $65/1000 lb roll 58% TDN A) B) Scenario: Lact. Cows Bale A cost:  No supplement; $65/bale Bale B cost:  180 lbs of supplement/1000 lb bale  $13.50 supp. + $60 = $73.50  + labor In this case, the feeding of one bale paid for the forage test.

Outline What’s New in 2008 Weed Control Refresher Common Questions about Interpreting and Using Forage Quality Data Potential research/demo projects.

Demonstration Projects - 08 Perennial legumes for Coastal Plain pastures. Tri-state effort (MS, AL, GA) to establish and evaluate perennial legumes (white & red clovers) for persistence in the region. Cost-share program (CIG)  75% of establishment costs  Up to ~$110/A (Don’t hold me to that) Needs:  Good cooperator, ready access to equipment, perennial grass in good condition (good stand, weed control, fertility, etc.)  Willing to allow field day/pasture walk. Perennial legumes for Coastal Plain pastures. Tri-state effort (MS, AL, GA) to establish and evaluate perennial legumes (white & red clovers) for persistence in the region. Cost-share program (CIG)  75% of establishment costs  Up to ~$110/A (Don’t hold me to that) Needs:  Good cooperator, ready access to equipment, perennial grass in good condition (good stand, weed control, fertility, etc.)  Willing to allow field day/pasture walk.

Demonstration Projects - 08 Perennial legumes for Coastal Plain pastures. Site Options: Perennial legumes for Coastal Plain pastures. Site Options:

Demonstration Projects - 08 Calibrate and evaluate the variability of drills and seeders. Some drills (no-till, et al.) result in over application.  High seed costs are here to stay. Calibrate and evaluate the variability of drills and seeders. Some drills (no-till, et al.) result in over application.  High seed costs are here to stay.

Demonstration Projects - 08 Calibrate and evaluate the variability of drills and seeders. Size of some forage seeds and mixtures create inaccuracy. Calibrate and evaluate the variability of drills and seeders. Size of some forage seeds and mixtures create inaccuracy.

Revisiting Some Old Friends Old N Fertilizer Products Photo courtesy of Dr. Ray Smith, TAES

The effect of annual clover addition on ‘Coastal’ bermudagrass yields. Treatment dry lbs/acre Crimson; 200 lbs N/Acre Arrowleaf; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 200 lbs N/Acre No Clover; 0 N Location: Starkville, MS Source: Knight, W.E Agron. J. 62:

Research Projects - 08 Sodseeding winter annual legumes into bermudagrass (and bahiagrass) hayfields Evaluate the benefit of annual legume addition to WSP hayfields. Funding?  Seed will be made available to provide uniform conditions  Producer/County may have to provide for other costs Needs:  Good cooperator, ready access to equipment, perennial grass in good condition (good stand, weed control, fertility, etc.)  Willing to allow field day/pasture walk. Sodseeding winter annual legumes into bermudagrass (and bahiagrass) hayfields Evaluate the benefit of annual legume addition to WSP hayfields. Funding?  Seed will be made available to provide uniform conditions  Producer/County may have to provide for other costs Needs:  Good cooperator, ready access to equipment, perennial grass in good condition (good stand, weed control, fertility, etc.)  Willing to allow field day/pasture walk.

Research Projects - 08 Sodseeding winter annual legumes into bermudagrass (and bahiagrass) hayfields Treatments (4 replications):  Arrowleaf, crimson, and check plot  4 levels of N fertilization (100, 150, 200, and 250 lbs N/acre) No poultry litter applied to area Take yield measurements before each harvest.  Clippers, 1 ft 2 or m 2 quadrat, scales ( g) Send samples to Hancock or dry on your own. Sodseeding winter annual legumes into bermudagrass (and bahiagrass) hayfields Treatments (4 replications):  Arrowleaf, crimson, and check plot  4 levels of N fertilization (100, 150, 200, and 250 lbs N/acre) No poultry litter applied to area Take yield measurements before each harvest.  Clippers, 1 ft 2 or m 2 quadrat, scales ( g) Send samples to Hancock or dry on your own.

Research Projects - 08

Developing better estimates of bale weights. Bale weight = f(density and volume)  5’ x 5’ bale ~= 100 ft 3 ( π r 2 * h)  Density runs ~ ft 3 Factors that will need to be accounted for:  Forage species  Quality (fiber strength)  Variation between sites within a bale Overcome variation with a large, diverse sample size Developing better estimates of bale weights. Bale weight = f(density and volume)  5’ x 5’ bale ~= 100 ft 3 ( π r 2 * h)  Density runs ~ ft 3 Factors that will need to be accounted for:  Forage species  Quality (fiber strength)  Variation between sites within a bale Overcome variation with a large, diverse sample size

Research Projects - 08 Developing better estimates of bale weights. Commitment:  Obtain data and weights on 50 or more bales  Forage, baler model, bale size, visual density, penetrometer reading from several locations, true bale weight, dry matter sample, …. Requires:  Scale for dry matter readings ( g)  Large scale for weighing bales  Can borrow my scale  Obtain/own soil compaction tester  Granger, Nasco, etc. Developing better estimates of bale weights. Commitment:  Obtain data and weights on 50 or more bales  Forage, baler model, bale size, visual density, penetrometer reading from several locations, true bale weight, dry matter sample, …. Requires:  Scale for dry matter readings ( g)  Large scale for weighing bales  Can borrow my scale  Obtain/own soil compaction tester  Granger, Nasco, etc.

Methods of winter annual establishment  Prepared seedbed (conventional till/drill)  Sodseeded  Drill  Broadcast w/ or w/o dragging or disking Ryegrass yields in late fall/early winter are ~50% greater in prepared seedbed than when sodseeded. Little or no difference in total forage yields. Prepared Seedbed vs. Sodseeded

Establishment Method and Clover Mixture had Little Effect on Beef Production Seeding MethodMixture DrillBroadcastRG - WCRG-WC-CC ADG (lbs/hd/d) Grazing days/ acre Gain (lb/acre) Mosso et al., J. Prod. Ag. 3: (Louisiana, Coastal Plain, Avg. of 2 yrs)

QUESTIONS? ASK-UGA1