2. What is the difference? 1)Digestible energy 2)How much can be eaten 1)Digestible energy 2)How much can be eaten

3. What is “high quality forage?” Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI). Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23 Forage that is highly digestible (i.e., high TDN) Large amounts of the forage can be consumed (i.e., high DMI). Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) = TDN * DMI/1.23

4. Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) 75100125150175200225 Heifer, 18-24 mo. Dry cow Mature horse, lt. work Heifer, 12-18 mo. Lactating beef cow Lactating mare Mature horse, mod. work Dairy, last 200 days Heifer, 3-12 mo. Stocker cattle Weanling horse Mature horse, int. work Dairy, 1 st 120 days Dairy calf Quality Required

5. What Affects Forage Quality?

6. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

7. The Paradox of Forage Quality and Quantity Digestibility & Palatability

8. Fescue Maturity- Effects on Yield and Protein

9. Fescue Maturity- Digestibility Majority of hay harvested at hard seed stage Only truly applicable with spring harvest JUST MORE MANURE!!!

10. Bermudagrass Harvest Interval: Effects on Protein and Digestibility McCollough and Burton., 1962 DMI 11.9, 8.8, 9.5 lbs ADG 1.2,.9, 0 lbs Percent, %

11. Bermudagrass Harvest Interval: Effects on Yield and Protein Hoveland et al., 1971

12. Forage Quality has High Value Now CropMaturityCPTDNSupplement † Cost ‡ -- % -- lbs/hd/day$/hd/day Bermudagrass4 weeks10-1258-620$0 6 weeks8-1051-554.8$0.45 8 weeks6-845-507.5$0.72 Tall FescueLate boot14-1666-700$0 Early head11-1360-630$0 Dough8-1050-545.3$0.50 † Assuming soyhulls supplementation for forage quality on low end of the range. ‡ Approximate prices for 2010. Supplementing a Lactating Beef Cow + ~$1.40/hd/d

13. Harvest Timing Recommendations Hybrid Bermudagrass - 1st cut at 12-16 inches - Subsequent cuttings at 3.5-5 week intervals Tall fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass, etc. - Spring cut at early flower stage - Mid to late boot stage for higher quality - Subsequent cuttings at 10-12 inches (better quality) Alfalfa - Spring cut at when 10-20% of plants are blooming - Cut at late bud – 10% bloom stage Hybrid Bermudagrass - 1st cut at 12-16 inches - Subsequent cuttings at 3.5-5 week intervals Tall fescue, ryegrass, orchardgrass, etc. - Spring cut at early flower stage - Mid to late boot stage for higher quality - Subsequent cuttings at 10-12 inches (better quality) Alfalfa - Spring cut at when 10-20% of plants are blooming - Cut at late bud – 10% bloom stage

14. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

15. Quality Differences in the Major Forage Species Maint. Mod. Production High Production

16. Typical Range in Quality of Common Forages Relative Forage Quality (RFQ) Summer Annual Grass Bermudagrass Cool Season Peren. Grasses Other Legumes Alfalfa 75100125150175200225 Cool Season Annual Grasses Quality Provided

17. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

18. 14 inches

19. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground Shinners, University of Wisconsin Twine Wrapped % Moisture Net Wrapped

20. Moisture distribution of mixed grass-legume round bales stored on the ground vs. elevated Shinners, University of Wisconsin Twine Wrapped % Moisture On a Pallet

21. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

22. The Effect of Rainfall on DM Loss DM Loss, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005

23. Crop Moisture Lessens Rain Damage on Bermudagrass DM Loss, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005 76% Moisture, Not Significant. 40% Moisture 13% Moisture

24. Crop Moisture Lessens Rain Damage on Bermudagrass NDF, % Rainfall, in. Scarbrough et al., 2005 76% Moisture, Not Significant. 40% Moisture 13% Moisture

25. The Effect of Rain on Tall Fescue Hay Turner et al., 2003

26. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

27. Heat Damage to Crude Protein Heat Protein Useable Protein Heat-Damaged Protein DM Intake

28. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality.

29. Yield and Digestibility of Bermudagrass Hybrids

30. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations

31. CP in Bermudagrass Forage as Effected by N Fertilization Source: Dr. Bill Anderson, USDA-ARS Tifton

32. Effect of N Rates on Bermudagrass CP & Digestibility Burton et al.

33. Does fertility or harvest timing affect quality more?- Crude Protein Colovos et al. 1961 (4X as much N) Bromegrass

34. Does fertility or harvest timing affect quality more?- Digestibility (3.8 X as much N) Colovos et al. 1961 Bromegrass

35. Primary Factors Affecting Forage Quality FactorRecommendation Plant Maturity Cut bermudagrass every 4-5 wks; cut tall fescue in the boot or early head stage. Forage Species Use the highest-quality species that will persist in your environment. Bale Storage Protect bales from rainfall and weathering during storage (i.e., barn, tarp, etc.) Rain During Curing Avoid cutting if significant rainfall (> 0.50 inches) is predicted during curing. Moisture at Baling Allow forage to dry to the appropriate moisture (Round: 15%; Square: 18%) Variety Use varieties that have proven to be higher in quality. Fertilization Provide fertilizer based on soil test recommendations

36. Be Careful of Cutting Height

37. Parting Thoughts RFQ is chiefly defined by digestibility and DM intake Plant maturity trumps ALL other factors -Even more important than forage species Rain damage is a problem, but letting a plant get overly mature to avoid a ½ inch rain is even more problematic Avoid cutting the forage too short -It reduces quality and slows the rate of regrowth

38. www.georgiaforages.com