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Bermudagrass Pasture 2011 Breakdown of Projected Costs per Acre $243.59/acre

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$96.81 per ton (65% of vc) (12% of vc) $583.29 per acre Bermudagrass Hay Production 2011 Breakdown of Total Costs (Projected) per Acre

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The False Economy of Shortcuts Cost of Production Compared to Average Yield (t/ac)60%75%90%100%110%125% 8$56$71$85$94$103$118 7$64$80$96$107$118$134 6$75$94$113$125$138$156 5$90$113$135$150$165$188 4$113$141$169$188$207$235 3$150$188$225$250$275$313 Adapted from R.C. Lacy, 2008

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Soil Test and Follow Fertility Recommendations Sample 1/3 of your pastures each year and hayfields every year.

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Forage Quality has High Value Now CropMaturityCPTDNSupplement Cost -- % -- lbs/hd/day$/hd/day Bermudagrass4 weeks10-1258-620$0 6 weeks8-1051-554.8$0.48 8 weeks6-845-507.5$0.75 Tall FescueLate boot14-1666-700$0 Early head11-1360-630$0 Dough8-1050-545.3$0.53 Assuming 50:50 corn gluten:soyhulls supplementation for forage quality on low end of the range. Approximate price = $200/ton (current as of 3-18-2011). Supplementing a Lactating Beef Cow + $2.00/hd/day in hay fed

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SMALL INTESTINE RUMEN Sources of Energy FiberStarch

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Effect of Increasing Corn on Hay Intake and Digestibility Corn, lbs/day None2.24.46.6 Hay DMI lbs19.318.014.111.2 DOMI, lbs7.58.47.17.3 Hay OM Digest, %36.535.123.618.9 Oklahoma State, 1987 JAS 65:557

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Effect of Increasing Soybean Hulls on Hay Intake SH, lbs/day None2.24.46.6 Hay, OMI, lbs21.422.321.619.9 DOMI, lbs10.611.812.312.7 OM Digestibility, %45.846.246.648.6 Oklahoma State, 1990 JAS 68:4319

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www.ugabeef.caes.uga.edu/tools

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www.georgiaforages.com

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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

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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 Adapted from Ball et al., 2008.

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Proposed Southeastern Forage Quality Categories a CategoryRFQ Supreme> 185 Prime160-185 Choice140-160 Select110-140 Standard90-110 Utility< 90 a Adapted from the AFGCs Hay Market Task Forces standards (1988), with RFQ ranges approximated from RFV, NDF, ADF, and DMI ranges. Note: no consideration is given to CP content.

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How Are Samples Currently Distributed in this Categorization System? Frequency of Quality Grades of All Samples Submitted between July 1, 2003 February, 2011 Percent of the Samples - Utility - Standard - Select - Choice - Prime - Premium

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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.

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The Paradox of Forage Quality and Quantity Digestibility & Palatability

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

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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, %

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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

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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.

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

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Typical Range in Quality of Common Forages

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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.

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14 inches

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

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

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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.

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

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

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

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

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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.

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

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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.

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Yield and Digestibility of Bermudagrass Hybrids

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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

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

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

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

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

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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

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Be Careful of Cutting Height

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Write this down in BIG BOLD letters! GRASS GROWS GRASS.

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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 inch rain is even more problematic Avoid cutting the forage too short -It reduces quality and slows the rate of regrowth

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www.georgiaforages.com