Selecting forage species for your farm

Gilles Bélanger Soils and Crops Research and Development Centre

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

• Species

• Legumes (6) and grasses (11)

• Mixtures in Atlantic Canada (18), Québec (15), and Ontario (12)

• « Tool Box »

– Good compared to other areas

Species and mixtures

3

Legume species• Alfalfa• Red clover• White clover• Birdsfoot trefoil• Alsike clover• Sweet clover

Species recommended or available in eastern Canada

Grass species• Timothy• Meadow bromegrass• Smooth bromegrass• Orchardgrass• Tall fescue• Reed canarygrass• Meadow fescue• Kentucky bluegrass• Perennial ryegrass• Creeping red fescue• Meadow foxtail

• Very good yield and nutritive value

• Very tolerant to heat and drought

• 3-5 years if well managed

Alfalfa, the « dream crop »

• Sensitive to winter conditions• Not tolerant:

– Soil acidity (optimal pH = 6.6 à 7.0)– Poor drainage– Frequent clipping and grazing

Alfalfa, the « queen crop with specific requirements»

1993

9.811.911.611.3

1995

7.14.85.05.6

1994

8.36.56.78.1

2 Cuts

400 GDD

500 GDD

600 GDD

Yield (T/ha)

Source: Bélanger et al. 1999. Can. J. Plant Sci. 79: 57-63.

Apica

Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Truro

3rd cut

1993

9.811.911.611.3

1995

7.14.85.05.6

1994

8.36.56.78.1

2 Cuts

400 GDD

500 GDD

600 GDD

Yield (T/ha)

Source: Bélanger et al. 1999. Can. J. Plant Sci. 79: 57-63.

Apica

Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Truro

3rd cut

1997

5.26.87.07.1

1999

4.6DeadDeadDead

1998

7.86.9

10.611.3

2 Cuts

400 GDD

500 GDD

600 GDD

Yield (T/ha)

Source: Dhont et al. 2004. Crop Sci. 44: 144-157.

AC Caribou

Fall cutting management of alfalfa - Normandin

3rd cut

9

• Very good yield• Less than alfalfa

• Good nutritive value• Better than alfalfa for some attributes

• Fast establishement • Less sensitive to poor drainage and acidity

than alfalfa• Adapted to short rotations

Red clover, the « old crop »

10

• Average yield • Average tolerance to acidity and poor

drainage• Tolerance to frequent cuts and grazing

• Mostly for grazing

• Variable persistence

White clover, the « little crop »

11

• Legume, the most tolerant to acidity and poor drainage

• Average tolerance to grazing• Slow to establish• Lower yield than alfalfa

Birdsfoot trefoil, the « tough crop »

NDF concentration and digestibility

Average of two years, Normandin (QC).

NDF(% DM)

Digestibiliy NDF(% NDF)

Alfalfa 41.2 53.6

Red clover 35.0 55.1

White clover 19.2 77.4

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

NDF concentration and digestibility

Average of two years, Normandin (QC).

NDF(% DM)

Digestibiliy NDF(% NDF)

Alfalfa 41.2 53.6

Red clover 35.0 55.1

Timothy 62.0 75.4

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM AM PM

Non

stru

ctur

al c

arbo

hydr

ates

(mg

g-1 D

M)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

110

SpringRed clover

Summer SpringTimothy

SummerSpringAlfalfa

Summer

SEM

Cutting:Growth:Species:

Non structural carbohydrates (Sugars)

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

15

• Grass species, the most cultivated in eastern Canada

• Reliable and predictable

• Excellent persistence

Timothy, « boring but reliable »

• Timothy, 25 years:• Annual yield: 6 T/ha.

• 90% timothy.

Source: Bélanger et al. 1989. Can. J. Plant Sci. 69: 501-512.

• Sensitivity: red clover = orchardgrass > alfalfa > timothy Source: Bertrand et al. 2000. Plant Cell Environ. 24: 1085-1093.

Regrowth after 107 days under plastic bags

Simulated ice sheets

17

• Not tolerant to heat and drought• Poor summer regrowth

• Not tolerant to frequent cutting

• Ideal species for cows in transition

Timothy, « boring but reliable »

Source: Tremblay et al. 2006. Agron. J. 98: 339-348.

Dietary cation-anion differenceD

CA

D (m

eq/k

g D

M)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700Spring growth Summer regrowth

a

b

c

a

ab

cbc

d

bb

Meadow bromegrass

Smooth bromegrass

Timothy

Cocksfoot

Tall fesc

ue

Meadow bromegrass

Smooth bromegrass

Timothy

Cocksfoot

Tall fesc

ue

19

• Good tolerance to soil acidity• Average persistance

• Less persistant than timothy but more than orchardgrass

• Tolerant to heat and drought• Good growth in summer and fall

Tall fescue, « pretty but not always liked »

Better regrowth than timothy

2nd cut29 %

37 %

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Timothy Tall fescue

1st cut

Yield(T/ha)

71 % 63 %

Harvest, 20 June – Average of 2 years

75

80

85

90

3 4 5 6 7 8

Digestibility(% DM)

Yield (T/ha)

6 June

12 June

20 June

27 June

Average of 2 years

Digestibility

Timothy Tall fescue

• Better nutritive value than timothy • Poor acceptability in pastures

22

• Tolerant to heat and drought• Good growth in summer

• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing• Early heading

• Cut at the right time

• Sensitive to winter• Sensible to poor drainage

Orchardgrass, « does not age well »

23

• Good persistance

• Tolerant to heat and drought

• Sensititive to poor drainage

• Not tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing

• Slow establishment

Smooth bromegrass

24

• Good persistence• Tolerant to heat and drought• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing• Sensitive to poor drainage• Slow establishment

Meadow bromegrass, « new kid on the block »

Meadow fescue vs. Meadow bromegrass

Source: Drapeau et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 89: 1059-1063.

0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5

DM

yield (T/ha)

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

M. fescue

M. bromegrass

1 2 3 1 2 3

• Normandin• 4 cuts per year

Production year

26

• Tolerant to poor drainage and soil acidity• Tolerant to frequent cuts and grazing

• Adapted to harvesting and grazing

• Very good persistence

Reed canarygrass, «tall and tough»

Comparing the yield of several species

Source: Bolinder et al. 2002. Can. J. Plant Sci. 82: 731-737.

Red clover

RyegrassOrchardgrass

AlfalfaTimothy

Tall fescueR. canarygrass

S. bromegrass

DM

yield (T/ha)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

• Fredericton• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years

Digestibility vs. yield

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

DM yield (T/ha)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Digestibility of D

M (%

)

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

R. canarygrass

S. bromegrass

M. bromegrass

Timothy

Tall fescue

K. bluegrass

Red clover

Alfalfa

• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years

Digestibility vs. yield

Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

DM yield (T/ha)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Digestibility of D

M (%

)

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

R. canarygrass

S. bromegrass

M. bromegrass

Timothy

Tall fescue

K. bluegrass

Red clover

Alfalfa

• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years

Digestibility vs. yield

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

DM yield (T/ha)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Digestibility of D

M (%

)

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

R. canarygrass

S. bromegrass

M. bromegrass

Timothy

Tall fescue

K. bluegrass

Red clover

Alfalfa

• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years

Digestibility vs. yield

Source: Pelletier et al. 2010. Agron. J. 102: 1388-1398.

DM yield (T/ha)

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Digestibility of D

M (%

)

76

78

80

82

84

86

88

90

R. canarygrass

S. bromegrass

M. bromegrass

Timothy

Tall fescue

K. bluegrass

Red clover

Alfalfa

• Normandin• 2 cuts per year• Average of two years

32

• More productive than pure stands• More competition againts weeds• Adapted to a wide range of conditions• Better plant population (insurance)• Simple mixtures (2 to 4 species) recommended

in eastern Canada

Why use mixtures?

• Adaptation of species to local growing conditions• Soil and climate

• Objective• Conserved feed and/or grazing• Cutting/grazing intensity (high quality forage)• Expected stand duration• Special needs: Hay for dry cows

• For mixtures: persistance et maturity

Species and mixtures for my own farm

34

• Fertile soils, good drainage, and pH > 6.5– Alfalfa

• Intensive cutting for high quality – Orchardgrass

» Greater risks of winter damage

– Tall fescue

• Less intensive cutting – Timothy

– Smooth bromegrass

» Drier areas

Some possible legume-grass mixturesFirst, choose the legume species

35

• Less favorable drainage and pH, or short rotations– Red clover

• Intensive cutting– orchardgrass, tall fescue, reed canarygrass

• Less intensive cutting– timothy, smooth bromegrass

Some possible legume-grass mixtures

Red clover mixtures

Red clover with DM yield (T DM/ha)

Tall fescue 6.8

S. Bromegrass 6.2

Timothy 6.1

Orchardgrass 5.8

Average of two sites and three production years

Source: Lafrenière and Drapeau. 2011. Can. J. Plant Sci. 91: 91-97.

37

• Poorly drained soils and low pH– Trefoil

• Timothy

Some possible legume-grass mixtures

38

• Climate change– More risks of winter damage

• Warmer falls

• Less snow cover

• More freeze-thaw cycles

– An additionnal harvest• Species: tall fescue, perennial ryegrass ??

What’s coming?

39

• Climate change• Increased cost of N fertilizer

– Greater reliance on legume species• Legume-based mixtures

– Improved legume persistance (red clover and alfalfa)

• Increased cost of grains– Greater reliance on forages in rations

– Improved nutritive value• Low-lignin alfalfa

• Sweet grass

What’s coming?

40

- Species, mixtures, and cultivars

- Cutting management- Drainage, liming, and

fertilization

Successful forage production

Choose the tools best adapted to your growing conditions and your needs

Gilles.Belanger@agr.gc.ca

Questions, comments ?

Stages of development at harvest of alfalfaCut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Yield (t/ha) Digestibility

(%)

Early flower 1 sept. 8.31 54.6

Early bud 35 jours 1 sept. 7.10 63.8

Early bloom 30 jours 1 sept. 8.32 60.4

Early bloom Early bloom Early bloom 9.44 60.6

(Average of 4 years; Fredericton)

Stages of development at harvest of alfalfaCut 1 Cut 2 Cut 3 Yield (t/ha) Digestibility

(%)

Early flower 1 sept. 8.31 54.6

Early bud 35 jours 1 sept. 7.10 63.8

Early bloom 30 jours 1 sept. 8.32 60.4

Early bloom Early bloom Early bloom 9.44 60.6

(Average of 4 years; Fredericton)Stages of development a

t harvest a

nd

number of h

arvests affect y

ield and nutritive

value

Rés

erve

s C

arbo

nées

(g/p

lant

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Rés

erve

s Az

otée

s (g

/pla

nt)

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

2 coupes3 coupes à 400 DJ3 coupes à 500 DJ3 coupes à 600 DJ

3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98

Réserves dans les racines au cours de l’hiver

Rés

erve

s C

arbo

nées

(g/p

lant

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Rés

erve

s Az

otée

s (g

/pla

nt)

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

2 c oupes3 c oupes à 400 DJ3 c oupes à 500 DJ3 c oupes à 600 DJ

3ème c. 500 D J17 sept.

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98

Rés

erve

s C

arbo

nées

(g/p

lant

)

0.0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1.0

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2.0

Rés

erve

s Az

otée

s (g

/pla

nt)

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

2 coupes3 coupes à 400 DJ3 coupes à 500 DJ3 coupes à 600 DJ

3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3èmec. 600 DJ7 oct.

3ème c. 500 DJ17 sept.

2ème coupe7 août

3ème c. 400 DJ8 sept.

1er aoû. 97 1er oct. 97 1er déc. 97 1er fév. 98 1er avr. 98

Réserves dans les racines au cours de l’hiver

• Less risk

1. No fall cut.2. Fall cut after first frost (-3ºC).3. Fall cut when alfalfa is in early bloom or at least 50 days after

the preceding cut.4. Fall cut regardless of stage of development or interval between

cuts.

• More risk

Fall cutting management – Risk scale

47

Mixtures are more productive …

Yield (T DM/ha)Alfalfa Alfalfa + timothy

2008 (one cut) 2.41 2.75

2009 (three cuts) 7.33 7.91

2010 (three cuts) 6.56 6.77

2011 (1 cut) 3.02 3.37

Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)

48

… with less weedsWeed yield (T DM/ha)

Alfalfa Alfalfa + timothy

2008 (one cut) 1.21 0.94

2009 (three cuts) 1.91 1.25

2010 (three cus) 1.25 0.88

2011 (1 cut) 1.24 1.02

Seeding in 2008, Lévis (QC)

Year 1

6.87.26.2

Year 3

6.04.54.1

Year 2

6.85.94.7

Yield (T/ha)

Source: Drapeau et al. 2005. Can. J.Plant Sci. 85: 369-376. Normandin, QC

Cutting management – Tall fescue

2 cuts3 cuts5 cuts

Current2 harvests

2040 – 20693 harvests

CharlottetwonYield (T DM/ha) 8.2 10.5NDF (% DM) 53.1 52.4dNDF (% NDF) 70.7 69.4

St. John’s Yield (T DM/ha) 7.7 9.9NDF (% DM) 49.8 50.2dNDF (% NDF) 71.8 71.0Simulations with CATIMO model.Jing et al. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Unpublished data.

Impact of climate change on timothy yield and nutritive value