Is it economical to fertilize a mature forage stand on a severely saline site? Preliminary results

Non-Peer Reviewe

Evaluation of the bloating potential and grazing performance of AC-Grazeland verses a mixed AC-Grazeland and Sainfoin pasture for beef cattle in southwest Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe potential benefits of grazing alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are well documented (e.g., high yields and forage quality, excellent animal gains) and thus, many livestock producers are interested in its use. However, alfalfa’s ability to cause bloating in cattle and potential death has caused many livestock producers to not consider grazing pure alfalfa stands or only alfalfa/grass mixtures in which the alfalfa constitutes less than 20% of the forage stand. The recent availability of AC-Grazeland (AC), a low bloat causing alfalfa cultivar, and the use of non-bloating legumes in mixture with alfalfa are reported grazing strategies to reduce the occurrence of bloating and may be a method to increase the ability to graze alfalfa in the pasture at higher proportions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the bloating potential or bloat reducing potential and animal grazing performance of AC verses a mixed AC and sainfoin (AC+S) pasture. In 1998, one pasture (4.9 ac) was seeded to AC, while another pasture (4.4 ac) was seeded to an AC+S mixture. Seeding rate for the AC and Sainfoin (S) were 5 and 38 lbs per acre, respectively. Grazing of the two pastures were initially started in 2000 by an equal number of yearling steers. Grazing and forage data from 2002 and 2003 were used in this study. Yearling steers commenced grazing on the AC pasture at the early bud stage and the S was grazed at the early flower stage. Each steer on the AC pasture received a rumensin CRC bolus, while steers on the AC+S received no rumensin boluses. Results found that no bloating or bloat symptoms were observed in the cattle grazing from either forage treatment in 2002 and 2003. Average daily gains and total live production did not differ (P > 0.13) between pasture treatments. Further research is needed to evaluate longevity of AC and AC+S pastures under different grazing management for southwest Saskatchewan

Grazing of spring and winter cereals in southwest Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedA pasture system that combines the early high productivity of a spring cereal and the late-season growth ability of a winter cereal vegetative tillers may provide an important forage/pasture resource in southwestern Saskatchewan. At the Semiarid Agricultural Research Centre-Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, SK, two annual cereals, a spring barley, cultivar AC Lacombe, and a winter rye, Prima, were seeded in early May of 2001 into four pastures each 1.3 ha. Two pastures utilized steers that were implanted (Component™ E-S) and had received CRC rumensin while the other two pastures utilized steers with no implant or CRC rumensin. Results found that the implanted and CRC rumensin treated steers were more efficient in converting the cereal forage to gains than the control steers. Average daily gains of treated steers were higher than the control group and were 1.2 kg d-1 vs 0.7 kg d-1, respectively. Grazing days and total kg of livestock production per ha for treated verses control treatments were 133 verses 131 and 12.1 verses 5.5, respectively. It is possible that a synergistic and/or additive effect may have occurred through the use of the implant and rumensin treatments and resulted in a higher than expected improvement in animal performance

Does it pay to fertilize a mature forage stand on a severely saline field?

Non-Peer Reviewe

Plant community composition in pastures seeded with native plant species in southwest Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedPastures made of native species offer good quality forage for grazing in the warm and dry months of July and August in southwestern Saskatchewan, when cool season species loose feeding quality. Long-term research plots were seeded with seven native grass species, with or without either purple prairie clover or alfalfa to further increase forage quality and sustain high productivity. These stands were compared to meadow brome – alfalfa stands. Triple superphosphate was applied at a rate of 0, 50 or 200 kg P2O5 ha-1 in an attempt to enhance root growth and facilitate establishment. Phosphorus fertilization had no effect on root length density, plant biomass, or plant proportions. Very little growth was produced in 2006, the year of seeding. But stands grew rapidly in 2007 and in the first week of July, pastures with native grasses produced 1.5 t ha-1, i.e. approximately half the biomass of meadow brome – alfalfa stands. The late season species, blue grama, little bluestem and purple prairie clover, were just starting their growth cycle in 2007 at that time and larger herbage yield in native stands is expected in 2008. Purple prairie clover made up less than 1% of the biomass of stands where it was seeded and alfalfa, about 14%. Weeds, which were abundant in 2006, were effectively suppressed by the forage plants in 2007, particularly in meadow brome – alfalfa stands. We conclude that stands seeded with native species require a longer period of establishment than meadow brome stands. This establishment period could not be enhanced by P fertilization

Determine the swath grazing and forage quality potential of Westford forage barley and Manta and German foxtail millet for beef cattle in southwest Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe drought and poor moisture conditions experienced throughout Saskatchewan has revealed the potential that certain foxtail millets can play as an important short-season hay or grazing resource. The study’s objectives were to 1) determine the swath grazing performance of cow/calf pairs on Westford barley (WB) (Hordeum vulgare), and on two foxtail millets (Setaria italica), German (G) and Manta (M); 2) determine the forage quality composition of the WB and millets at different stages of maturities and during field curing. In 2002, the WB and the two millets were each seeded into a 2.2 acre field and each cereal treatment was replicated twice (n = 6). Seeding rate for the WB and millets were 80 and 12 lbs per acre, respectively. In 2003, all cereals were once again seeded into the same fields. In 2002, the WB was swathed at the soft dough stage and the G and M were at the boot and heading stage of maturity, respectively. Eight cow/calf pairs were used to graze each of the G and M pastures, but the WB forage material spoiled before cattle could graze. Poor moisture conditions experienced in the summer of 2003 produced little WB and millet growth, thus no grazing data was collected. 2002 results found higher % ADF and NDF and lower % CP and OMD for the millets compared to the WB. Animal performance (i.e., ADG, TLP etc.) did not differ (P>0.10) between the two millets. Calves gained between 1.8 to 1.9 lbs per day while on the millet pastures; however cows on average lost weight. Forage quality (i.e., OMD and CP) of the two millet swaths did not change 32 days post harvest even though the swaths were rained on. Although the millets show excellent forage and grazing potential in 2002 the poor performance of the millets in 2003 reveals the need for longer grazing and forage research to be conducted to truly evaluate their overall potential for southwest Saskatchewan

Grazing of spring and winter cereals in southwest Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedA pasture system that combines the early high productivity of a spring cereal and the late-season growth ability of a winter cereal vegetative tillers may provide an important forage/pasture resource in southwestern Saskatchewan. At the Semiarid Agricultural Research Centre- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, SK, two annual cereals, a spring barley, cultivar AC Lacombe, and a winter rye, Prima, were seeded in early May of 2001 into four pastures each 1.3 ha. Two pastures utilized steers that were implanted (Component™ E-S) and had received CRC rumensin while the other two pastures utilized steers with no implant or CRC rumensin. Results found that the implanted and CRC rumensin treated steers were more efficient in converting the cereal forage to gains than the control steers. Average daily gains of treated steers were higher than the control group and were 1.2 kg d-1 vs 0.7 kg d-1, respectively. Grazing days and total kg of livestock production per ha for treated verses control treatments were 133 verses 131 and 12.1 verses 5.5, respectively. It is possible that a synergistic and/or additive effect may have occurred through the use of the implant and rumensin treatments and resulted in a higher than expected improvement in animal performance

Nitrogen fixation and isotope composition of native and tame forage plants

Non-Peer ReviewedA plant mixture of alfalfa, purple prairie clover and 7 natives grass species: western wheatgrass, northern wheatgrass, awned wheatgrass, Canada wildrye, green needle grass, little bluestem and blue grama was established at the south farm (SPARC) in Saskatchewan in 2006. Legumes were included in forage stands to sustain pasture production. The fixation of atmospheric derived nitrogen for forage plants was estimated by the method natural abundance of 15N. This method showed that The N2 fixation activity of both alfalfa and purple prairie clover was very important in 2008. They fixed about 90 % of their nitrogen needs. Alfalfa was the good candidate to sustain the production of high quality of forage because it increased the yield of native grass stand by 33 % and increased herbage stand protein by 45 % but this method is failed to detect fixed N in grasses

Assessing the winter hardiness of perennial cereal rye relative to winter cereals traditionally grown in western Canada

Non-Peer ReviewedPerennial cereal (PC) rye (Secale cereale x S. montanum) is reported to be a three to four year perennial forage crop. At AAFC-Swift Current, SK, PC rye was compared to three winter triticale varieties (Pika, Prego, and Bobcat), CDC Clair winter wheat and Prima fall rye for winter hardiness. Small plots were seeded at six dates (July 18, Aug. 3, Aug. 16, Aug. 30, Sept. 7, and Sept. 17) in 2001, with a defoliation treatment occurring during the first week of October. When compared to the winter cereals for winter survival under field conditions, PC rye was tied for second for a mid-July seeding date, and tied for first for early and mid-Aug. seeding dates. PC rye survival was not different (P>0.05) between varieties for late Aug. and Sept. seeding dates. Results found the optimum time to plant PC rye to ensure maximum winter hardiness was mid-to-late Aug. PC rye was sensitive to late-fall defoliation with the greatest survival reduction occurring for the mid-July seeding date