Crain, Albert W.

Texas A&amp;M Repository

L-163SEASONAL PASTURES FOR YEAR-ROUND GRAZING IN FAST TEXASAlbert W. Crain, Associate Pasture SpecialistTexas A. & M. College SystemThere is no combination of grasses and legumes to plant which will provideyear-round grazing within the same pasture fenced area. The best pasture mixtureis the best grass and the best legume adapted to (1) the soil, (2) the seasonalneed and, (3) grazing management practices to be followed. Bermuda is the bestknown warm-season perennial grass for Fast Texas. It is common throughout thearea and exists in excellent stands where soils are fert:le and well drained. Burclover, sjngletary peas, or white clover are cool-season legumes that wilJ thrivewith bermuda or dallis grass. During the season of maximum production of the cool-season legume, lespedeza, a warm-season reseeding annual, should be germinatingand establishing itself. Thus, cool-season and warm-season legumes should not beused on the same pasture. It would be wise to have a bermuda-lespedeza pastureand also a bermuda--cool-season legume pasture.Kentucky 31 fescue, a cool-sea on perennial pasture grass, should not be ex-pected to thrive with bermuda nr dallis or other warm-season perennial pasturegrasses. One is dormant while the other is actively growing. The cool-season per-ennial will die for lack of moisture and nutrients during the warm-season of theyear, if planted with bermuda or other warm-season perennial grass. The fescue orother cool-season perennial with a cool-season legume must be in a pastur t atcan be protected during the hot summer months and maintained for heavy use durjngthe cool-season of the year.Supplemeptal pastures are needed for both summer and winter production. Oats,rye, crimson clover, vetch, singletary peas for winter pasture and sudan and Cbj-nese red cowpeas for summer will ound out a good pasture program.Anytime surplus grazing forage or pasturage exists on a given pasture, itshould be cut for hay or silage. It should be dOPoe for good pasture management.Besides, no pasture program is fool-proof, a reserve of hay and silage is neededfor drouths and cold weather. Also, hay should be available to cattle anytimethey graze good succulent pasture.One or more winter supplemental pastures with one or more summer supple entalpastures with a good 'permanent' or perepnial warm-season pasture and a perennialcool-season perennial pasture is sufficient for a sound program when hay or silageor both are provided.A well planned fertilizing and renovating program is an essential part of apasture program. Mowing equipment for weed control and for keeping pasture plantsin a succulent condition is also a necessary part of a pasture program.All combinations of good pasture mixture or crops are not illustrated, butsufficient examples are shown to illustrate the need for seasonal pastures ..PASTURES ARE A CASH CROP - - TREAT THEM AS S'OCHCooperative Extension Work in Agriculture and Home Economics. The Texas A. and M. College System and theUnited States Department of Agriculture Cooperating. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congressof May 8 and June 30. 1914. .YEAR-ROUND GRAZINXAS .DECAgricultural Extension ServiceTexos A.a M. College System.:::n1m~mm~~~~?rn~H:~:~:~:~H/mHm~~mH~H::::.ASE ~:::I::::::::~:1:~~~~~m~;;:~:;:::.SUDplement with h

Seasonal Pastures for Year-Round Grazing in East Texas.

http://oaktrust.library.tamu.edu/bitstream/handle/1969.1/160961/163/Leaf0163.pdf?sequence=2&isAllowed=y

Seasonal Pastures for Year-Round Grazing in East Texas.

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Texas A&M Repository

Seasonal Pastures for Year-Round Grazing in East Texas.

Abstract

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Full text

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Texas A&amp;M Repository

Texas A&M Repository