ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY GALE A. BUCHANAN. DIRECTOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA

a
n 2~

4.s-

V.;1

,1
.t 4, 4 w,

J

~44,J~,'1~
-

7A

v

7'

^

c

Tall Fescue with Ladino Clover or Birdsfoot Trefoil as Pasture for Steers in Northern Alabama
BULLETIN 530 OCTOBER 1981

'

ql{

CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION............................................... EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE...................................

3 4

Pasture Management ................................ Management of Grazing Animals.....................
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION.....................................

4 4
5

Pastures........................................... Cattle Performance ..................................
SUMMARY................................................... LITERATURE CITED..........................................

5 8 10 11

FIRST PRINTINC 4M, OCTOBER 1981

Information contained herein is available to all personas without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.

TALL FESCUE WITH LADINO CLOVER OR BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL AS PASTURE FOR STEERS IN NORTHERN ALABAMA
C. S. HOVELAND, R. R. HARRIS, E. E. THOMAS, E. M. CLARK, J. A. MeGUIRE, J. T. EASON, and M. E. RUF*

INTRODUCTION
TALL
FESCUE (Festuca arundinacea) pasture is generally

satisfactory for maintenance of beef cows with calves, but average daily gain (ADG) of growing steers has generally been below 1 pound per day (1). The poor animal performance on tall fescue has been associated with a fungus Acremonium spp. (in previous studies Epichloe typhina was the fungus presumed to be implicated) which may produce a mycotoxin (4). The ADG of steers grazing fungus-free tall fescue over a 3-year period at the Black Belt Substation in Alabama was 1.78 pounds, indicating the potential of this grass. Gains are improved when ladino white clover (Trifolium repens) is a component of tall fescue pasture as demonstrated in one trial in northern Alabama (2). The clover may counteract the effects of a mycotoxin, but this is not proven since the grass was not tested for the presence of a toxic fungus in the grazing experiment cited (2). In northern Alabama, birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) has shown promise as a legume for pasture in a clipping trial (3). Fergus, a new pasture-type birdsfoot trefoil, was developed by the Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station and shows potential for northern Alabama.
*Professor, Department of Agronomy and Soils; Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences; Assistant Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences; Associate Professor, Department of Botany, Plant Pathology, and Microbiology; Associate Professor, Department of Research Data Analysis; and Superintendent and Associate Superintendent, Sand Mountain Substation, respectively.

4

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE This report summarizes theresults of steer performance over a 2-year period at the Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville, Alabama, on three pasture combinations: (a) Kentucky 31 tall fescue with 150 pounds N per acre, (b) tall fescue with Regal ladino clover, and (c) tall fescue with Fergus birdsfoot trefoil. Pasture Management Pastures were established on Hartsells fine sandy loam. Kentucky 31 tall fescue was seeded in October 1977, with the grass-nitrogen paddocks planted in 7-inch rows and the grasslegume paddocks in 14-inch rows. Fergus birdsfoot trefoil and Regal ladino clover were seeded with a cultipacker seeder in March 1978. Three paddocks, each 2 acres in area, were planted to each pasture combination. Grazing for record was begun in fall 1978. Grass residue was mowed and removed from paddocks each September. Nitrogen was applied at a rate of 75 pounds per acre in September and again in March on the tall fescue-nitrogen treatment. No nitrogen was applied to the tall fescuelegume paddocks. Phosphorus and potassium were applied to all paddocks according to soil test recommendations. Estimates on botanical composition were made at monthly intervals during the grazing season. Pastures were sampled in May or June each year for the fungus, Acremonium spp. Understocking of most paddocks occurred during late spring each year so surplus forage was cut for hay. Management of Grazing Animals Crossbred steers, weighing approximately 500 pounds, were purchased each September and pre-conditioned for 3 weeks on tall fescue pasture before being put on the experimental paddocks. During the period of January to mid-March grazing was inadequate, therefore all steers were removed from the paddocks and fed tall fescue hay, corn silage, and a soybean protein supplement to maintain gains of approximately 1 pound per day. Animals were weighed at 28-day intervals from October through August. Additional animals were placed on the paddocks during peak periods of pasture growth. Live weight gains of the additional cattle were also recorded.

TALL FESCUE WITH LADINO CLOVER OR BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

5

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Pastures Excess rainfall during the fall of 1977 delayed pasture planting until late October so only tall fescue was planted. Good grass stands were obtained and the clover and trefoil were overseeded in March 1978. Good ladino clover stands were obtained, but trefoil stands were thin on two of the three paddocks planted to this species. Drought during late spring and early summer reduced growth of trefoil. Consequently, trefoil made up only about 13 percent of the total forage in the tall fescue-trefoil paddocks, table 1. Ladino clover stands were excellent and clover made up about 24 percent ofthe forage in this mixture. The sparse trefoil in the tall fescue sward, figure 1, is in contrast with thick stands of ladino clover, figure 2. Clover competition reduced grass growth in the tall fescueclover paddocks. Sufficient numbers of steers were not available to increase the stocking rate on all paddocks the first season, figure 3, and in some paddocks the second year so surplus forage was harvested as hay, table 1. The grass-nitrogen paddocks were definitely understocked during the spring, resulting in an average of 3,400 pounds per acre of hay harvested each year. A heavy infestation of the fungus, Acremonium spp., was found in tall fescue on all paddocks during both years, thus poor animal performance was expected according to previous research at the Black Belt Substation (4).

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVERAGE PERCENTAGE LEGUMES IN PASTURES

Hay produced per acre 2-year 1978-79 1979-80 average Lb. Lb. Lb. Pct. 0c 910 b 24 1,820 b* Fescue-ladino clover.......... 1,550 b 1,970 b 13 2,390 b Fescue-trefoil ................. 2,270 a 3,420 a 0 4,580 a Fescue + 150 lb. N/acre .... *Means within a column having the same letter are not significantly different at P , .05. Pasture Legume composition of pasture

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

FIG. I. Sparse amount of IFergus birdsfoot trefoil in tall fescue pasture.

't

a, F,
%
"z ,~*

s r

5 :a
S

FIG. 2. Thick stand of Regal ladino clover in tall fescue pasture.

TALL FESCUE WITH LADINO CLOVER OR BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

I

4
A

Np
4

4

f4
.t

V

~

ii

IG . .3. IC iderstocked tall fescue- ladinio

as IuoN pastuIre, April 24, 197 9. that \N cut for er

hay.

8

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

Cattle Performance Calendar grazing days on all pastures averaged about 2 months the first fall and about 3 months the second fall, table 2. The trefoil paddocks furnished fewer calendar days of grazing compared with ladino clover and tall fescue-nitrogen. Approximately 130 days of spring grazing were obtained on all forage treatments during the first season in contrast to only 118 days during the second season. This reduction was caused by drought.
TABLE 2. CALENDAR GRAZING DAYS FOR STEERS ON TALL FESCUE AND TALL FESCUELEGUME PASTURES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION

1979-80 1978-79 Fall Spring Total Fall Spring Total Fescue-ladino clover ............ 67 a* 132 a 199 93 a 118 a 211 Fescue-trefoil ................... 67 a 132 a 199 70 b 118 a 188 Fescue + 150 lb. N/acre ......... 67 a 129 a 196 98 a 118 a 216 *Means within a column having the same letter are not significantly different at Pasture
P < .05.

The daily stocking rate was similar for all pastures in fall of both years, table 3. In spring of the first season, stocking rate of tall fescue-ladino clover and tall fescue-nitrogen was higher than for tall fescue-trefoil. During the second spring, stocking rate was highest, (2.96 steers per acre) for tall fescue-nitrogen, and lowest (1.69 steers per acre) for tall fescue-trefoil. When averaged over the 2-year period, the stocking rate was lowest for tall fescue-trefoil because of the poor trefoil stands and reduced tall fescue growth.
TABLE 3. DAILY STOCKING RATE PER ACRE FOR STEERS ON TALL FESCUE AND TALL
FESCUE-LEGUME PASTURES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION

1978-79 1979-80 Average Fall Spring Fall Spring No. No. No. No. No. Fescue-ladino clover............. 0.84 a* 1.69 a 1.50 a 2.50 b 1.63 a Fescue-trefoil....................0.84 a 1.15 b 1.29 a 1.69 c 1.24 b Fescue + 150 lb. N/acre.......... 0.84 a 1.75 a 1.50 a 2.96 a 1.76 a * Means within a column having the same letter are not significantly different at
P < .05.

Pasture

Although beef gain per acre was similar for all three pasture combinations during fall in both years, spring gains were highest on tall fescue-ladino clover, table 4. During spring of the second season, 478 pounds of beef per acre were produced on ladino clover which resulted in 714 pounds per acre for the 1979-80 season. This was achieved without any nitrogen fer-

TALL FESCUE WITH LADINO CLOVER OR BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

9

tilizer. The high beef gain produced on tall fescue-ladino clover the second season with a high stocking rate, resulting in no surplus hay, indicates the great potential of this low-cost pasture combination.
TABLE 4. TOTAL BEEF GAIN PER ACRE FOR STEERS ON TALL FESCUE AND TALL FESCUELEGUME PASTURES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION

1978-79 Fall Spring Total Lb. Lb. Lb. 61 a* 389 a 450 Fescue-ladino clover ............ 63 a 243 b 306 Fescue-trefoil .................. 56 a 206 b 262 Fescue + 150 lb. N/acre ......... *Means within a column having the same letter are P < .05. Pasture

2-year 1979-80 Fall Spring Total average Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. 236 a 478 a 714 582 398 150 a 340 b 490 374 214 a 271b 485 not significantly different at

The ADG of steers during fall was similar on all three pasture mixturesbut was higher the second season compared to the first, table 5. Spring ADG of steers was highest on tall fescue-legume pastures. For the entire season, the 2-year ADG was more than 1.5 pounds per day on grass-legume pastures as compared with only 1 pound on tall fescuenitrogen. Even though trefoil stands were thin and the amount of trefoil in the forage was small, the legume apparently had a beneficial effect on steer gains. Although ADG on tall fescuenitrogen was low, and similar to that obtained in previous trials (2), it is apparent that a legume in the sward can offset, to a considerable extent, the effect of fungus-infested grass.
TABLE 5. AVERAGE DAILY GAIN OF TESTER STEERS ON TALL FESCUE AND TALL FESCUELEGUME PASTURES AT SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION

Pasture

1978-79 Spring Fall

1979-80 Spring Fall

2-year average

Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. Lb. 1.53 a 1.67 a 1.67 a Fescue-ladino clover............. 1.15 a* 1.64 a 1.76 a 1.51 a 1.25 ab 1.79 a 1.24 a Fescue-trefoil ................... 0.92 b 1.06 b 0.81 b 1.46 a Fescue + 150 lb. N/acre.......... 1.07 a * Means within a column having the same letter are not significantly different at
P < .05.

The presence of legumes in tall fescue greatly increased total gain per steer, table 6. Ladino clover increased yearly gains by about 100 pounds and trefoil by about 50 pounds compared to tall fescue-nitrogen. This demonstrates the vast improvement a small proportion of legume can contribute in a tall fescue pasture. Steers on both the legume-grass mixtures had excellent appearance from the standpoint of hair coat and finish. Animals

10

ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION

on the tall fescue-nitrogen paddocks had rougher hair coats at the end of the grazing season each year.
TABLE 6. GAIN PER STEER ON TALL FESCUE AND TALL FESCUE-LEGUME PASTURES AT
SAND MOUNTAIN SUBSTATION

2-year

Pasture

1978-79 Fall Spring Total Lb. Lb. Lb.

1979-80 Fall Spring Total Lb. Lb. Lb.

average Fall Spring Total Lb. Lb. Lb. 109 a 198 a 82 b 170 b 307 252

Fescue-ladino 61 a* 201 a clover ............... Fescue-trefoil ........... 63 a 140 b Fescue + 150 lb. 56 a 100 c N/acre ............... * Means within a column having the P < .05.

262 157 a 195 a 352 203 100 b 200 a 300

156 142a 108b 250 99a 104c 203 same letter are not significantly different at

SUMMARY A grazing study with yearling steers was conducted for 2 years at the Sand Mountain Substation on: (a) Kentucky 31 tall fescue plus 150 pounds nitrogen per acre, (b) tall fescue-Regal ladino clover, and (c) tall fescue-Fergus birdsfoot trefoil. More than 210 calendar days of grazing were obtained on tall fescue-ladino clover and tall fescue-nitrogen, but because of poor trefoil stands, slightly less were obtained on tall fescue-trefoil the second season. Stocking rate per acre was lower on tall fescue-trefoil (1.24) than on tall fescue-ladino clover (1.63) and tall fescue-nitrogen (1.76 steers ler acre). Beef gain per acre was highest on tall fescue ladino clover-582 pounds as compared to 398 pounds on tall fescuetrefoil and 374 pounds on tall fescue-nitrogen. Average daily gain of steers was higher, more than 1.5 pounds per day, on tall fescue with ladino clover or trefoil as compared to only 1.06 pounds on tall fescue-nitrogen. Annual gains per steer were increased by 100 pounds on ladino clover and by 50 pounds on trefoil as compared to tall fescue-nitrogen. Tall fescue was infested with the fungus,Acremonium spp., which is suspected to produce a harmful mycotoxin. Legumes appear to partially or completely offset the adverse effects of fungus-infested tall fescue.

TALL FESCUE WITH LADINO CLOVER OR BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL

11

LITERATURE CITED

(1)
(2)
(3)

BUSH, L. and R. C. BUCKNER. 1973. Tall Fescue Toxicity. pp. 99-112. In A. G. Matches (ed.) Anti-Quality Components of Forages. Crop Sci. Soc. Amer. Spec. Publ. No. 4.
HARRIS, R. R., E. M. EVANS,

J.

K. BOSECK, and W. B. WEBSTER. 1972.

Fescue, Orchardgrass, and Coastal Bermudagrass Grazing for Yearling Beef Steers. Alabama Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 432.
HOVELAND, C. S., R.

L.

HAALAND,

J. T.

EASON, M.

E. RUF, and

E. BURGESS.

1978. Birdsfoot Trefoil-Legume of the Future in North Alabama? Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Highlights of Agr. Res. Vol. 25, No. 25. (4) HOVELAND, C. S., R. L. HAALAND, C. C. KING, W. B. ANTHONY, J. A. McGUIRE, L. A. SMITH, H. W. GRIMES, and J. L. HOLLIMAN. 1979. Tall Fescue and Phalaris Pasture for Steers. Alabama Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 515.

-Mabakind s AlgricUiLurdi Lxpcrllucnt Station S) stein

AUBURN UNIVERSITY

W ith ttn .lgricultur~tl rese~u-ch unit in ev ery mtajor s il area, Auburn I'ln iVe-Sit\ scrvcs, the needs of field c.ro p, liv estock,
and horiiCuhi r-al pr( duc ers in each rejt.ion in \lahamv. Ex (r\ CitiLQen oft the sute has a
tcit istt\,

O

n
~J O

stake in this rescatr(h
p r o a r ta me s i nl g~ g , f o e alyad c \, v

anid mvore (icionm xixs of pro)ducing and handling farmi prodctsc1 directlx lieneftiL the C()nsuming publiC.
ica ii

H

(.-)

®Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. K' E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter.
1. Tennessee Valley Substation. Belle Mina. 2. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville. 3. North Alabama Horticulture Substation. Cullman. 4. Upper Coastal Plain Substation. Winfieldt 5. Forestry Unit, Fayette County. 6. Foundation Seed Stocks Farm, Thorsby. 7. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton. 8. Forestry Unit, Coosa County. 9. Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill. 10. Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee. 11. Forestry Unit. Autauga County. 12. Prattville Experiment Field, Prattville. 13. Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction. 14. The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place, Union Springs. 15. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden. 16. Forestry Unit, Barbour County. 17. Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville. 18. Wiregrass Substation, Headland. 19. Brewton Experiment Field. Brewton. 20. Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center. Covington and Escambia counties. 21. Ornamental Horticulture Field Station, Spring Hill. 22. Gulf Coast Substation, Fairhope.