BULLETIN 515 JULY 1979 I : ? 4?1~1 *"4 i', 1:r ,' ;. ;:, ..i- , a_ .... '4 - z TALL FESCUE PHALARIS PASTURE FOR STEERS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION R. DENNIS ROUSE, DIRECTOR AUBURN UNIVERSITY AUBURN, ALABAMA AND CONTENTS Page EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE................................... 4 4 Pasture Management ................................ Management of Grazing Animals..................... 4 RESULTS AND DIscussION..................................... 4 Pastures........... ............................... Cattle Performance .................................. SUMMARY................................................... LITERATURE CITED.......................................... 4 6 9 10 FIRST PRINTING 4M, JULY 1979 Information contained herein is available to all persons without regard to race, color, or national origin. TALL FESCUE andPHALARIS PASTURE for STEERS C. S. HOVELAND, R. L. HAALAND, C. C. KING, W. B. ANTHONY, J. A. McGUIRE, L. A. SMITH, H. W. GRIMES, and J. L. HOLLIMAN 1 TALL FESCUE (Festuca arundinacea) pasture is generally satisfactory for maintenance of beef cows with calves. However, average daily gain (ADG) of growing steers over the grazing season on tall fescue without legumes has generally been low even though stocking rate and gain per acre are satisfactory (2). In the Tennessee Valley of Alabama, the ADG of steers averaged only 1.1 pounds over the season for 8 years (3). Autumn gains in this study were lower than spring gains. In northern areas of the United States where tall fescue continues growth in summer, gains are generally poorest during the summer months. The poor ADG of steers on tall fescue has previously been attributed to alkaloids (2) and more recently to mycotoxins produced by fungi such as Epichloe typhina (1). Considerably higher steer gains, 1.7 pounds ADG over 3 years, were obtained on irrigated tall fescue in Washington State (4). The soil pH of 7.5 in this Washington experiment was considerably higher than in most eastern United States experiments. Phalaris (Phalarisaquatica)is a cool season perennial grass that has potential in central Alabama. The high digestibility and winter forage production of certain phalaris introductions from the Mediterranean area were incorporated into an ex'Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Agronomy and Soils Department; Professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences; Associate Professor, Research Data Analysis; Superintendent, Associate Superintendent, and Assistant Superintendent, Black Belt Substation; respectively. 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION perimental variety, AP-2, developed at Auburn University (5, 6). This report presents the first animal grazing data on this experimental variety. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE This report summarizes the results of steer performance over 3 years at the Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction, Alabama, on two pasture grasses: (1) Kentucky 31 tall fescue and (2) AP-2 phalaris. Pasture Management Pastures were established on an area predominantly of two calcareous soils (pH 7.5), Sumter clay and Houston clay. Three paddocks, each 3 acres in area, were planted on prepared land in October 1974, to Kentucky 31 tall fescue and AP-2 phalaris. Grazing for record was begun in autumn 1975. Grass residue was mowed and removed from paddocks each September. Nitrogen at 100 pounds per acre was applied in September and again in February on both tall fescue and phalaris. Phosphorus and potassium were applied according to soil test recommendations. Estimates on botanical composition were made at monthly intervals during the grazing season. Forage was sampled monthly during the third grazing season for in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Pastures were sampled in May 1978 for the fungus Epichloe typhina. Management of Grazing Animals Crossbred steers weighing approximately 500 pounds were purchased each September. These steers were preconditioned on dallisgrass or tall fescue pasture supplemented with grain before placing them on the experimental paddocks. During January and February when sufficient grazing was not available, steers were removed from the paddocks and fed hay and a protein-mineral-vitamin supplement. Animals were weighed at 28-day intervals. Additional animals were added during peak periods of pasture growth. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Pastures Phalaris was more summer dormant than tall fescue, resulting in less forage available by early October and a lower TALL FESCUE AND PHALARIS PASTURE FOR STEERS TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVERAGE BOTANICAL COMPOSITION OF TALL FESCUE AND PHALARIS PASTURES DURING GRAZING SEASON OVER THREE YEARS Grass species KY 31 tall fescue Date 1975-76 1976-77 1977-78 1975-76 Fescue or phalaris 88 95 95 80 Dallisgrass 1 0 0 3 Grass weeds 3 0 5 7 Broadleaf weeds 8 5 0 10 AP-2 phalaris .... 1976-77 1977-78 79 67 6 10 5 23 10 0 stocking rate. Although greater winter production has been obtained with phalaris as compared to tall fescue in small plot trials on sandy loam soils (5), this was not evident in the grazing trial. The clay soils at this location are wet and cold in winter and may be responsible for the lack of phalaris winter growth. Botanical composition of forage over the grazing season differed for the grass species, table 1. Tall fescue paddocks contained about 12 percent other species the first season but were nearly weed free by the third year. Phalaris paddocks contained more weeds than tall fescue paddocks, especially the third year. The major weeds in phalaris were common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon); little barley (Hordeum pusillum), and dallisgrass (Paspalum dilatatum). The increase in dallisgrass and bermudagrass under grazing suggests that phalaris is less competitive with warm season grasses than is tall fescue. Digestibility of both tall fescue and phalaris was relatively low in autumn, high in late winter-early spring, and declined sharply in May and June, figure 1. There was no difference in digestibility between phalaris or tall fescue at any season of the year. Mineral content of the grasses was unaffected by season of the year. Calcium content of tall fescue was higher than that of phalaris, averaging 0.72 and 0.58 percent, respectively. The magnesium content of both grasses was low, averaging 0.14 percent. The low magnesium content in grasses is common on calcareous soils such as Sumter and Houston clays. The phosphorus and potassium levels were adequate for cattle nutrition and similar in both grasses, averaging 0.25 and 2.10 percent, respectively. 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION IVDMD 70 a. PHALARIS 60 TALL _ II FESCUE -1 1I 50 I I I I I I OCT NOV DEC MAR APR MAY JUN FIG. 1. Forage digestibility of Ky 31 tall fescue and AP-2 phalaris over the 1977-78 grazing season. Cattle Performance The average grazing periods on both phalaris and tall fescue for the 3-year period was from October 17, to December 26, and March 7, to June 19. Long, cold winters in 1975-76 and 1976-77 resulted in less winter grazing than expected. A severe spring drought in 1977 reduced animal performance and steers had to be removed from the pastures in early June rather than the latter part of the month. Animal days per acre for the two grass species appeared to be similar over the 3 years, table 2. However, the relative rank of the two different grass swards in respect to animal days per acre was not the same each year. The first and second years tall fescue exceeded that of phalaris but during the third year they were similar. The greater carrying capacity on tall fescue than TABLE 2. PERFORMANCE OF STEERS ON TALL FESCUE AND PHALARIS PASTURES AT BLACK BELT SUBSTATION, 3-YEAR AVERAGE Grass species KY 31 tall fescue ......... AP-2 phalaris .... Calendar days grazing .182 173 Carrying capacity steers/acre 1.40 a* 1.26 Animal days/acre 246 a 202 a Beef gain per acre Lb. 434 a 347 b Average daily gain Lb. 1.78 a 1.73 a *Values within a column marked with the same letter are not significantly different at 5 percent level. TALL FESCUE AND PHALARIS PASTURE FOR STEERS ti z6 FIG. 2. Excellent appearance of steers on tall fescue pastures at end of grazing season, June 1978. on phalaris resiilted in 87 pounds more b)eef gain per acre anmmualk\ on tall fcs(ee compared to phalaris ovecr the 3-\ ear period. The ADO of steers was high for cool season perennial grasses and similar on 1both tall fescue anid phalaris, talble 2. MIost imlportalitl\, the ADG of steers w-as nearix doublle that gcnerally oltained on tall fescue pasture (2). The favorable ADO of steers in this experiment was generally maintained throughout the grazing season except for some decline in Decemlber. The high ADG obtained on 1)oth tall fescue or phalaris is similar to that oltainedl in high quality small grain pastures. Steers on both tall fcscue andl phalaris had excellent appearance fromti the standlpoimit of hair coat anid degree of finish at the enml of each grazing season, figures 2 and 3. No problems were encountered with fescue toxicity (luring any of the 3 x ears. These results showv that good AlDG can he oltained \vith AP-2 phalaris pasture but similar performance \\as ohtained ith on tall fescue together wx higher carrying capacitx , better stand persistence, and less encroachment 1y other species. ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION p (1 FIG. 3. Excellent appearance of steers on phalaris pasture at end of grazing season, June 1978. Results of this experimlent did not indlieate any adv.antage of, phalaris ov.er tall fe~scue for gro\\ ing. steers. The reasons for the good(performance onl tall fescue are tnot know~n. The high ADlG ob~tained on tall fescue in tthis experimtenit is similar to that ob~tainied onl irrigatedI tall fescue in WVashington State (4). One sitnilaritti in these tw.xo grazin g trials is that b)oth w\ere on ealcareous soil havinjg at pH of 7.5. At the B~laek Belt Substation in am other tall fescue grazin g trial oil an acidL clay. soil 0.7 mile fron the trial onl ealeareous soil, AlDG of steers dutring the last 2 \ ears \\as poor and~ serious fescue tox ic(ity s> imptomts w\ere ob~servedN in Ma alt>~nd 1978. June, The (lifferenees in aunial performntce waith tall fescuie on the two. soils may lbe relatedl to the calcareoums nature of the one soil. Mlinteral Contet Wriay affect dev elopnment of liingi heav.in g the potential to produce ni> cotoxin s. O ne such funigus, Epi(4l1 w yiplina. waas abundant in grass on the aLcidl soil but absent in grass on the ealcareous soil wahere excellem itanimal performnanee \Xas ob~tained. If this fungus is an important faetor in poor atlnimal Iperfornlaticc on tall fesseue, this presents oppor- TALL FESCUE AND PHALARIS PASTURE FOR STEERS tunities for research to solve this problem and enable better utilization of tall fescue in stocker programs. Results of this experiment suggest that tall fescue has the potential for better animal performance than is now eing realized in most pastures. SUMMARY 1. A grazing study with yearling steers was conducted for 3 years at the Black Belt Substation on: (a) Kentucky 31 tall fescue and (b) AP-2 phalaris. 2. Average daily gain (ADG) of steers on both tall fescue and phalaris pasture was good, 1.78 and 1.73 pounds respectively. 3. Beef gain per acre was greater on tall fescue, 434 pounds per acre, as compared to 347 pounds on phalaris. 4. Carrying capacity was higher, 1.40 steers per acre, on tall fescue as compared to 1.26 on phalaris. 5. Steers on both tall fescue and phalaris had excellent appearance of hair coat and finish at the end of each grazing season. 6. The results indicate that under some conditions, tall fescue has the potential for better animal performance than is now generally realized. 7. Phalaris furnished relatively high ADG but had a lower carrying capacity and was less persistent under grazing than tall fescue. 10 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION LITERATURE CITED (1) BACON, C. W., J.D. PORTER, J. D. ROBBINS, AND E. J. LUTTRELL. 1977. Epichloe typhina from Toxic Tall Fescue Grasses. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 34:576-581. BUSH, L. AND R. C. BUCKNER. 1973. Tall Fescue Toxicity. p. 99-112. In (2) A. G. MATCHES (ed.) Anti-Quality Components of Forages. Crop Sci. Soc. Amer. Spec. Publ. No. 4. (3) HARRIS, R. R., E. M. EVANS, J. K. BOSECK, AND W. B. WEBSTER. 1972. Fescue, Orchardgrass, and Coastal Bermudagrass Grazing for Yearling Beef Steers. Auburn Univ. (Ala.) Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 432. (4) W. W. AND R. W. VAN KEUREN. 1958. Fattening Irrigated Pastures. Washington Agr. Exp. Sta. Bull. 578. HEINEMANN, Steers on (5) HOVELAND, C. S. AND W. B. ANTHONY. 1971. Winter Forage Production and in vitro Digestibility of Some PhalarisaquaticaL. Introductions. Crop Sci. 11:461-465. (6) SAIBRO, J. C., C. S. HOVELAND, AND J. C. WILLIAMs. 1978. Forage Yield and Quality of Phalaris as Affected by N Fertilization and Defoliation Regimes. Agron. J. 70: 497-500. AL ILcN LN1\NsLK{11Y W ith an agricultural research unit inO Auburn Uniersity serves the needs of field crop. livestock forestry, and horlicutltural prod.uccrs in each regtion in labama. Even- cii-O zen of the State has a stakec in this research pro gram. since aln adxa"nutagc fro)m newx and more economical xa s of produic- / O ® © I (i n ing and handling fr m pr)d ucts -Cli rect l benefits the consumling public. ® Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. s E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter. 1 2 3 4 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina. Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville North Alabama Horticulture Substation, Cullman. Upper Coastal Plain Substation, Winfield. Foreatry Unit, Fayette County. Foundation Seed Stocks Farm, Thorsby. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton. Forestry Unit, Coosa County Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill. Plant Breeding Unit, Tallassee. Forestry Unit, Autauga County. Prattville Experiment Field, Prattville. Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction. The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place, Union Springs. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden Forestry Unit, Barbour County. Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville Wiregrass Substation, Headland. Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Covington and Escambia counties 21. Ornamental Horticulture Field Station, Spring Hill. 22. Gulf Coast Substation. Fairhope.