2013 Forage research update

Working to maximise the profitability of the cow/calf industry in Saskatchewan

2013 FORAGE RESEARCH UPDATE

Canadian Forage and Grasslands Association

December 10 2013Paul Jefferson, H.A. (Bart) Lardner, and

Kathy Larson


• Mission:Collaboratively linking lab and land for the competitiveness and sustainability of the cow-calf industry in Saskatchewan.• Vision:WBDC is a leader in collaborative applied research for the beef and forage industries; identifying and communicating opportunities for profitable innovation• www.wbdc.sk.ca

http://www.wbdc.sk.ca/


• Nova sainfoin, 5 experimental lines, AC Grazeland alfalfa (check)

• Monoculture vs alternate row seeding, small plots (1.5 x 6 m)

• Simulated grazing in 2012 (sickle mower)

• Also studied at Lethbridge, Swift Current and Saskatoon

SAINFOIN ALFALFA MIXTURES


Sainfoin persistence under simulated grazing

Experimentals and check

35194012

39003901

Mountainview*Nova

% S

ainf

oin

with

alfa

lfa

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

cut 1 2011cut 1 2012cut 2 2012cut 3 2012


Cover by Daubenmire frame method August 20 2013


Sainfoin persistence under simulated grazing

Experimentals and check

35194012

39003901

Mountainview*Nova

% S

ainf

oin

cove

r 201

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

alternate with alfalfapure stand


• 4 sites: Swift Current, Termuende (Lanigan), Saskatoon, Melfort

• 4 rotations: annual crops (2) vs alfalfa or red clover (2010 and 2011); all rotations grew wheat in 2012 and canola in 2013

SHORT ROTATION FORAGE LEGUMES FOR REDUCING N FERTILIZER

Rotation/Year 2010 2011 2012 20131 Alfalfa Alfalfa Wheat Canola2 Red Clover Red Clover Wheat Canola3 Barley Pea Wheat Canola4 Barley Flax Wheat (N rate) Canola (N

rate)


SHORT ROTATION LEGUME FORAGES 2013

September 14 2012


Lanigan N response 2013

N rate lb ac-10 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160

Can

ola

bu a

c-1

20

25

30

35

40

45

50

55


Rotation (2010-11-12)

Canola Grain yield bu/ac

Est. N provided kg/ha

1. Alfalfa-A-Wheat-Canola

33.2 34

2. Red Clover-RC- W-C

40.4 65

3. Barley-Pea-W-C 31.1 304. B-Flax-W-C 25.9

NS (P=0.09) NSSE = 3.6

2013 RESULTS LANIGAN


• Seeded in 2012• Oxley, Oxley II and Veldt vs AC Grazeland

alfalfa• 3 management systems: Stockpiled for

fall, Hay + SP, Simulated grazing• Termuende, Saskatoon, and Lethbridge

CICER MILKVETCH VARIETIES FOR FALL PASTURE


Hay and Stockpiled Cicer Milkvetch 2013

Alfalfa Oxley Oxley II Veldt std err

DM

Yie

ld lb

ac-1

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

Clip 1 July 2Clip 2 August 9


Stockpiled Cicer Milkvetch 2013


DM

Yie

ld lb

ac-1

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

October 9


Cicer Milkvetch 2013


Tota

l DM

Yie

ld lb

ac-1

0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

Simulated GrazingHay + StockpiledStockpiled


Cicer Milkvetch 2013


TDN

% in

Oct

ober

0

20

40

60

80

100

Simulated GrazingHay + StockpiledStockpiled


GRAZING CORN RESEARCH ATWESTERN BEEF DEVELOPMENT

CENTRE


Dry matter yield and nutrient composition of corn varieties. (Lardner et al. 2012)Item 1 2 3 4 5 Average

DM, % 40.1 50.4 37.0 38.1 49.4

DMY, ton/acre 4.8 5.7 4.1 4.2 5.6 5.0

DMY, tonne/ha 10.7 12.8 9.2 9.4 12.5 11.0

CP, %

Whole plant 7.8 7.7 6.4 8.1 7.0 7.4

Leaves 7.4 13.1 12.0 13.6 13.0 11.8

Cob 12.3 10.9 11.4 12.9 11.2 11.7

TDN, %

Whole plant 69.7 70.8 68.6 69.2 68.7 69.4

Leaves 49.7 60.6 60.5 59.7 55.1 57.1

Cob 89.3 90.3 90.1 89.8 90.8 89.9


Crop Expenses (2011)

(Lardner et al. 2012)

$207.60 to $226.36


Grazing results of corn varieties (2011-12).Item

Yield (t/ac)Grazing

(day) Paddock

Size (acre) Cow

Days/acre $/Hd/Day

1 4.75 1894 6.2 305 $0.70

2 5.74 1755 6.8 258 $0.82

3 4.04 2070 6.5 318 $0.69

4 4.13 810 5.6 145 $1.40

5 5.64 1066 5.2 205 $1.02



Table 8. Grazing results of corn varieties (2011-12).

Item Yield (t/ac) Grazing (day)

Paddock Size (acre)

Cow Days/acre $/Hd/Day

1 4.75 1894 6.2 305 $0.70

2 5.74 1755 6.8 258 $0.82

3 4.04 2070 6.5 318 $0.69

4 4.13 810 5.6 145 $1.40

5 5.64 1068 5.2 205 $1.02

Grazing Costs$/cow/day

$0.71 to $1.42



GRAZING NEW CORN VARIETIESWITH BEEF COWS AND CALVES

AcknowledgementsAlberta Livestock & Meat Agency Ltd.Saskatchewan Agriculture Development FundPioneer; Hyland; Monsanto


1. Small plot studies in Saskatchewan and Alberta• Melfort SK, Scott SK• Fairview AB, Evansburg AB

2. Beef cow grazing study• Grazing whole plant corn in field paddocks• Grazing swathed barley in field paddocks• Barley hay fed in drylot pens

3. Calf backgrounding/finishing study- similar treatments as cow study

THREE YEAR STUDY – 3 EXPERIMENTS


• Excessive cob intake (pH)• Digestive disturbances/grain

overload/founder• Adapt - feed grain supplement for 7 to

10 d before exposure to corn field• Addition of extra roughage

(hay/forage bales)• Limit daily corn graze time

HEALTH CONCERNS CONSIDEREDWHEN GRAZING CORN


Questions?

Field Day June 24 2014

Termuende Research Ranch

7 miles East of Lanigan, SK

www.wbdc.sk.ca

2013 Forage research update

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