Forage Types

Inside every storage structure is an invisible battle between “good” and “bad” microorganisms. If the good guys win, the prize is tons of nutrient-rich silage. If the bad guys win, there may be significant dry matter (DM) and nutrient losses, excessive spoilage, feed refusals, low animal performance or even poor animal health and reproduction. We really need the good guys to win.

Native warm-season grasses (NWSG) are notoriously slow to establish. The adage is: The first year it sleeps, the second year it creeps, and the third year it leaps.

Spring cereal forages are an important part of the total forage program. In the last few years, the industry has seen an increase in the use of these spring annuals.

New forage varieties are filling gaps in the grazing calendar with perennial pastures or cover crops, enabling cattle to graze more of the year or providing higher-quality forage for beef production or dairy.

Interseeding pastures: profit or problem? This is a question on which many people have differing positions. Let’s explore a few facets of this subject.

Ryegrass is a popular cool-season choice for pastures and hay mixes, known for its rapid growth rate, high yields and nutrient-dense content.