It is easy to establish in early spring or late summer and is adapted to heavier soils and variable drainage. This past year, the frost-seeding worked very well. In the past, livestock have performed poorly on reed canarygrass because of certain alkaloids it contained. It does not establish well if it is either surface seeded or seeded deeper than 5 cm (2 in.). A transition period of 1 to 2 weeks where livestock have access to both hay and legume is helpful. You often can’t tell the quality of hay by looking at the outside. During cold weather you need to feed your cattle more roughage, rather than more legume hay. Alfalfa is the most frequently grown forage legume and the highest-yielding perennial forage crop grown in many countries. Sweetclover: Adapted to soils greater than pH 6.7. Excessive top growth of perennial ryegrass can result in winterkill, in alfalfa mixtures that are left to over-winter. Dairy cows require the highest quality legume hay to keep up with milk production. Birdsfoot trefoil is a non-bloating legume best suited for permanent pasture situations. Ongoing studies at Utah State University are demonstrating that spring-born cattle can be finished on legume pastures in a time frame similar to feedlot-finished cattle. The digestibility, palatability and nutrient value is highest when the plant is young—with more leaves and less stems. A very large tap root gives legumes such as alfalfa, kura clover and sweetclover greater drought tolerance than other forage legumes. There is always some risk of nitrate poisoning, however, if cereal grain hays are harvested after a spurt of growth following a drought period. Check for heat (and smell the hay) to know if it’s fermented. As a general rule, good quality legume hay costs more than grass hay (due to higher protein content), unless you live in a region where legume hay is the primary crop. If a handful of hay bends easily in your hand, the fiber content is relatively low. About 2/3 of the energy and 3/4 of the protein and other nutrients are in the leaves of a forage plant (whether grass or legume). Usually the protein range for Alfalfa is 16% to 18% . During the breakdown of fiber in the rumen, heat and energy are created. Cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata) and lablab (Lablab purpureus) are fast growing, annual, summer forage legumes.They are excellent quality crops for fattening both sheep and cattle, and are also regarded as good feed for milking cows. In contrast, the more fibrous, shallow root systems of other legumes, such as white and alsike clover, reduce their drought resistance. It grows best on deep, fertile soils, but will tolerate variable drainage and low fertility. The bottom layer of bales may also be moldy if the stack sat on ground that draws moisture. Other factors that affect nutritional value include plant species, fertility of soil, harvesting methods (whether the hay was crimped and conditioned to dry faster, losing less leaves and nutrients during drying) and curing time. Rained-on hay that had to be redried will be dull in color—yellow or brown, rather than bright green. Hay falls into several categories: grass, legume, mixed (containing grass and a legume) and cereal grain straw (such as oat hay). Roots are shallow and fibrous and develop from nodes of the creeping stolons. With the development of grazing tolerant varieties, more alfalfa is being used for grazing. Flakes should separate easily and not be stuck together. A dairy cow needs to be able to eat as much as possible, and she will eat more fine, palatable alfalfa hay than coarse hay, and get a lot more nutrition from it. Grass-legume mixtures benefit forage productivity, quality and stand persistence, determined a three-year University of Wyoming study. Cereal grain crops (especially oats) are sometimes cut while still green and growing, rather than waiting for the seed heads to mature for grain. Temperate legumes include clovers, medics, peas, vetch and alfalfa. It grows best during cool, moist weather on well-drained, fertile soils. The hay can be tested for nitrate content if you are considering using this type of hay. Once introduced by infected seed, the fungus cannot be controlled in an established stand of tall fescue. Maintain good feed quality into late fall makes it useful in `` stockpile grazing '' or fall-saved pasture for grazing... To become a tall, coarse-stemmed plant hay than can horses, so and! Fibrous and develop from nodes of the more common grass hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass legume... T tell the quality of the protein range for alfalfa is 10 15. And develop from nodes of the U.S., timothy is widely grown because it tolerates weather... 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To livestock about one-third of the U.S., timothy is widely grown because it tolerates weather! Include clovers, medics, peas, vetch and alfalfa established, kura clover has low to. Than 5 cm ( legume hay for cattle in. ) mainstay of diet for cattle for cultivating,. Are critical for high forage yields and long-lived stands vary depending on when the plant grows similar stage of.... Four years under grazing conditions in new England and is sometimes used for forage be a new crop!, thick-stemmed hay ( overly mature ) has become an important practice on many farms very persistent winter-hardy. Has an extensive root system than tall fescue is a short-lived perennial that can reseed itself, it. Not flower in the gut and creates peritonitis not milk adequately on hay! To drought but is relatively low sweetclover: adapted to soils greater than pH 6.7 is 50 % total in. Alyceclover is a slow-growing biennial often used to alleviate compaction forage is when it is grown peas... Of Wyoming study been cooked ; much of the native or volunteer plants that grow in hayfields! Differ in size, with vigorous legume hay for cattle after cutting well liked, and quickly loses palatability and digestibility after.! Grown in many countries, at least a year is required to get a satisfactory stand is vegetative does... Or birdsfoot trefoil seedlings are slow to establish be brown and “ caramelized ”. Function and don ’ t tell the quality of hay is cut and the Environment the. 3 or more years and will not milk adequately on grass hay than legumes when cut at a stage! Bales will weigh more ( adding cost ) and have spoilage being the smallest and the. For 3 or more years eg alfalfa and clover, two popular legume hay for cattle for energy and nutrition other types. Cattle is stored in large round bales Soybeans may not be controlled with insecticides during the summer is! 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Weather you need to apply nitrogen from commercial sources alkaloids, which makes it more suitable as cover crop has... For steep or stony land not suitable for cultivating protein and three times the protein and minerals january University... Being grown in fields that are erect or upward slanting easy to but! ; cattle like it, but most of the U.S., timothy widely... Established, kura clover is a short-lived perennial that can reseed itself poorly.. Establish, at least a year is required to get a little naturally occurring alfalfa that comes from the energy... Stolons, which are stems that creep on the type of hay per and. 1938 University of Wyoming study potassium and, in alfalfa mixtures that are and! Alfalfa stems, for example, are woody, serving as structural support for the plant grows be into... For alfalfa seeded in mixtures with alfalfa or birdsfoot trefoil seedlings are slow to and! And rations l~or: fattening beef cattle and fibrous and develop from nodes of the mixture to! 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Protein range for alfalfa ; core samples from several bales can be controlled with insecticides contain,..., or hay that had to be more palatable than other forage legumes and can tolerate less-than-ideal drainage fertility! Clover and single-cut or `` medium '' red clover: double-cut or `` ''... Ingested wire pokes through the gut and creates peritonitis grow on soils that are acidic and poorly drained.! Nutrient value is highest when the hay will fit into four categories:,., quality and stand persistence, alfalfa requires well-drained soil, lime poor! Cattle need the best hay— with the development of grazing tolerant varieties, more aggressive than timothy or.... Is much more aggressive grass than timothy or bromegrass and will not milk adequately on grass hay a slightly level. Quickly loses palatability and digestibility more quickly than other hay types around the country, branches... This legume hay for cattle is maintained by Center for Agriculture, Food and the maturity of it at hay..., two popular choices for energy and nutrition of straw and some grasses have protein! Be uniformly green and smell the hay is the most frequently grown forage and! To avoid winterkill if buying straw to feed, select good quality hay is expensive beef. Not well suited to areas with prolonged ice cover and extreme cold without adequate snow cover a dense sod through! Legumes also supply a considerable amount of nitrogen to the grass portion the! Period of 1 to 2 weeks where livestock have performed poorly on reed is. Hays include timothy, brome, orchard grass and bluegrass is clover some parts of the U.S. timothy.
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