Warmer weather has arrived, and fields are greening up. Some of the first plants to start growing in the spring are winter annuals according to University of Missouri Extension dairy specialist Ted Probert.
“With that in mind it is time to begin making plans for use and harvest of winter annuals that have been grown for forage production,” Probert said.
Popular winter annual forage crops grown in Southern Missouri include rye, wheat, triticale and annual ryegrass. These crops are often used for fall and spring grazing but also work well when harvested and stored in the form of hay, silage, or baleage.
HIGH QUALITY FEED
Because the harvest of these crops is accomplished at a time when curing is difficult, Probert says silage or baleage are the preferred means of preservation.
“Winter annuals are capable of producing a feed source of high nutrient content with proper attention to harvest and storage practices,” Probert said. “Considering the cost associated with planting, growing and harvesting these crops, management for a high value, high-quality feed should be a top priority for growers.”
Accomplishing the goal of producing high-quality feed from winter annuals does take effort and attention to detail. It is common to see these forages harvested in a manner that produces less than desirable feed that, in some cases, may be difficult to use for livestock feeding.
“Obviously the goal should be to produce feed that will contribute positively to our animals’ nutritional needs,” Probert said.
HARVESTING STAGES
Once they break dormancy and begin to grow in the spring, winter annuals develop very rapidly to harvest stage according to Probert. Striking a balance between optimal forage yield and optimal feed quality will be accomplished only by harvesting in a fairly narrow window of plant development that occurs during a time span of only a few days.
“Winter annuals can provide a feed of excellent quality if harvested at the correct stage,” Probert said. “Based upon these values the recommended stage of harvest for small grains and annual ryegrass is in the boot stage. Upon reaching the head stage, they start to decline rapidly. Only a few days following heading both proteins, and net energy values fall drastically.”
Rye, triticale, and annual ryegrass will all follow a developmental curve similar to wheat. Quality tends to decline more rapidly in rye and triticale. Also, rye will develop two to three weeks earlier in the season than wheat.
Wheat will still be of a reasonable quality at the early head stage, but rye and triticale will not if the feed is intended for dairy cattle or growing animals. Once small grains have advanced past early to mid-head (for rye and triticale, late boot to very early head) resulting feed will be a challenge to use in most ruminant diets.
“While the stage of harvest is important in producing high-quality feed, it is not the only factor that will have an influence,” Probert said. “During most spring harvest seasons drying conditions will not allow time for forages to dry down to moisture levels needed for baling dry hay.”
Preservation of winter annuals will be more successful by making silage or baleage.
“The goal in growing forages for livestock should be to produce feed that will meet the nutritional requirements of your animals,” Probert said. “Winter annual grasses offer high potential for achieving this goal, but attention to best harvest and storage practices will be critical to producing top quality feeds.”
For more information, call Sarah Kenyon at the MU Extension office in Houston at 417 967-4545.
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