GOOD GRASS

[RICHARDL]

Given the chance, what would be the best grass to plant to raise cattle on in the south
Merry Christmas
richardl

 

[jj216]

By plant ,do you mean seed or sprig.Sprig,Id say coastal bermuda is king in the south.Seed ,Id go with bahia.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

for grazing and cool season. fescue and clover. for hay bermuda

 

[MillIronQH]

I've got a neighbor that ranches and does sprigging on the side. He's about got me sold on Tifton 85. It's about $10 more then coastal but I've been in his pastures and fed the hay and it's good stuff.Z

 

[backhoeboogie]

My coastal is a sure thing. A side from that, I am always experimenting. After three months on back order, I picked up some Cheyene Burmuda seed last year. It was too late to plant so I am going to put it in this spring.

Giant burmuda didn't do to well for me this year but it was a dry year and those fields were not irrigated. They are too far from the river.

This fall I overseeded some coastal that I graze with Hubam Clover and rye. I am sold on it now. Next year I intend to overseed quite a bit more Hubam for winter forage on the coastal fields I let the cows graze.

The cows are in on some rye, wheat, and oat fields right now. I am going to move them across the road to the clover on the lower Brazos flood plain in January. About 5 acres of the upper flood plain is planted in a southern deer mix that includes Russain peas, rye, oat, wheat, clover varieties, with turnips everywhere. I figure the cows will go through that in about two weeks and then hit the lower flood plain.

Each year I sprig a little more coastal. I move the cows on and off of the newer sprigged fields. I intend to mix the Cheyenne Burmuda with a field of sprigs this year.

 

[houstoncutter]

Bahia mixed with clover. Less upkeep, and N fixation from the clover

 

[arkcowman]

Where are ya'll buying your seed ? co-op ?, TSC ?, nursery ? on-line ? feed / supply store ?

 

[backhoeboogie]

Where are ya'll buying your seed ? co-op ?, TSC ?, nursery ? on-line ? feed / supply store ?

Major purchases come from Turner Seed out of Breckenridge, TX. You can also get hard to find seed there. I make two trips up there each year and sometimes have them ship me seed. Believe it or not, even with shipping costs, it is usually cheaper to buy it there. Plus if anyone has it, they do. You can check them on line.

Mickey mouse seed purchases come from local feed stores and I did buy some "extra" rye grass from TSC when I ran short. It was more expensive and didn't fare as well as the stuff I got from Turner.

 

[Caustic Burno]

My coastal is a sure thing. A side from that, I am always experimenting. After three months on back order, I picked up some Cheyene Burmuda seed last year. It was too late to plant so I am going to put it in this spring.

Giant burmuda didn't do to well for me this year but it was a dry year and those fields were not irrigated. They are too far from the river.

This fall I overseeded some coastal that I graze with Hubam Clover and rye. I am sold on it now. Next year I intend to overseed quite a bit more Hubam for winter forage on the coastal fields I let the cows graze.

The cows are in on some rye, wheat, and oat fields right now. I am going to move them across the road to the clover on the lower Brazos flood plain in January. About 5 acres of the upper flood plain is planted in a southern deer mix that includes Russain peas, rye, oat, wheat, clover varieties, with turnips everywhere. I figure the cows will go through that in about two weeks and then hit the lower flood plain.

Each year I sprig a little more coastal. I move the cows on and off of the newer sprigged fields. I intend to mix the Cheyenne Burmuda with a field of sprigs this year.

Bahia is good grass just low yields compared to other improved pasture forage. Well the Red River Crab grass seed got here today so we will see what that test plot looks like next spring.

 

[backhoeboogie]

Bahia is good grass just low yields compared to other improved pasture forage. Well the Red River Crab grass seed got here today so we will see what that test plot looks like next spring.

My pasture in Marshall is covered with Bahia. It has taken over everything that hasn't been taken over by forest. There is a huge pipe line right of way from Lake O' the Pines routed through it and an electric power line right of way on the other side. Those strips are solid Bahia. I have never put a cow on that stuff but I have "tried" to mow it once. Tough stuff.

 

[Jogeephus]

It depends on your management. Best low maintenance grass is bahiagrass. This gives you longer growing season with little input. Best grass - just can't get it yet is probably going to be Coast Cross II. Other than that, Tift 85 is pretty hard to beat - if you manage it, fertilize it and get some water. With these three things, it can grow from 1 to three inches per day. Additionally, the lignin is more easily broken down by cattle and it is therefore more digestible. Here is some data you might find helpful.

Basics put down then 75 lbs of N was put down at green up and after each cutting.

3year Average - Yield (lbs./A oven dry forage)
Tift 85 22,324 lbs ac
Russell 19,559 lbs ac
Alicia 18,143 lbs ac
Vaquero 10,483
Cheyenne 11,691
CD 90160 11,744
Wrangler 10,996 lbs ac

Bahiagrass
Tifton 9 11,950
Tifton 7 10,040
Pensacola 10,292

 

[MillIronQH]

I guarantee what you don't want is KR Bluestem. They call it a grass of last resort for a reason. It'll keep growing in a drought but if there is ANYTHING else to eat cows won't touch it.Z

 

[Caustic Burno]

It depends on your management. Best low maintenance grass is bahiagrass. This gives you longer growing season with little input. Best grass - just can't get it yet is probably going to be Coast Cross II. Other than that, Tift 85 is pretty hard to beat - if you manage it, fertilize it and get some water. With these three things, it can grow from 1 to three inches per day. Additionally, the lignin is more easily broken down by cattle and it is therefore more digestible. Here is some data you might find helpful.

Basics put down then 75 lbs of N was put down at green up and after each cutting.

3year Average - Yield (lbs./A oven dry forage)
Tift 85 22,324 lbs ac
Russell 19,559 lbs ac
Alicia 18,143 lbs ac
Vaquero 10,483
Cheyenne 11,691
CD 90160 11,744
Wrangler 10,996 lbs ac

Bahiagrass
Tifton 9 11,950
Tifton 7 10,040
Pensacola 10,292

You left out some bahia's Argentine and Paraguay.

 

[MikeC]

The best grass by far for cows in my area is Dallis Grass. It is highly palatable and has a longer growing season than both bermuda or bahia.

Also very compatable with the white clovers.

A minor downside is the cows can get drunk, on occasions, in late summer when the humidity is high. Easily cured by clipping the seedheads though.

Makes excellent hay and grazing and suited better for heavy, lowlying soils.

 

[ALACOWMAN]

The best grass by far for cows in my area is Dallis Grass. It is highly palatable and has a longer growing season than both bermuda or bahia.

Also very compatable with the white clovers.

A minor downside is the cows can get drunk, on occasions, in late summer when the humidity is high. Easily cured by clipping the seedheads though.

Makes excellent hay and grazing and suited better for heavy, lowlying soils.

dallis grass easy establised and hardy reseeds its self like crazy. sure did miss it this summer and fall that drought limited my stand. i guess i should have peeked at his location. when he said in the south im north of the black belt no bahia up here

 

[Jogeephus]

Data was from local grazing station data don't know why others weren't mentioned - guess they didn't have plots. I know they spoke of a poundage on Argentine but I don't remember what it was - just that it was less than Pensacola.

 

[watson brangus]

RICHARDL, I read some of your previous posts and i thought i could help you with a few things being that I only live less than an hour away, first off bahai grass does well for us w/ planting rye grass during the winter,secondly brangus or brangus type cattle will do best in our area because of the haeat tolerance and they will still feed out very well. i would suggest using either a. brangus cows w/ angus or herford bull or angus ,herford brangus bull or b. beefmaster brangus cross. i will tell you that the angus or herford simply will not out produce brahman influenced cattle in the the south they just cant handle it. if you are looking at buying or renting bulls we could probably help you out. also if you wanted some good bred heifers..
have a good day and merry christmas to all ,
Watson brangus

 

[Gate Opener]

Does anyone know anything about Tough Grass, maybe called Texas Tough? The pipeline people put some out when they were finished and my parents said it grew really well even in the drought. Said it was a black seed. They couldn't remember the exact name.

 

[MillIronQH]

Short search... It seems to be a cross between common and giant bermuda. Says small black seed and something about very hard hulled and only about 1/2 will produce the first year. Also says very drought hardy.Z

 

[Gate Opener]

Wonder why they put common in there, won't the common take over at some point? I stink at searching, didn't come up with much of anything.