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<blockquote data-quote="jlhall" data-source="post: 784112" data-attributes="member: 14692"><p>The question that you should ask yourself before deciding on a pasture grass or mix is "What do you want out of your pasture?"</p><p></p><p>Are you looking for persistence or are you looking for performance? From a persistence standpoint KY31 is tough to beat.... however, very little of the seed sold today as KY31 is in fact KY31. There is no system in place to maintain genetic integrity of KY31. The only thing you can be sure of when buying KY31 is that you are getting a tall fescue. If you are looking for persistence, make sure that you pay close attention to the analysis label. Look for something that is very low in weed seed (less than .10%) Many lots of KY31 are harvested off old pastures in Missouri. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a weed that the other guy couldn't eliminate.</p><p></p><p>The highest performing grasses tend to be shorter lived and usually require better farming management. An old KY31 field may be green but it doesn't mean that it is productive. Not all grasses are created equal from a performance standpoint. You have to look at forage yield AND the ability of the animal to convert the plant material into usable nutrients. Endophyte infected tall fescues will persist longer than the endophyte free versions of tall fescue, however animal weight gains are better on fescues without harmful endophytes. </p><p></p><p>From a digestibility and weight gain standpoint it would be perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass in that order. The dairy farmers in SW MO have switched over the last five years to perennial ryegrass rotational grazing. That is because ryegrass has the highest energy levels. The downside is that ryegrass is not a turn the cattle out and forget about it type of grass. It can and will be over-grazed by cattle because it has a soft crown unlike that of tall fescue.</p><p></p><p>So ask yourself are you wanting minimal work (Tall Fescue) or maximum gains (ryegrass) :tiphat:</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="jlhall, post: 784112, member: 14692"] The question that you should ask yourself before deciding on a pasture grass or mix is "What do you want out of your pasture?" Are you looking for persistence or are you looking for performance? From a persistence standpoint KY31 is tough to beat.... however, very little of the seed sold today as KY31 is in fact KY31. There is no system in place to maintain genetic integrity of KY31. The only thing you can be sure of when buying KY31 is that you are getting a tall fescue. If you are looking for persistence, make sure that you pay close attention to the analysis label. Look for something that is very low in weed seed (less than .10%) Many lots of KY31 are harvested off old pastures in Missouri. The last thing you want is to be stuck with a weed that the other guy couldn't eliminate. The highest performing grasses tend to be shorter lived and usually require better farming management. An old KY31 field may be green but it doesn't mean that it is productive. Not all grasses are created equal from a performance standpoint. You have to look at forage yield AND the ability of the animal to convert the plant material into usable nutrients. Endophyte infected tall fescues will persist longer than the endophyte free versions of tall fescue, however animal weight gains are better on fescues without harmful endophytes. From a digestibility and weight gain standpoint it would be perennial ryegrass, orchardgrass, tall fescue, and smooth bromegrass in that order. The dairy farmers in SW MO have switched over the last five years to perennial ryegrass rotational grazing. That is because ryegrass has the highest energy levels. The downside is that ryegrass is not a turn the cattle out and forget about it type of grass. It can and will be over-grazed by cattle because it has a soft crown unlike that of tall fescue. So ask yourself are you wanting minimal work (Tall Fescue) or maximum gains (ryegrass) :tiphat: [/QUOTE]
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