PR-615: 2010 Alfalfa Grazing Tolerance Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Eric Vanzant | Dec. 15, 2010 (New)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) is the highest yielding, highest quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It forms the basis of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets. Recent emphasis on its use as a grazing crop and the release of grazing-tolerant varieties have raised the following question: Do varieties differ in tolerance to grazing? We have chosen to use the standard tolerance test recommended by the North American Alfalfa Improvement Conference. This test uses continuous heavy grazing to sort out differences in grazing tolerance in a relatively short period of time.

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PR-616: 2010 Red and White Clover Grazing Tolerance Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith, Eric Vanzant | Dec. 15, 2010 (New)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived, perennial legume that is used in mixed or pure stands for pasture, hay, silage, green chop, soil improvement and wildlife habitat. This species is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Stands of improved varieties are generally productive for two and a half to three years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, high yield and animal acceptance.

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PR-614: 2010 Timothy and Kentucky Bluegrass Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 15, 2010 (New)

Timothy (Phleum pratense) is the fourth most widely sown cool-season perennial grass used in Kentucky for forage after tall fescue, orchardgrass, and Kentucky bluegrass. It is a late-maturing bunchgrass that is primarily harvested as hay, particularly for horses. It can be used for grazing or wildlife habitat.

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PR-609: 2010 Alfalfa Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) has historically been the highest yielding, highest quality forage legume grown in Kentucky. It forms the basis of Kentucky's cash hay enterprise and is an important component in dairy, horse, beef, and sheep diets. Choosing a good variety is a key step in establishing a stand of alfalfa. The choice of variety can impact yield, thickness of stand, and persistence.

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PR-612: 2010 Tall Fescue and Brome Report

David Ditsch, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea) is a productive, well-adapted, persistent, soil-conserving, cool-season grass that is grown on approximately 5.5 million acres in Kentucky. This grass, used for both hay and pasture, is the forage base of most of Kentucky's livestock enterprises, particularly beef cattle.

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PR-610: 2010 Red and White Clover Report

David Ditsch, Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a high-quality, short-lived, perennial legume that is used in mixed or pure stands for pasture, hay, silage, green chop, soil improvement, and wildlife habitat. This species is adapted to a wide range of climatic and soil conditions. Stands of improved varieties are generally productive for two-and-a-half to three years, with the highest yields occurring in the year following establishment. Red clover is used primarily as a renovation legume for grass pastures. It is a dominant forage legume in Kentucky because it is relatively easy to establish and has high forage quality, high yield, and animal acceptance.

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PR-613: 2010 Annual and Perennial Ryegrass and Festulolium Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Annual ryegrasses are increasing in use across Kentucky as more winter-hardy varieties are released and promoted. Annual ryegrass is productive for three to four months and is used primarily for late fall and early-to-late spring pasture.

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PR-611: 2010 Orchardgrass Report

Garry Lacefield, Gene Olson, Tim Phillips, Ray Smith | Dec. 6, 2010 (New)

Orchardgrass (Dactylus glomerata) is a high-quality, productive, cool-season grass that is well adapted to Kentucky conditions. This grass is used for pasture, hay, green chop, and silage, but it requires better management than tall fescue for greater yields, higher quality, and longer stand life. It produces an open, bunchtype sod, making it very compatible with alfalfa or red clover as a pasture and hay crop or as habitat for wildlife.

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ID-147: Establishing Horse Pastures

Bob Coleman, Garry Lacefield, Laurie Lawrence, Laura Schwer, Ray Smith, Bill Witt | Sep. 20, 2010 (Major Revision)

Kentucky and surrounding states are known for grass pastures and horses. Pastures supply nutrients, provide hoof support for exercise, control erosion, and add to the aesthetic value of horse farms. The ability to establish and manage horse pastures is therefore important to horse owners.

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AGR-191: Using a Grazing Stick for Pasture Management

Adam Probst, Ray Smith | May. 18, 2010 (Minor Revision)

Good management of livestock feeding enterprises requires an understanding of feed inventories and their use. This publication is intended to help producers meet animal forage needs in a rotational grazing system by mastering the use of a grazing stick to estimate pasture yield and pasture allocation.