GRAZING GUIDE. Target Grazing Height -----inches----- to start to stop. Nov-Dec Frosted

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1 NC STATE UNIVERSITY Department of Crop Science College of Agriculture & Life Sciences GRAZING GUIDE This guide gives an idea about the target heights to start and stop grazing many plants. The guide will be useful to managers and planners who develop and implement grazing plans for any type of animal grazing these plants. The target stop grazing height will ensure enough leaf area and/or reserve energy to provide good regrowth during the subsequent rest period; this is especially important to those plants that store reserve energy above the ground in the lower stem base. This guide also provides an estimate of the number of days of rest needed to regrow to the target start grazing height during certain seasons. The expected recovery period (rest) should be helpful in estimating the grazing cycles of particular species. However, many environmental and management factors will impact the estimates of days required to regrow to the desired start height. Species Alfalfa Bahiagrass, Dallisgrass & associated summer species of Crabgrass, etc. Common, hybrid & seeded varieties Apr-May 8 to bud Do not start grazing the same area at 8 twice in the same season. Jun-Sep 12 to bloom Nov-Dec Frosted Apr-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct-Nov Spring Apr-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Frosted Spring Should usually have 45 days rest immediately prior to killing frosts; thereafter, the growth should be grazed before leaves drop. Frosted growth can be used flexibly, but may need supplemental protein and should be used before leaves deteriorate. Frosted growth can be used flexibly, but may need supplemental protein and should be used before leaves deteriorate.

2 Overseeded with Annual Ryegrass Overseeded with Crimson Clover or Vetch Bermuda grass: Mixed with Ladino and/or Red Clover Feb-Mar Apr-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct Control the height of ryegrass so it does not shade emerging bermudagrass. and Oct to prevent shading of overseeded or volunteering (ryegrass) during their establishment phase. Do not allow animals to graze ryegrass until it reaches target height. Nov-Jan Target heights directed toward ryegrass during Nov through Apr. Feb-Mar Apr-May Control the height of legumes so they do not shade the emerging Bermuda. Jun-Aug and Oct to prevent shading of Sept-Oct overseeded or volunteering legumes during their establishment phase. Do not allow animals to graze winter crops until they reach target height. Nov-Jan Feb-Mar Apr-May Control the height of clovers so they do not shade the emerging Bermuda. Jun-Jul Aug-Sep and Oct to prevent shading of Oct-Nov overseeded or volunteering clovers. Do not allow animals to graze clovers until they reach target height during winter. Dec-Jan

3 Bermuda grass: overseeded with prairiegrass overseeded with Bluegrass, Kentucky with White Clover Caucasian Bluestem Crabgrass and associated warm season species Mar-Apr Control the height of prairiegrass so it does not shade the emerging Bermuda. May-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Nov-Feb Manage Prairiegrass to produce mature seeds in Jul-Aug to provide for volunteer establishment during Sep and Oct. Control Bermuda growth in Sep and Oct by close grazing, but not so close that prairiegrass seedlings are eaten. and Oct to prevent shading of over seeded or volunteering prairiegrass during the establishment phase. Do not allow animals to graze prairiegrass until it reaches target height. Feb-Mar Target heights directed toward smallgrain during Nov through Apr. Control the height of smallgrains so Apr-May they do not shade the emerging Bermuda. Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct and Oct to prevent shading of overseeded smallgrain during the establishment phase. Do not allow animals to graze smallgrain until it reaches target height. Nov-Jan Target heights directed toward smallgrain during Nov through Apr. Mar-May If clover is White Dutch, then possible to graze to 1½ inches. Jun-Aug Sep-Oct Nov-Feb Spring May-Jul Aug-Sep Oct-Dec Spring May-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Replant in Spring grazed in fall, but quality may be limiting and utilization will be grazing paddock in a short time grazed in fall, but quality may be limiting and utilization will be Use frosted growth before leaves deteriorate. 3

4 Crimson Clover and mixtures with Ryegrass or Crop Residue: (Corn or Sorghum or Cotton Stalks) Fescue or Orchardgrass with or without Ladino Clover Fescue (<70%) mixed with Bermuda or Crabgrass Gamagrass, Eastern Sep-Oct Nov-Jan Control the height of the smallgrain or ryegrass so they are not shading the clover. Feb-Mar Apr-Jun Sep-Dec Immediately following harvest Leave some residue for soil protection if cover crop is not planted Not applicable It is best to use residue as soon as possible following crop harvest to minimize deterioration of fodder. It is important to leave residue for cover or plant cover crop. Mar-Apr May-Jun Jul-Aug If mixture is to be stockpiled in Sep-Oct autumn, clover may be shaded if canopy reaches more than inches in height prior to grazing. Nov-Feb Stockpile will be taller; stripgraze. Feb-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Nov-Jan Apr-Jun Jul-Sep Oct-Nov Spring Grazing height during the summer is dictated by the species to be favored. Shorter stop grazing heights (1-2 inches) will favor Bermuda and Crabgrass and taller (>3 ) will favor the Fescue. During the establishment year, allow plants to reach seed head stage prior to grazing or harvesting, leaving minimum of stubble for winter cover. Allow growth prior to frost. Kudzu May-Sep Full leaf out and stems elongating For regrowth leave >50% leaf coverage To eradicate, keep canopy completely defoliated, especially in late summer. 4

5 Lespedeza, Annual (Kobe and Korean) Millet: Foxtail, German, Browntop Millet: Pearl, Hybrid or Dwarf Millet (Pearl or Hybrid): Double cropped with Annual Ryegrass or Prairiegrass: (Rescue grass, Matua ) May-Jun Jul-Sep Frosted Spring Use all frosted growth before leaves drop. Apr-May Jun-Aug Boot to Heading 2+ No regrowth following stem elongation May-Jul Aug-Oct Oct-Nov Dec-Jan Feb-Mar Apr-May Millet planted in Annual Ryegrass and smallgrain growth will decline sharply in May and the Millet will be planted. May/June Jun-Jul Millet planted in late May or early June into ryegrass/smallgrain stubble or following cultivation. Aug-Sep Millet used by end of September (grazed or clipped to 2-3 stubble) so that ryegrass or smallgrain can be planted. Feb-Mar Apr-Jun Jul-Aug Allow one seed crop to mature for volunteer seeding in fall. Sep-Oct Nov-Jan Red Clover and mixtures with coolseason grasses Ryegrass, Annual Apr-May 6 to bud Jun-Sep 10 to bud Nov-Dec Frosted 2-3 Spring Sep-Oct Nov-Jan Feb-Mar Apr-Jun Should usually have 45 days rest immediately prior to killing frosts; thereafter, the growth may be grazed before leaves drop. 5

6 (Barley, Oat, Rye, Triticale, Wheat) Sudangrass, Sorghum-Sudan: Double cropped with Annual Ryegrass or Sudangrass, Sorghum- Sudangrass, Johnsongrass Switchgrass, Indiangrass, Big Bluestem Oct-Dec Jan-Feb Mar-May Jun Replant in fall Potential prussic acid poisoning for 3 Oct-Nov days after the first killing frost or when grazing prior to 18 height. Dec-Jan Feb-Mar Summer Annual Ryegrass and smallgrain Apr-May annual growth will decline sharply in May planted and the summer grass will be planted. Jun-Jul Summer annuals planted in late May or early Jun. Summer annual used by end of Sep Aug-Sep (grazed or clipped to 2-3 inch stubble) so that a winter grass can be planted into stubble or into prepared seedbed. Apr-May Jun-Jul Aug-Sep Oct-Nov 6+ 2 n/a Apr-Jun Jul-Aug Sep-Oct Spring Potential prussic acid poisoning for 3 days after the first killing frost or when grazing prior to 18 height. During establishment year, allow plants to reach seed head stage prior to grazing, leaving minimum of stubble for winter cover. Allow growth prior to frost. Forage Fact Sept Revised July 2012 Prepared by: James T. Green, Jr., Douglas S. Chamblee Crop Science Dept. Distributed in furtherance of the Acts of Congress of May 8 and June 30, Employment and program opportunities are offered to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability. North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and local governments cooperating. 6