Commonly Used Forages for Rotational Grazing

Alfalfa

Clover, White and Red

  • Dry Matter: 85%
  • Crude Protein: min 16%
  • Max utilization: 50%
  • Residual height: 3-6 inches
  • Rest period: 15-30 days
  • High palatability
  • Does not handle over grazing well
  • Ingesting too much can cause bloat in livestock
  • Dry Matter: 90%
  • Crude Protein: 14%
  • Max utilization: 50-75%
  • Residual Height: 4-6 inches
  • Rest Period: 7-20 Days
  • Nitrogen Fixing
  • Good Ground Cover
  • Protects against erosion

Tall Fescue

  • Dry Matter: 82%
  • Crude Protein: 18-22%
  • Max utilization: 75%
  • Residual Height: 3-4 inches
  • Rest Period: 15-30 Days
  • Tolerant of trampling
  • Moderate drought tolerance
  • Varieties of this forage are on the market that are endophyte free, the endophyte version can cause illness in grazing livestock

Perennial Ryegrass

  • Dry Matter: 93%
  • Crude Protein: 18-20%
  • Max utilization: 75%
  • Residual Height: 4-6 inches
  • Rest period: 7-15 Days
  • High palatability
  • Tolerates trampling and recovers well from overgrazing
  • Suitable for all types of ruminants, long growing season

Orchard Grass

Timothy

  • Dry Matter: 88%
  • Crude Protein: 8%
  • Residual height: 2-3 inches
  • Rest period: 7-10 Days
  • High Palatability
  • Digestibility decreases in summer months
  • Good copper and zinc source
  • Dry Matter: 85%
  • Crude Protein: 8%
  • Residual Height: 3-4 inches
  • Rest period: 28 days
  • Tolerates shade, drought, and heat
  • Medium to high palatability
  • Grows well in a wide variety of soils

Bermuda Grass

  • Dry Matter: 80%
  • Crude Protein: 8-10%
  • Max utilization: 75%
  • Residual Height: 3-4 inches
  • Rest period: 7-15 days
  • Warm season grower
  • Good source of vitamin A and D
  • Drought tolerant

When purchasing seed for planting pastures, most farm supply stores sell blends of seeds that contain several of these types of forages as well as others that are suited for a particular area. To get more nutritional information about other types of forages go to:

www.bunniesinneed.net/hay-nutritional-value-chart

www.feedipedia.org

Examples of websites where seed can be purchased are:

www.standleeforage.com/nutrition

http://byronseeds.net/our_products