Fall-grazing management effects on production and persistence of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass, and prairie grass

Extending the grazing season for livestock into late fall or early winter c an substantially reduce production costs compared with ending the grazing s eason in October. Most of the published research about fall or early-winter production of grasses was derived from simulated grazing studies (i.e., fr equent mechanical harvesting) and may not be indicative of results obtained with actual grazing. The objective of this research was to evaluate the wh ole-year production of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), prairie gras s [Bromus unioloides (Willd.) H.B.K.; syn. B. willdenowii Kunth], and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) under different fall grazing managemen t schemes. In 1994, 1995, and 1996 fall grazing treatments consisting of: 1 . stockpile (accumulation forage in the field after the August grazing and then grazing once in November); 2. lax (grazing once in September and then not grazing again until spring); and 3. intensive (continue grazing on appr oximately 30 d schedule through November) were imposed on established stand s of 'Barcel' tall fescue, 'Citadel' perennial ryegrass, and 'Grasslands Ma tua' prairie grass at the Haller Livestock and Forage Research Center near State College, PA. Perennial ryegrass and tall fescue responded similarly w ithin and across grazing treatments. Total season yield (averaged 7490 Ib/a cre per year) and persistence of perennial ryegrass were equal to tall fesc ue regardless of the fall grazing management. During the first year after i mplementing the grazing treatments, prairie grass survival was only 15% in the stockpile treatment and by the second year, prairie grass had not survi ved in any of the grazing treatments. Pall grazing and stockpiling tall fes cue or perennial ryegrass lengthened the grazing season. However, this incr eased fall production resulted in 15% less forage production the following spring than pastures not grazed in the fall. A combination of lax, intensiv e, and stockpile grazing in separate paddocks may be most desirable. Intens ive and stockpile grazing would allow continued grazing into the fall and e arly winter, respectively, and lax grazing would permit early spring grazin g while the fall-grazed pastures recover.