Page 18 - MWC 4-21-2022s
P. 18
Inhibit seedheads to realize pasture potential
Inhibit seedheads to realize pasture potential The Midwest Cattleman · April 21, 2022 · P18
By Amber Friedrichsen
Spring cleaning is not ex- problematic.
clusive to the inside of a home Clip pastures: Clipping
– it is a concept that is appli- pastures is the most common
cable to grazing systems as approach to managing seed-
well. Controlling seedheads heads, but it must be done
in cool-season grasses is like in a timely manner. Pastures
clearing away countertop are often mowed to a height
clutter and doing so will im- of about 12 inches tall to
prove forage quality and ben- avoid removing vegetative
efit pasture renovation. growth; however, clipping a
Seedheads develop from stand to this height can pose
reproductive tillers, which some challenges to subse-
start to elongate when a plant quent grazing.
is in boot stage. Matt Poore, “Unfortunately, this leaves
with North Carolina State a lot of low-quality forage
University, explains that and is the perfect height for
when seedheads emerge, for- those sharp stems to poke a
age quality rapidly declines. cow in the eye, potentially
This maturation process also leading to pinkeye,” the ex-
releases hormones in plants tension ruminant nutrition With that said, hay must also bicides during or before boot
that inhibit new vegetative specialist notes. “If you con- be cut soon enough in the stage for the best results.
growth. trol seedheads by clipping, do season to allow sufficient re- This may also boost plant
In addition to these neg- it before seeds mature and at growth before a stand experi- growth among other forages
ative effects, seedheads are a short enough height to re- ences the summer slump and in a mixed stand that would
also the site where toxins move much of the stems.” pasture productivity takes a have otherwise been shaded
accumulate in tall fescue in- Harvest hay: Making hay plunge. by maturing seedheads.
fected with a toxic endophyte. is another time-sensitive ap- Cutting hay is particularly Combine practices: It
In the Alliance for Grassland proach to controlling seed- advantageous for tall fescue may be necessary to renovate
Renewal’s newsletter, Poore heads. To maximize forage because the drying process a pasture if an existing stand
recommends the following quality, cut hay when plants can reduce endophyte toxi- is too thin or overcome by
practices to remove seed- are between boot stage and cosis. This benefit will not be weeds. This is also required
heads before they become the beginning of flower stage. realized when making hay- to convert a field of toxic tall
lage or baleage, though, as fescue to one that contains a
forage would have limited novel endophyte variety. In
Permanent & Portable Fencing and Livestock Watering Supplies sun exposure. the latter case, it is especial-
Graze early: Waiting to ly critical to eliminate seed-
turn cattle out to graze until heads a year prior to pasture
forage is approximately 6 renovation and combining
inches tall may give seed- two of the previously dis-
heads too much time to devel- cussed practices will be use-
op. Poore suggests starting ful in accomplishing that.
the grazing season as soon “Completely preventing
as reproductive tillers begin mature seed for renovation
www.powerflexfence.com elongating, and then quick- of toxic fescue pastures will
ly rotating animals through likely require two clippings,
paddocks. or a combination of hay and
“The key to this prac- clipping, metsulfuron, and
• Powerflex PolyBraid tice is to move animals fast clipping, or early grazing
• PowerPost enough to prevent close graz- and clipping,” Poore says. “In
• O’Brien’s Post ing of vegetative tillers,” most cases, a single one of
Poore states. “This practice these practices will improve
• Hybrid Twin Hook Geared Reel has a sweet spot of about the quality of pasture as de-
• True Fixed Knot Hi-Tensile two weeks when most of the scribed earlier, but none will,
grazing points are elevated by itself, control seed produc-
Woven Wire but seedheads are still pal- tion adequately in prepara-
atable enough to be readily tion for renovation projects,”
consumed.” he concludes.
Use herbicides: Metsul- Hay & Forage
furon is an active ingredient Grower
in products like
Chaparral and
Cimarron, which
target reproduc-
tive tillers and
suppress seed-
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cue. Poore advis-
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