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Hey Liese and Bob,
I planted about three acres of switchgrass something over 10 years ago
and the stand is still strong. It generally provides 5-7 days of
grazing for 70 cows once per month in July, August and September. It
takes a considerable amount of management to get NWSG (Native Warm
Season Grasses) established, and the stand must be taken care of for the
first few years, then management becomes less intense, but still needs
attention.
Seed is available from many sources, and it is quite expensive on a per
pound basis. The planting rate varies according to species and the
percentage of pure live seed (pls). The seed needs to go through a wet
chilling process prior to planting. once the planting is completed, the
seedlings need to be taken care of. NWSG species are not competetive and
can be easily crowded out by weeds and cool season grasses, wsp. fescue.
Those of us who persevered and kept the stand get a fair amount of good
quality forage. Being warm season grasses, NWSG's grow better in dry
conditions than cool season species, but still need water. The great
advantage is dry matter production. Protein and TDN are generally at
levels that produce growth in young animals, but lactation energy is
low. Most NWSG species are more suited to cattle than sheep since cows
generally graze from the top down while sheep usually start at the top
and work up. This makes management more difficult, but still do able.
BTW, since we've been using a fairly intensive rotational schedule (30+
paddocks), some native species, primarily Indian Grass, have developed
stands in some areas.
Kindest Regards
Steve
Steve Lucas
Mountain View Farm
Louisa, Virginia
www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/ruralwri/lucas/home.htm
----- Original Message ----- .
From: Bob sadler
To: graze-l@witt.ac.nz
Sent: Tuesday, November 01, 2005 8:25 AM
Subject: [Graze-l] "praire grasses" for VA
Is there anyone in the mid-atlantic region experimenting with praire
grasses for summer pastures? I have been reading about Wes Jackson, etc
and was wondering where to get good seed that isn't too expensive, what
kind of planting rates and most importantly is this a viable idea for
improving summer pasture TDN? This year we had 8 straight dry weeks and
are still in drought, some of my paddocks still cannot be re-grazed. BTW
I am grazing sheep. Liese
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