Pasture Forages

Terry W · #1 02/09/07, 08:18 AM

Will forages like beets, turnips, chickory, peas, blended into the staples of pasture grasses like orchard grass, rye, etc be an issue for the dairy or meat cow? I am planting new pasture that must be used for variious species in the rotation, including deer, sheep, poultry, etc. Will be mixing in, sorghum, mustard, corn as well, to provide the best chance of having good pasture coiverage all year round

Karin L · #2 02/11/07, 06:23 PM

The brassicas family (turnips, beets) could cause problems if you're not careful. Though forage quality is high, they can cause hemolytic anemia and goiter due to presence of toxic compounds, as well as bloat. But if you mix them with grasses like orchardgrass, ryegrass and other grasses of your choosing you should be okay.

With sorghum you gotta be careful too. They contain prussic acid which can cause cyanide poisoning in livestock, especially when present in high amounts, and this acid is present when this grass is young and actively growing. So grazing when this plant is at about 18-24 inches is best. Never heard of corn or peas being grown for pasture, usually their best for silage only.

But then you gotta be thinking about this: the animals may be starting to get picky on you. Like, they might only want to eat the brassicas and the sorghum, and not really touch the rest of the pasture. And with a dairy cow, you might have to worry about having funny-tasting milk too.

I don't want to turn you away from this plan of yours, but if I were you, I'd just stick with the traditional way of making pasture: 5 species of grasses (eg. wheatgrasses, fescues, ryegrasses, bromegrasses, timothy, etc.) suited to your climate, with a couple of legumes thrown in (like alfalfa and red clover). IMHO, I think that might be the best way to go, because otherwise you might land into trouble with some "unknown", or "unfamiliar" forages causing some sickness in your livestock you never wanted inthe first place.

Just my 2 cents.

Up North · #3 02/12/07, 08:23 AM

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We graze PurpleTop Turnips and Oats late fall every year with dairy cows. Bloat is probably biggest hazard...We stuff them full of long stem grass hay before first letting them on new stand, then limit them to 2-3 hours grazing first two times. We provide free-choice long grassy hay the entire time they are grazing turnips-oats because feed is so rich they need roughage to balance diet.
The other hazard is if you get baseball size turnips cows can choke to death on them. We have not had this happen, but it is a hazard.
As to off-flavored milk, turnips will produce a sharp twinge that is noticeable when you drink the milk, but nothing unpleasant, and never been a problem with the dairy plant. Onions can really produce off-flavored milk.

agmantoo · #4 02/12/07, 10:12 AM

Up North, do you use anything to restrict the amount of area the cattle are permitted to access when grazing the turnips/oats?

topside1 · #5 02/12/07, 10:24 AM

Upnorth, what a beautiful place your have...Sure would love to see more photos if you have the time....Not winter photos!!! Green ones, I'm alergic to white cold stuff....

Up North · #6 02/12/07, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

Up North, do you use anything to restrict the amount of area the cattle are permitted to access when grazing the turnips/oats?

Yes, we have a portable fence and strip graze.

agmantoo · #7 02/12/07, 10:47 AM

I tried the purple top turnips a couple of years ago. My cattle would not eat them until there was nothing left and they had no choice. Most of the turnips were still around when spring arrived. The cattle did eat the tops however. This year I have some triticale and they will eat it. I have not fed but very little of the triticale as I am trying to hold on until I get some more growth on it. The triticale was late planted and is only 3 to 4 inches tall at this time. I fertilized last week and should get some growth shortly. I am running too close on the stockpiled fescue to be comfortable. The talking heads on the tube projected 60 F today but it is only 43 F. I need for the ground to get to 50 F soon.

Up North · #8 02/12/07, 01:43 PM

Turnips have a bit of an edge to them. When we first started cows ate all oat Plants first. But after 2-3 Days the cows discover if they grab the tops and yank upwards they get the tubers or bulbs. Once acclimated, they chomp them down with Great Relish, and they run from the barn to get to the next allocated strip of fresh vegetation.