grass feeding question

[grimm_mojo]

ok i got 4 calves a week ago they are holsteins but got good price on them my intention is to butcher one an one goes to my uncle an sell other two later an yes i know they not best for selling at stock yards . but i been looking at grass seed an trying figure out what grasses are best for good gains. i looked at rye grass , blue grass an fescus ( may spelled that wrong ) an some alfalfa to mis in spairringly the field in lil thin in spots in the feild an one area has some really good looking orchard grass . so can any one educate me on what grasses will be good to blend into this field an others around it ?
thanks
jeremy

[J.T.M.]

I know nothing about your soil ,your weather patterns,or gains on grass.In my neck of the woods, Blue grass is not very productive .It does green early here,but also goes dormet early.Ky 31[fescue] is cheap but also obsolete,and can also be a headache .it will take a beating thou.I planted Barolex fuscue.I wish I could grow rye.If this is to graze, me personaly ,I'd skip alfalfa and use red clover,much easyier to get started and if you graze it will reseed itself,bail and you will reseed every few years.Maybe its best to wait[?]

[Karin L]

IMHO, go see your local extension agent for that kinda info. Like JTM said, its hard to know what IS best for you without knowing soil, climate, etc. For my area, Kentucky bluegrass grows anywhere and everywhere. Orchard grass really gives good gains, as does alfalfa mixed with smooth brome and meadow brome.

[grimm_mojo]

well what you both said is very helpfull i am looking at grazing an baling . unfortantely i am not to sure of the soil nothing has been planted in most of the feilds for 20 years or more i do know the orchard grass grows really well in these fields were it is i probably will plant a fescues an rye mix the clove not a bad idea there some in there already . i am in southern ohio so hard to tell what soil is but lots of rain right now
thanks

[Karin L]

Orchard grass seems to grow well in gray wooded soils with a bit of clay in it. That's what the soil's like up here and OG grows well on it too. But of course its a wee bit different climate up here in Alberta than down in S. Ohio.

If I were you I'd dig up a little bit of earth with a spade and send it off to see what type of soil it is, it wouldn't hurt to do so.

Good luck.

[sammyd]

Why did you wait to worry about the grasses until you bought the animals?

[J.T.M.]

Originally Posted by sammyd

Why did you wait to worry about the grasses until you bought the animals?

Meh...we all have put the cart before the horse .I'll admitt I have anyway.

The way I understand the op,he has grass ,but some thin spots.Myself,I would not plant fescue .I don't belive you will ever see any decent gains on it.Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.It might be a little late for planting anyway.I know nothing about Ohio,but If it were in zone 4 Iowa ,What I would do is ruff up the ground and seed some annual rye, [and prey we 'd get the moisture for germation].That at least would give you a little weed protection .Then next March do it correctly.Soil sample cost $5.50 .Pretty cheap if you think about it.

How many acres are we talking about anyway?And could you keep the calves off the new growth?