Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » Columbia, Missouri » Plant Genetics Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #126793
Title: PERFORMANCE OF STEERS GRAZING RHIZOMATOUS AND NON-RHIZOMATOUS BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL IN PURE STANDS AND IN TALL FESCUE MIXTURES

Author
item WEN, L - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item KALLENBACK, R - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item WILLIAMS, J - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item ROBERTS, C - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item BEUSELINCK, PAUL
item MCGRAW, R - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA
item BENEDICT, H - UNIV OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA

Submitted to: Journal of Animal Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/15/2002
Publication Date: 4/1/2002
Citation: Wen, L., Kallenback, R.L., Williams, J.E., Roberts, C.A., Beuselinck, P.R., Mcgraw, R.L., Benedict, H.R. 2002. Performance of steers grazing rhizomatous and non-rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil in pure stands and in tall fescue mixtures. Journal of Animal Science. V. 80:1970-1976.

Interpretive Summary: Broadleafed birdsfoot trefoil is a forage legume grown for livestock feeding on pastures and grasslands. Long-lived and productive stands of birdsfoot trefoil typically depend on natural reseeding and individual plant persistence. In previous research, we successfully transferred rhizomes (stems that spread underground) into birdsfoot trefoil to increase ethe longevity of trefoil stands. The objectives of this study were to determine if the performance of birdsfoot trefoil with and without rhizomes differed when grown alone, and when grown with the grass, tall fescue, and grazed with cattle. We were also interested if the grazing animals' performance on the trefoil and mixed trefoil plus tall fescue diets differed. We compared normal and rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil during the grazing season for their herbage yield and quality and animal performance. We determined that cattle grazing tall fescue grown with either trefoil type gained better than when tall fescue without trefoil was grazed. This research is important because it demonstrated that rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil was compatible with tall fescue, and sometimes yielded less forage than normal birdsfoot trefoil, but showed equal animal gain. This information is important to producers wanting to effectively manage rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil cultivars for pasture and livestock.

Technical Abstract: This study investigated the performance of steers grazing rhizomatous birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (RBFT) compared to non- rhizomatous (BFT) in pure stands or when interseeded with endophyte-free tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (TF). Five forage treatments of RBFT, BFT, TF, RBFT+TF and BFT+TF (4 replicate paddocks per treatment) were econtinuously grazed in spring and fall of 1998 and spring of 1999. Averag daily gain (ADG) was usually greatest in pure stands of BFT and RBFT, but forage production and thus grazing days for these treatments was often low. In mixed pastures, ADG for the BFT+TF and RBFT+TF was equal to or greater than that for TF. Total forage production of BFT+TF and RBFT+TF was greater or similar to that of TF, except that RBFT+TF had less forage than TF or BFT+TF in spring 1999. Animal days on mixed pastures were greater or similar to that of TF pasture in the three grazing seasons. Total gain per ha was greater in all three seasons for RBFT+TF and BFT+TF than for TF. Regarding forage quality, the RBFT+TF and BFT +TF pastures had equal or greater crude protein than TF alone, and equal or less neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber than TF. We concluded that RBFT and BFT could be interseeded with TF to enhance ADG and animal days. Persistence of RBFT vs. BFT in grazed pastures of TF warrants further study.