EVALUATION OF PERENNIAL GRASS FORAGE SYSTEMS FOR CATTLE PRODUCTION IN EAST-CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1006825
• Project Start Date: Jun 30, 2015
• Project End Date: May 31, 2020
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIV
(N/A)
MISSISSIPPI STATE,MS 39762

Performing Department
Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station

Non Technical Summary
This project seeks to evaluate several perennial grass forage systems that are common in East-Central Mississippi in hopes of increasing livestock production profitability, sustainability, and wildlife habitat creation and use. One such perennial grass system is the use of native warm-season grasses (NWSG) as a source of drought tolerant, low input forage for summer grazing. These species are of significant importance for ground nesting birds, small mammals, and insects, however, the use of these species as dedicated forage grasses is relatively un-researched in this region of Mississippi. This project seeks to accomplish several goals, including: comparing traditional, non-native perennial forage grasses (bahiagrass, bermudagrass, and tall fescue) to NWSG and evaluating animal performance on these species; determining optimal fertility and harvest management of several combinations of NWSG stands; and assess the potential of adding domesticated and native legumes to NWSG in hopes of increasing forage quality and extending the grazing season.

Animal Health Component

50%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

30%

Applied

50%

Developmental

20%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
205	0780	1060	100%

Knowledge Area
205 - Plant Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
0780 - Grasslands, other;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);

Keywords

native grasses

forages

Goals / Objectives
This project seeks to determine the efficacy of incorporating NWSG into grazing systems to promote on-farm sustainability by extending the grazing season and reducing stored feed costs, while simultaneously creating crucial grassland habitat for native wildlife populations. This will be accomplished by the following objectives:Objective 1. Compare forage and animal production on traditional and native warm-season perennial grass forage systems.Objective 2. Evaluate management strategies of native warm-season grasses and their implementation into grazing and wildlife situations.

Project Methods
All experimentation will take place at the Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station (CPBES) in Newton, MS. Projects with livestock use will be managed under the jurisdiction of the Mississippi State University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee.Objective 1. To compare NWSG (mono- and mixed stands) to traditional forage grasses, a grazing trial will be established in pre-existing pastures (previously used for annual cool- and warm-season forage production). Twelve x two acre paddocks will be available for a four x three factorial arrangement of treatments. Four perennial warm-season grass systems will be established in a randomized complete-block design (RCB). These will be: big bluestem (BBS), indiangrass + big bluestem + little bluestem (IG+BBS+LBS), bahiagrass (BA), and bermudagrass (BE). Grazing animals used in this study will consist of 500 lb commercial crossbred steers originating from CPBES. The stocking rate will be approximately 1000 lb/acre (two beef steers/acre; four per paddock). Steers will graze the grass treatments for a total of 84 days. In order to maintain desired forage height and productivity, extra steers will be utilized to graze excess forage in a put-and-take management scheme (Burns and Fisher, 2013). Once grazing commences, steers will be weighed every 28 days. Average daily gain and body condition score will be recorded at these intervals. Total gain, and gain per acre will be determined as well. Animal performance and pasture productivity will be analyzed as each pasture being the experimental unit, and fixed effects being the perennial grass, and year will be the random effect. Costs associated with establishment, maintenance, and animal gain per acre will be included in project analysis. This project will occur over a 3-4 year period to account for environmental differences.Objective 2. Several management practices and methods will be evaluated comparing mono- and mixed stands of NWSG, along with traditional perennial forage grasses (i.e. bermudagrass, bahiagrass, and tall fescue). Field trials of replciated plots containing common and improved varieties of NWSG and traditional forage grasses will be analyzed on several management practices. These include applied nutrient management (N, P, and K) in combination with growing season harvest frequency, stockpiling management (N treatments x dormant season harvest), and legume x grass binary mixture assessment (domesticated and native legumes). Forage quality and quantity will be analyzed as each plot will be the experimental unit, and fixed effects being the forage base, and the year will be the random effect. These trials will take place over a 3-4 year period to account for environmental differences.

Progress 06/30/15 to 05/31/20

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes agricultural producers, private industry representatives, natural resource professionals, extension personnel, and government agents who work, represent, or support one another in east-central Mississippi. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Rushing, J.B. 2019. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. CMREC Winter Meeting. Raymond, MS. 12, Dec. Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Quality. Winston County Cattlemen's Association. Louisville, MS. 10, Oct. Rushing, J.B. 2019. Baleage Production in Mississippi. Fencing and Baleage Demonstration Field Day. Mississippi State, MS. 10, Sep. Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Management in Mississippi. Monroe (AL) CCA Tour. Newton, MS. 5, Aug. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Management in Mississippi. Jones County GLCI Field Day. Petal, MS. 28, Aug. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Management in Mississippi. Clarke County Cattlemen's Association. Quitman, MS. 25, Jul. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Management in Mississippi. Madison County Pasture Party. Madison, MS. 18, Jul. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. 2019. Hay Production in Mississippi. SunSouth Hay Day. Newton, MS. 5, Jun. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. 2019. Forage Management in Mississippi. Wayne County Cattlemen's Association. Waynesboro, MS. 28, May. (Presentation). Rushing, J.B. and J.C. Lyles. 2019. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station: 2018 in Review. Central Mississippi Producer Advisory Council Meeting. Raymond, MS. 20, Feb. (poster). ?Rushing, J.B., R.W. Lemus, and J.C. Lyles. 2019. Effects of N and harvest frequency on forage yield and quality of native grasses. ASA Southern Branch Annual Conference. Birmingham, AL. 3-5, Feb. (Presentation) How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared through refereed journal articles, conference presentations and abstracts, and presentations to commodity organizations and field days. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. Final data collection and analysis was accomplished and publications were developed and submitted. Objective 2. Final data collection and analysis was accomplished and publications were developed and submitted.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rushing, J.B. R. Lemus, and J.C. Lyles. 2019. The effects of N and accumulation interval on stockpiled cool-season forage in the Coastal Plain. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management. (CFTM-2019-11-0086).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rushing, J.B., J.G. Maples, J.D. Rivera, and J.C. Lyles. 2019. Early-season grazing of native grasses generates greater net returns in east-central Mississippi. Agronomy Journal (AJ-2019-06-0478-A).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, J.C. Lyles, and M. Thornton. 2019. Harvest frequency and native warm-season grass species influence nutritive value. Crop, Forage, and Turfgrass Management. doi:10.2134/cftm2019.04.0030.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, and J.C. Lyles. 2019. Nitrogen fertilization and moderate accumulation intervals can maximize stockpiled warm-season forage grasses. Agronomy Journal 111:1-7.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, M. Thornton, J.A. White, and J.C. Lyles. 2019. Yield of native warm-season grasses in response to nitrogen and harvest frequency. Agronomy Journal 111:193-199.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Baldwin, B.S., J.I. Morrison, and J.B. Rushing. 2019. Native warm-season grasses that germinate on command. National Meeting of the American Society of Mining and Reclamation. Big Sky, MT. 3-7, Jun. (Presentation).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Baldwin, B.S., J.I. Morrison, J.B. Rushing, and J.D. Richwine. 2019. Improvement of a native cool-season grass, southeastern wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus). Southern Forage and Pasture Crop Improvement Council Annual Conference. Roanoke, VA. 21-23, May. (Abstract/Presentation).

Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes agricultural producers, private industry representatives, natural resource professionals, extension personnel, and government agents who work, represent, or support one another in East-central Mississippi. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 2018. CP Fall Forage Field Day. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. 27, Sep. B. Rushing, R. Lemus, and J. Maples. (21 attended). 2018. Starkville Forage Field Day. South Farm. Mississippi State, MS. 17, Jul. R. Lemus, J. Maples, B. Rushing, D. Russell. (14 attended) 2018. MFA CEU Training and Tour. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. 11, Jul. S. Dicke, R. Rousseau, B. Rushing. (attended) 2018. 3rd Annual Wildflower Trails of Mississippi Field Day. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. B. Rushing, S. Broderick, P. Drackett, and B. Foose. (50 attended). 2018. Hinds County Forage Field Day. Terry, MS. 24, May. K. Lewis, J. Maples, J. Byrd, J. White, B. Rushing. (attended) 2018. SunSouth Hay Production and Equipment Demo. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. B. Rushing, R. Lemus, and J. Maples. 23, May. (26 attended) 2018. Coastal Plain Forage Production Field Day. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. B. Rushing, J. White, R. Lemus, J. Byrd, J. Lyles, J. Maples. 5, Apr. (39 attended). 2018. Newton County Ag/Vo-Tech Field Trip. Coastal Plain Branch Experiment Station. Newton, MS. B. Rushing, J. Lyles. 25, Jan. (17 attended). How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared through refereed journal articles, conference presentations and abstracts, and presentations to commodity organizations and field days. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1. Continue collecting data and analyzing results. Forage and livestock production, along with economic impacts will be collected and published. Objective 2. Forage quality analysis will be conducted, ultimately leading to another publication. Results and progress from each objective will be presented at local and regional meetings and field days.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The second year of data was collected for this project. Forage quality, quantity, and animal productivity were measured and are currently being analyzed. Publication of several trials is underway. One publication has already been published, another is under review. A new trial was initiated last year compairing NWSG with traditional, perennial warm-season grasses. Objective 2. The second year of data collection on the N x harvest regime trial was collected. A journal article has been submitted and accepted on this project. A future study on establishing legumes into pre-existing stands of NWSG is planned for this upcoming fall.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, and J.C. Lyles. 2018. Nitrogen fertilization and moderate accumulation intervals can maximize stockpiled warm-season forage grasses. Agronomy Journal. AJ-2018-07-0461.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, M. Thornton, J.A. White, and J.C. Lyles. 2018. Yield of native warm-season grasses in response to nitrogen and harvest frequency. Agronomy Journal 111:1-7.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Lee, DoKyoung, E. Ablerle, E. Anderson, W. Anderson, B. Baldwin, D. Baltensperger, M. Barrett, S. Bonos, J. Bouton, C. Brummer, P. Burks, C. Chen, C. Daly, J. Egenolf, R. Farris, J. Fike, R. Gausooin, J. Gill, K. Gravois, M. Halbleib, A. Hale, W. Hanna, K. Harmoney, E. Heaton, R. Heiniger, L. Hoffman, C. Hong, V. Kakani, R. Kallenbach, B. Macoon, J. Medly, A. Missaouis, R. Mitchell, K. Moore, J. Morrison, G. Odvody, R. Okoshi, J. Parrish, L. Quinn, E. Richard, B. Rooney, B. Rushing, R. Schnell, M. Sousek, S. Staggenborg, T. Tew, G. Uehara, D. Viands, T. Voigt, D. Williams, L. Williams, L. Wilson, A. Wycislo, Y. Yang, and V. Owens. 2018. Biomass production of herbaceous energy crops in the United States: Field trial results and yield potential maps from the multiyear regional feedstock partnership. GCB Bioenergy. 10:698-716.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Other Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rushing, J.B., J.C. Lyles, and M.T. Thornton. 2018. Effects of N application and harvest frequency on native warm-season grasses. Central Mississippi Producer Advisory Council Meeting. Raymond, MS. 20, Feb. (poster).
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2018 Citation: Rushing, J.B., J.C. Lyles, and M.T. Thornton. 2018. Effects of N application and harvest frequency on native warm-season grasses. American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference. Louisville, KY. 15-17, Jan. (poster).

Progress 10/01/16 to 09/30/17

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes agricultural producers, private industry representatives, natural resource professionals, extension personnel, and government agents who work, represent, or support one another in East-central Mississippi. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Coastal Plain Forage Proudction Field Day. Newton, MS. B. Rushing, D. Russel, J. Maples, R. Lemus, and D. Rivera. 4 May 2017. 42 people in attendance. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been shared through: 1 master's thesis 3 refereed journal articles 4 conference presentations and/or abstracts 10 presentations to commodity organizations and field days What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Objective 1. Continue collecting data and analyzing results. Forage and livestock production, along with economic impacts will be collected and published. Objective 2. Forage quality analysis will be conducted, ultimately leading to another publication. Results and progress from each objective will be presented at local and regional meetings and field days.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The second year of data was collected for this project. Forage quality, quantity, and animal productivity were measured and are currently being analyzed. Objective 2. The second year of data collection on the N x harvest regime trial was collected. A journal article has been submitted on the yield portion of the project. Quality analysis for both year's of the trial will begin this winter.

Publications

• Type: Theses/Dissertations Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Thornton, M.T., J.B. Rushing, B.S. Baldwin, R.W. Lemus, and J.A. Martin. 2016. (Thesis). Strategies for establishment and low input forage production of southeastern wildrye. Mississippi State University Library. Mississippi State, MS 39762. (December graduation).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B. and M.T. Thornton. 2017. Evaluation of imazapic applications for establishment of southeastern wildrye. Agronomy Journal. 5:1849-1855.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Under Review Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B. and M.T. Thornton. 2016. Southeastern wildrye nutritive value and production with nitrogen fertilizer and legume incorporation. Agronomy Journal (submitted AJ-2016-11-0638-A).
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, U.K. Saha, L. Sonon, and B.S. Baldwin. 2016. Analysis of some important forage quality attributes of southeastern wildrye (Elymus glabriflorus) using near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy. American Journal of Analytical Chemistry. 7:642-662.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B. 2017. Native warm-season grasses: A possible source of added gains. Progressive Forage Magazine. 13 Jul.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2016 Citation: Rushing, J.B. 2016. Native warm-season grasses: A possible source for added gains. Cattle Business in Mississippi. Nov.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B., J.D. Rivera, M.T. Thornton, and J.C. Lyles. 2017. Evaluation of three perennial warm-season grass forage systems for east-central Mississippi. 71st Southern Pasture and Forage Crop Improvement Conference. Knoxville, TN. 5-7 Jun. (poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, and M.T. Thornton. 2017. Stockpiling perennial warm-season forage grasses in East-Central Mississippi. American Society of Agronomy  Southern Branch. Mobile, AL. 5-7 Feb. (abstract/poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B., R. Lemus, and M.T. Thornton. 2017. Stockpiling perennial warm-season forage grasses in East-Central Mississippi. American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference. Roanoke, VA. 22-25 Jan. (abstract/poster)
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2017 Citation: Rushing, J.B.. 2017. Native warm-season grasses: Current research in East-Central Mississippi. American Forage and Grassland Council Annual Conference. Roanoke, VA. 22-25 Jan. (presentation)

Progress 10/01/15 to 09/30/16

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes agricultural producers, private industry representatives, natural resource professionals, extension personnel, and goverment agents who work, represent, or support one another in East-Central Mississippi. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A Mississippi State University Extension In-Service training will be scheduled in the spring of 2017. Individuals present will receive hands-on training on native grass identification, establishment, and grazing management. The second year of data collection will be taken in the spring of 2017 for both objectives.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The first year of data was collected for this project. Forage quality, quantity, and animal productivity (weight gain) were measured and analyzed. Objective 2. The first year of data collection on the N x harvest regime trial was collected. Dry matter yields for all treatment combinations have been analyzed.

Publications

Progress 06/30/15 to 09/30/15

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience of this project includes agricultural producers, private industry representatives, natural resource professionals, extension personnel, and goverment agents who work, represent, or support one another in East-central Mississippi. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?A field day was held on June 30, 2015. Extension agents and natural resource professionals were in attendence. Several topics used in a training these personel included native grass seed characteristics, establishment, herbicide use and efficacy, and management of native grasses for wildlife or livestock use. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?A Mississippi State University Extension In-Service training will be held on October 13, 2015. Individuals present will receive hands-on training on native grass identification, establishment, and management. The Mississippi Forage and Grassland Council will host their annual conference at the site on November 6, 2015. Part of the field tour will incorporate several plots of native grasses, along with the grazing demonstration on native grasses. In the spring of 2016, both objectives will begin the research portion of the project. For objective 1, harvesting and fertilization treatments will be applied. For objective 2, livestock will begin grazing paddocks and their performance will be monitored.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1. The area designated for this experiment has been completed. Each paddock has been fertilized, planted, and sprayed accordingly. Watering pads and troughs have been installed. Objective 2. All species have been fully established. A stockpiling study with several species has been initiated.

Publications