Foraging
Around
John E. Baylor
Forage Specialist (Retired)
Penn State University
MORE ON GRAZING
ALFALFA
1 have just returned from the bi
annual meeting of the North
American Alfalfa Improvement
Conference held in Atlanta, GA.
And as you might expect, it gave
me the opportunity to see first
hand some of the most recent
research on grazing alfalfa, espe
cially with the new Georgia deve
loped variety, Alfagraze. In this
month’s column I’d like to share
some of my observations with
you.
But first, let’s review the two
most widely expressed concerns
when grazing alfalfa. The biggest
concern appears to be the fear of
bloat And, alfalfa does have bloat
potential, especially in late winter
and early spring. But as stated by
researchers and farmers alike, this
danger can be virtually eliminated
by having poloxolene blocks
available to grazing animals. In
fact I was again assured by those
grazing alfalfa in the upper south
that to date they’ve had no serious
bloat problems with grazing ani
mals on alfalfa, assuming they fol
lowed those sound practical man
agement practices developed to
prevent the problem. These
include the following:
• Never turn hungry cattle onto
a lush growth of alfalfa. Ease them
onto the alfalfa by pre-filling with
grass or other diy hay allowing
short periods of grazing until they
get used to the crop.
• Be sure to use proven bloat
preventatives such as poloxolene
during the entire grazing season.
The second concern is that
grazing will weaken and destroy
the alfalfa stand in a short time.
Again we know that continuous
heavy grazing pressure will
reduce or eliminate alfalfa stands,
especially of some of our hay type
varieties. But we also know that
with those varieties a good system
of rotational grazing to allow a
rest period of three to four weeks
between grazings, along with
adequate fertility and other good
management, will usually result in
relatively good stands after sever
al years of grazing. And with the
newer, relatively inexpensive
fencing and watering systems now
available intensive pasture sys
tems are much more realistic.
But let’s talk more specifically
about the variety Alfagraze deve
loped by Dr. Joe Bouton, Alfalfa
breeder at the University of Geor
gia. ’For me, his grazing trials with
alfalfa at the University of Georgi
a’s Central Branch Station were
impressive. I’ve been involved
directly or indirectly with alfalfa
grazing research and with produc
ers ’ grazing experiences with
alfalfa for over 40 years. But I've
not seen anything more clear-cut
than the differences in stand per
sistence after several years of
grazing between Alfagraze and
the other improved varieties. This
was especially apparent under the
more continuous type grazing
where stands of Alfagraze were
much superior to other varieties.
One producer told me this variety
promises to be a real breakthrough
for dairy and beef producers in the
south. It also appears that this var
iety or similar other varieties now
being developed hold the same
promise fra* dairy cows and sheep,
as well as beef, in other areas of
the U.S.
To me there is little doubt that
as more and more livestock far
mers return to pasture as an impor
tant part of their forage system,
well-managed alfalfa or alfalfa
grass mixtures offer the greatest
potential for high animal perfor
mance for dairy, beef and sheep.
And Alfagraze or similar varieties
as they come along promise to
make that potential a reality. As
Uncanw Farming, Saturday, July 11.1M2-A27
stated by Georgia scientists Joe
Bouton and Carl Hoveland, and
supported by researchers in Virgi
nia, Kentucky and other states,
well-managed alfalfa pastures
offer the potential of high animal
performance and more profitabili
ty for both dairy and growing beef
animals, as well as sheep and
horses, over a much longer season
of the year than cool season gras
ses alone. It would be most unfor
tunate if livestock producers fail
to take advantage of this potential.
Many forage woikers feel the
verdict is still out on Alfagraze in
the north. Its persistence here is
Gloucester 4-H Fair Set
CLAYTON, NJ On July 23,
24 & 25 the Gloucester County
4-H Fairgrounds in Mullica Hill
will become a beehive of activity.
Route #77 will swarm with a
steady stream of vehicles bringing
4-H’ers and their exhibits to show
off for the three days of the annual
Gloucester County 4-H Fair.
The animal bams will burst
with rabbits, horses, pigs, goats,
steers and cow, while the exhibit
bam will show visitors 4-H wood
working, needlework, quilts,
crafts, vegetables and flowers.
Exhibiting marks the culmination
of a full year of work for 800 4-H
members.
A full schedule of events over
the three days will provide some
thing for any age group. The 1992
Fair boasts an exciting schedule of
events. Teams of draft horses will
pull a huge sled. Costumed dogs
will compete in their own show.
Kids can see and touch baby ani
mals in a special display area
while parents can view and admire
still not certain, but it has a dor
mancy similar to Vernal and it has
survived winter conditions in the
Upper-Midwest. Disease-wise it
has resistance to Fusarium wilt
and moderate resistance to
anthracnose and bacterial wilt.
But it has very low resistance to
Phytophthora root rot and its resis
tance to Verticillium wilt is
unknown but probably very low.
Nevertheless, researchers and
farmers alike in the major alfalfa
grooving states are giving it a good
look. You may wish to give it a try
too.
classic cars. Kids under four will
compete in a Tractor Pull.
A Gloucester County Key
Ambassador will be named on
Thursday evening following a day
including horse, swine, sheep and
dairy goat shows. Thursday even
ing will also feature a 4-H Drum
and Bugle Corps, The Southern
Knights.
Friday’s annual shows will
include dairy, rabbit and horse.
Doc Holliday’s Country & West
ern Band will provide evening
entertainment
Saturday is “Kids Day” includ
ing a Fun Carnival, Baby Parade,
Diaper Derby, Turtle Race abd
Frog Jumping Contest, as well as
the Parade of Champions.
For the hungry, a trip to the Fair
must'include dinner served
from 4:00 - 8:00 PM. Thursday;
Clams, shrimp & ribs; Friday and
Saturday; Chicken barbeque;
$7.00 for adults and $4.00 for
children.