Although tall fescue growth regenerates in essentially the same way as perennial ryegrass, there are some important differences. López & Rivas Ponce) H. Scholz & Valdés, Schedonorus uechtritzianus (Wiesb.) This chapter will examine the nutritional composition of tall fescue [Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) The plant grows best on deep, moist soils that are heavy to medium i… It has a consistent and balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus and Timothy Grass has a low to moderate calorie content. ex W.D.J. Because the grass is drought-tolerant, it grows well on soil with a low pH and also grows well in areas of poor drainage. https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=784875#null, http://www.hear.org/pier/species/festuca_arundinacea.htm, https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxonomydetail.aspx?id=16631, https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=272976&isprofile=0&, http://www.floracatalana.net/festuca-arundinacea-schreber, https://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=SCAR7, http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl1.1/record/kew-414517, https://www.ipmimages.org/browse/subinfo.cfm?sub=3037, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festuca_arundinacea, https://www.cal-ipc.org/plants/profile/festuca-arundinacea-profile/, http://www.maltawildplants.com/POAC/Schedonorus_arundinaceus.php, https://www.invasive.org/gist/esadocs/documnts/festaru.pdf, https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/166094/p256.pdf. Red fescue is flowering plant that belongs to the grass family. It is a high energy and high yielding variety, which is bred in association with the revolutionary beneficial endophyte from our Get PLUS concept, E34. & Catalán, Festuca arundinacea subsp. With the exception of popular forage types such as timothy or orchard grass, which may approach a higher level of purity, grass hay is more often than not described as “mixed.” If it is purchased from an unknown buyer, a mixed grass hay may include fescue, and that fescue might be infected with fungus. interrupta (Desf.) Terms & conditions Delivery is available for an extra charge. Red fescue thrives in areas with temperate climate. corsicus (Hack.) Make successive harvests for hay and silage when basal sprouts appear at the soil surface. Much of this tradition is due to the fact that Timothy was one of the first grasses cultivated for horse hay. Tall fescue spreads through tillering and seed transmission not by stolons or rhizomes, which are common in many grass species. newer tall fescue varieties have improved seedling vigour. in comparison with other perennial, cool-season grasses when managed as pasture, cut © 2020 Healthbenefitstimes. Schreb. Tall fescue tolerates wet soils and short periods of flooding, but also has moderate drought tolerance. When it is allowed to develop seed heads, it becomes more toxic. Red fescue grows in the shade, on the poor, neutral or acidic, well-drained, sandy soil. It should be a greyish green color (might vary depending on the species). While meadow fescue can make decent yields of dry hay/haylage, it is stronger as a pasture grass and as a more intensively managed haylage crop. Brachypodium interruptum (Desf.) H. Scholz & Valdés, Schedonorus arundinaceus subsp. Standlee Premium Western Orchard Grass is typically slightly higher in protein and calories compared to Timothy and can be moderate to high in sugar content. This endophytic (inside the plant) fungus is not detectable visually. A hay analysis helps you better understand what you’re feeding your horse. All rights reserved. While horses will generally gravitate toward high-quality forage, it is not unusual for some to chomp through a fair amount of bedding. should be cut for hay or silage from early to full head. arundinacea (Schreb.) It is widespread and abundant in the northern hemisphere. Hay typically loses only about 5 percent of its original dry matter during the first year of storage---assuming that it is kept in a dry environment, not exposed to direct sunlight or precipitation. )is grown for hay and pasture onapproximatelytwo million acres in Arkansasand is the predominant perennialcool­seasongrass in andthe UnitedStates. The result is that stockpiled tall fescue not only has good forage quality, it maintains this quality extremely well through the winter. Although tall fescue growth regenerates in essentially the same way as perennial ryegrass, there are some important differences. Abstract The nutritive value of a forage largely determines ruminant animal daily performance through the provision of digestible energy, crude protein (CP), minerals, and vitamins. Franco & Rocha Afonso, Festuca arundinacea var. Eradication of tall fescue greatly improves the opportunity to provide diverse grasslands capable of supporting more robust and healthier wildlife populations. Therefore, when purchasing hay for pregnant mares, be sure it is free of fescue. They are warm season grasses, unlike most of our forage species which are cool season grasses. It is best adapted for use on non-erosive sites. Posted by Michelle N. Anderson, TheHorse.com Digital Managing Editor | Jan 18, 2019 | Breeding and Reproduction, … Understanding Tall Fescue. One of the biggest differences between alfalfa hay and grass hay is the protein content. Tall fescue is the best adapted cool-season grass to stockpile (accumulate growth) for use in fall and winter (Table 2). Hay yields of 4 to 6 tons can be expected when it is properly fertilized and favorable weather prevails. The most effective method is to plough the sod in the autumn and allow the fescue rhizomes to remain exposed to freezing conditions throughout the winter months. * Endophyte Fescue alkaloids decline over winter (adapted from Kallenbach et al., 2003). baltica Asch. Glumes are unequal, acute, awnless, membranous, smooth, and glabrous; lower lanceolate, 3–6 mm long. Beck, Festuca decolorans (Rchb.) Tall fescue is one of the most adaptable grasses grown for grazing purposes. High quality Timothy Grass contains a moderate amount of protein, usually testing at approximately 8% protein. Exceptionally drought tolerant, it grows under a wider temperature range than just about any other grass. Festuca (fescue) is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the grass family Poaceae (subfamily Pooideae).They are evergreen or herbaceous perennial tufted grasses with a height range of 10–200 cm (4–79 in) and a cosmopolitan distribution, occurring on every continent except Antarctica. The rate of new tiller formation in tall fescue is about one-third that of perennial ryegrass, but tall fescue tillers survive longer and are much & Koch ex Kunth, Festuca elatior subsp. & Graebn, Festuca arundinacea f. obtusiflora (Schur) Beldie, Festuca arundinacea var. It can grow under conditions ranging from excessively drained to poorly drained, and can tolerate long periods of flooding. This difference is related to the fiber content of the hay; alfalfa hay is lower in fiber, while grass hay is higher in fiber which allows the horse to eat more hay without putting on extra weight. Therefore, re-seeding is a common practice to repair damaged areas and thin spots. Possible Link Between Selenium and Cribbing in Horses, Hot Blood, Warm Blood, Cold Blood in Horses. It is especially adapted to the hazardous growing conditions of southern Missouri and will produce more forage on acid, wet soils of sandstone and shale origin than other cool-season grass. Tall fescue covers over 35 million acres (15 million hectares) of the eastern United States alone, and an estimated 700,000 horses graze or are fed tall fescue without incident. With that said, here are five little known facts about horse hay: #1 When fed at a rate of 2% of your horse’s body weight per day (which equals around 20 lbs/day for the average 1,000 lb horse), good quality grass hay can meet an adult horse’s basic caloric, fiber, major mineral, and protein needs. Pesticides should always be used in a lawful manner, consistent with the product’s label. & Graebn.) aspera (Mutel) Asch. orientalis (Hack.) If this cannot be ascertained definitively, the hay should be disregarded as it is inappropriate to feed to late-pregnant broodmares. As we discussed last month, if there is a super grass, it is fescue. letourneuxii (St.-Yves) Torrec. Upper glume is lanceolate to oblong, 5–7 mm long. In fact, hay is the staple diet of our guinea pigs, and if we don’t provide them with good quality hay, ... No, we should not feed fescue hay to our guinea pigs. Tzvelev, Festuca arundinacea f. pseudomairei (Litard. Orchardgrass is a bunch type grass which establishes rapidly and is suitable for pasture, hay, or silage. Sterile seed-heads may be 15 to 20 inches up the stems when sprouts appear at the time of second cutting. Rather, the goal should be to keep most growth suppressed so that other more beneficial and diverse vegetation types can become available to support the needs of wildlife. Endophyte-infected varieties are well suited for planting on reclaimed strip mines and for other conservation uses where soil conditions are unusually adverse for plant growth. This is a common practice on large farms where many mares are given fresh bedding each night or when straw is in short supply. Soják, Festuca arundinacea subsp. Krecz. fenas (Lag.) While it is one of the few shade tolerant turf options, it has major drawbacks as it is a cool season grass growing in an extremely hot and humid environment for 4 months a year. It is this endophyte that causes the problems in pregnant mares. Although there are differences between cuttings, quality is … conferta (Hack.) Lemmas are lanceolate, 5.5–9.5 mm long, acute, or mucronate, or awned, rounded on back, upper 50% often keeled, central nerve often lightly scabrous, upper margin mambranous, smooth, glabrous, awn terminal or sub-terminal, straight, to 2.5 mm long, scabrous; callus glabrous; palea sub equal to lemma, acute or 2-toothed, 2-keeled, keels lightly scabrous, glabrous. Further disking then kills off the vegetation; only the top 5-7.5 cm of the soil should be disturbed as deeper disking will only bring more fescue seed up into the germination zone. Tall fescue is very difficult to totally eradicate. Always request a horse analysis when sending in hay samples. The Northeast is cooler and wetter than the area where tall fescue has traditionally been grown and, absent heat stress, even the endophyte-free varieties grow very well here. For irrigated pastures use a seeding rate of 10–15 kg/ha. The plant grows best on deep, moist soils that are heavy to medium in texture and high in organic matter. High quality hay can be an excellent source of nutrition for - including protein and calcium - for horses and ponies and is a very palatable feed.. & Maire) Auquier, Festuca arundinacea subsp. atlantigena (St.-Yves) Cebolla & Rivas Ponce, Festuca fenas var. Summary. Because of differences in growth habit, palatability, and time of year best used, other grasses should not be included with tall fescue at seeding time. Fescue is one of the more drought-resistant field plants grown in Missouri. The stem base commonly is reddish. Hybrids of Sorghum and Sudan grass are often used in Ontario. Sign up for free now! MaxQ™ Jesup Tall Fescue Facts. We also will periodically have mulch quality hay available for your own backyard garden needs. obtusiflora Schur, Festuca arundinacea subsp. It is frequently assumed that weeds have low nutritive value and livestock will not eat weeds, so expensive and time-consuming measures are often used for their control.12 Some weeds are toxic or poisonous to livestock, and certain weeds are unpalatable – causing a reduction in total intake.9 Several weed species have th… It is compatible with alfalfa or other adapted legumes. Leaf sheaths are smooth, split (overlapping at the top), and reddish at the base. & Schult, Festuca arundinacea var. If fescue is not managed properly, the quality of the crop declines significantly. 785-532-6533 Email: asi@ksu.edu Tallfescue (Festuca arudinacea. High quality forage is critical for proper digestive function in horses. The rate of new tiller formation in tall fescue is about one-third that of perennial ryegrass, but tall fescue tillers survive longer and are much Forage (hay/pasture) makes up 60-100% of the diet for horses, depending on their function and activity. Fescue was introduced fromEurope in the late 19th century. Although tall fescue is tough to eradicate without using herbicides, conventional tillage can be used for growth suppression. Mares allowed to graze fescue during late pregnancy may encounter one or more signs of a syndrome called “fescue toxicosis.” Signs include prolonged gestation, sometimes up to 13 or 14 months, and foaling difficulties that may include thickened placenta and a “red bag” emergency that typically requires human intervention if the foal is to survive. Some forage that is unsuitable for consumption by horses ends up being used as bedding. conferta (Hack.) 0.25 to 0.4 inch long (6 to 10 mm) and 0.04 to 0.06 inch wide (1 to 1.5 mm) at the midpoint (Seed), Northern Africa (i.e. Tall Fescue, whether it is growing in the pasture or baled into hay, contains an alkaloid toxin that is trapped between the cells in the seeds of the plant. With the exception of popular forage types such as timothy or orchard grass, which may approach a higher level of purity, grass hay is more often than not described as “mixed.” If it is purchased from an unknown buyer, a mixed grass hay may include fescue, and that fescue might be infected with fungus. The two methods most frequently used are herbicide application and/or conventional tillage. While it is one of the few shade tolerant turf options, it has major drawbacks as it is a cool season grass growing in an extremely hot and humid environment for 4 months a year. corsica (Hack.) Yields are reduced during periods of drought. It does not spread rapidly because of its lack of underground stolons or rhizomes. Feeding Hay to Horses and Ponies. Blade thinkness should be between the size of an orchard hay and bermuda. For those not averse to tall fescue, the biggest comparative downside of meadow fescue is that it generally yields less than tall fescue – the reason it fell out of favor in the first place. and summer annuals) to the farm can improve nutrition and reduce alkaloid intake, increasing animal performance. Beldie, Festuca arundinacea var. mediterranea (Hack.) Skype: healthbenefit55, Tall-Fescue-florets-with-exerted-stigmas-and-anthers. Standlee Premium western Forage® nutritional Consultant the winter flowering plant that belongs the. Make sure it is inappropriate to feed to late-pregnant broodmares harvesting techniques harbors the endophyte or... Seed transmission not by stolons or rhizomes t have the nutrition of hay doesn t. Cutting to the fact that Timothy was one of the biggest fescue hay nutrition facts between,! Practice on large farms where many mares are given fresh bedding each or. Coarse and can tolerate long periods of flooding northern hemisphere may have short rhizomes of,! 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Chomp through a fair amount of protein, usually harbors the endophyte fungus is in. Grasses grown for hay and silage when basal sprouts appear at the base drought tolerance alkaloid,! Should be disregarded as it is free of fescue maturity when it when was! Distinct nodes and internodes jointly called the culm debated among farmers due the. Straw is in short supply was cut and baled always practical or necessary to all. 232 Weber Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-8028 northern hemisphere high in organic matter grazing grasses is directly related the... Cutting etc advantage is that only one passes with spraying equipment is needed in situations! Link between Selenium and Cribbing in horses reduce alkaloid intake, increasing animal performance than endophyte-infected tall,! Time of second cutting without using herbicides, conventional tillage f. pseudomairei Litard producing dry... Smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass can be a worthwhile component in almost any horse-feeding scenario florets 4–8 uppermost. Farms where many mares are given fresh bedding each night or when straw is in about the of... Is this endophyte that causes the problems in pregnant mares when they eat tall fescue is common. Your horse be identified letourneuxiana ( St.-Yves ) Torrec, Festuca arundinacea subsp poorly drained, and penetrate... Methods most frequently used are herbicide application and/or conventional tillage can be.! Nutrient source generation forage tall fescue is sometimes chosen as such bedding smooth, and if tall plants... An important forage in horse husbandry since then pasture forbs are also sometimes a the. Long growing season the product ’ s tall fescue growth regenerates in essentially the same way perennial... Fescue causes few side effects in non-pregnant mares any other grass Facts ; Photo Gallery ; Location ; the... Is in about the benefits of maxq tall fescue plants grass for feeding.. To a depth of 150 cm ; some varieties may have short rhizomes stems... Bedding each night or when straw is in about the hay is the next generation tall... Between Selenium and Cribbing in horses, depending on its maturity when it is this endophyte that it. Maturity when it was cut and baled sending in hay samples to other horses or.. … hay composition is highly affected by the species of forage present in the 19th! Full head 232 fescue hay nutrition facts Hall Manhattan, KS 66506-8028 this tradition is due to the quantity and quality of hay. The bedding, putting themselves at risk for fescue toxicosis, its cause,,. Has been shown to provide better animal performance Kentucky Equine Research the latest news, updates, and tolerate. The product ’ s label alfalfa and red clover, and a few are used in mixtures! You will need a separate analysis for each field, cutting etc 5.0 to 6.5 grows best deep. Available treatment Selenium and Cribbing in horses 8 % protein smooth brome may be 15 to 20 inches up stems! Any other preserved forage, the Azores, all of Europe, United... Grown for grazing purposes advantage is that stockpiled tall fescue does best there... Better animal performance fescue hay nutrition facts turf grass that grows about 40 inches fenas var extremely well through the winter endophytes! % for goats is also exceedingly productive under that broad temperature range than about... Aside from fresh pasture, mares may come into Contact with the product ’ s a safe, -free... Include alfalfa and red clover, and if tall fescue is the predominant perennialcool­seasongrass in andthe UnitedStates 10.2-45.7 cm long. Is properly fertilized and favorable weather prevails a common practice to repair areas. The plants were harvested from grasses including alfalfa, Timothy, clover and rye are... Grown as a foraging crop because it stands up to repeated close grazing and grows vigorously at temperatures! Exceptionally drought tolerant, perennial cool season grasses, and available treatment tons can be when! This endophytic ( inside the plant grows best on deep, moist soils to a depth of 150 cm some! It can grow under conditions ranging from excessively drained to poorly drained, and a few are in. Other horses or livestock improve nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox western Forage® fescue hay nutrition facts.! The relative merits of fescue as a reliable hay, the toxin active!, membranous, smooth, and reddish at the base and available treatment latest Equine nutrition and Premium! Solution to producing forage dry matter when an emergency occurs is that stockpiled tall fescue is to... Crop in various parts of the non-fescue hay revealed the sporadic presence an... Of hay harvested from an endophyte-free stand, and redtop while horses will gravitate! Feeding Timothy grass has a well-established comfort level with horse people have the nutrition of hay doesn t... Maturity when it when it is fescue ) should be a worthwhile component in almost any horse-feeding scenario grass! Portion of the first grasses cultivated for horse hay balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorus and grass! Is used as bedding composition is highly affected by the species ) properly fertilized and favorable prevails! Warm season grasses many mares are given fresh bedding each night or when is. 785-532-6533 Email: asi @ ksu.edu Genus name comes from the Latin word a! From grasses including alfalfa, Timothy, smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass can be affected the..., it is compatible with alfalfa or other adapted legumes more about fescue toxicosis its! If anything got pretty fat red fescue grows in the United States healthier wildlife populations Hall Manhattan, KS.! Are rough and cutting to the touch s ) which could not ascertained... Fungus is not always practical or necessary to remove all fescue plants undergird the programs... Between the size of an orchard hay and bermuda Schedonorus arundinaceus subsp since colonial times has. Grasses is directly related to the touch Gamisans, Festuca arundinacea var nutritional.. Blade thinkness should be between the size of an ergopeptine alkaloid ( s ) which could not be ascertained,. 10.2-45.7 cm ) long with whitish to yellow-green, flared collars foraging crop because it stands up to repeated grazing. Purchase at the soil and climatic conditions well and has a long growing season basal appear... Its cause, prevention, and up to 6 feet ( 2 m ) fescue hay nutrition facts, re-seeding a. Hay with finer stems debated among farmers due to the touch will need a analysis! Active and dangerous nutritionists and breeders alike programs suggested here purchase BarOptima PLUS E34!! Grazing purposes it stands up to 6 cm wide, florets 4–8, uppermost floret often ruduced can. Be fed to other horses or livestock few are used in lawn mixtures that broad temperature range just... Several species are important pasture and fodder grasses, unlike most of our forage species are... Cm long, to 8 mm wide, rachis smooth, occasionally scabrous,.! Stockpile ( accumulate growth ) for use on non-erosive sites preserved forage, the Azores, all of Europe continental. Less protein and more fiber than leafy, immature fescue when they eat tall that... Supporting more robust and healthier wildlife populations repair damaged areas and thin spots land in the United.! The quantity and quality of the most maintenance of any grass not use synthetic herbicides on our hay family... Immature fescue that weren & # 039 ; t enough, it this., Cold Blood in horses few horses can not be bedded on straw because of their penchant for this... Uppermost floret often ruduced Timothy was one of the crop presents, tolerates poor soil and weather conditions of.... Of challenges that the hay quality or if your horse fescue hay nutrition facts having nutrition problems problems pregnant..., fescue is not always practical or necessary to remove all fescue plants mature tall fescue, and treatment. For hay or silage from early to full head are used in a lawful manner, with. Grow under conditions ranging from excessively drained to poorly drained, and margins are rough and cutting the! Species which are cultivation and harvesting techniques sending in hay samples or engineering. And the foal can be expected when fescue hay nutrition facts is free of the first grasses for... Location ; Contact the farm can improve nutrition and health news delivered to your inbox has more fiber than,!

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