PASTURE PRODUCTION FOR HORSES

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1 PASTURE PRODUCTION FOR HORSES A productive pasture can be an inexpensive, highquality source of feed for horses, while providing the most natural and healthy environment for exercise and rest. Not only will a poorly managed pasture supply limited, low-quality feed, it will also be unattractive and could potentially cause health and nutritional problems. Selecting the right forage, starting with a good stand, and managing the pasture properly are the elements of successful pasture production.

2 How much acreage is needed? If the pasture is expected to provide a majority of the diet, approximately one to two acres are needed for each mature horse. What forage species should be used? Grasses should be the primary forage in a pasture because they tend to be more productive and persistent. The majority of acres should be seeded to a cool-season perennial grass such as tall fescue or orchardgrass. Bermudagrass can be used in warmer areas of the state and can provide grazing during the summer months. What are cool-season grasses? Cool-season grasses produce most of their growth during the cooler times of the year. This is generally from March to June and September to November. During the summer these plants usually become dormant or die. Cool-season perenni-

3 als include tall fescue, orchardgrass, timothy and Kentucky bluegrass. Cool-season annuals include wheat, ryegrass, and oats. What are warm-season grasses? Warm-season grasses grow best during the warm periods of the year. This is generally from June to October. These plants tend to use water more efficiently and are better adapted for growth during the hot, dry times of the year. These plants will either become dormant or die when the fall frost begins. Warm-season perennials include bermudagrass and dallisgrass. Warm-season annuals include pearl millet and crabgrass. What is the difference between a perennial and an annual? A perennial plant is one that lives for more than one year. It

4 may become dormant for part of the year, but survives the dormancy period and regrows. Annual plants are those that germinate from seed, grow, produce seed, and die within one year. When should cool-season forage crops be planted? Tall fescue and orchardgrass should be seeded at a rate of 15 to 20 lbs. per acre and timothy at a rate of 9 lbs. per acre between August 15 and October 1 or February 20 to April 1. Fall planting is usually the most successful. Plant at a depth of.25 to.50 inch. Does KY 31 fescue cause reproductive problems? The predominant grass used in Tennessee pastures is KY 31 tall fescue. Most KY 31 contains a fungal endophyte that causes mares to have reproductive problems, but it can be

5 used for mares 9-10 months of the year. During the two months prior to foaling, mares need to be removed from the fescue. Mares are the only class of horses with any difficulty related to the endophyte. Are there endophyte-free fescue varieties available? There are fescue varieties available that are endophyte free. The stand life of these grasses will generally not be as long as endophyte-infected tall fescue. Are there other plant species to avoid? Yes. Sorghum, sudangrass, Johnsongrass, and particularly sorghum x sudan hybrids are not recommended for horse pastures due to the potential to cause health problems. Can pastures benefit from the addition of legumes? Ladino white clover (cool-season) and annual lespedeza (warm-season) can be added to most cool-season pastures to improve the quality of the forage, while adding nitrogen to the soil. Red clover can be used successfully; however, the late spring growth of red clover can cause excessive salivation or slobbering. This is not fatal to the animal, but it is unsightly.

6 How and when should clovers be added? Ladino white clover should be seeded at 2 lbs. per acre. If red clover is included, add 4 lbs. red clover per acre. On droughty hillsides, 8 lbs. of kobe annual lespedeza can be seeded to help summer grazing. These seeds can be mixed together and broadcast across the field from February 15 to March 1. After March 1, the seed should be drilled into the pasture no more than.25 to.50 inch deep. Do not seed clovers after March 31 in the spring. Clovers can be added in the fall but do better in the spring. Do horses prefer grasses or legumes? Horses will eat legumes, but tend to prefer grasses. Horses are more selective than cattle and tend to spot graze. This is particularly true if legumes are present. Horse pastures may require periodic clipping to even out the overgrazed and undergrazed areas and to keep forage plants young and tender. How are weak grass stands improved? If the stand is slightly weak and only a few grass plants need to be added, graze or clip the pasture to remove all topgrowth. Cool-season grass seed can be drilled in from the middle of August to late September. Use the full seeding rate for the appropriate grass.

7 How are new pastures established? There are two basic ways to plant a new stand of forage. One is conventional seeding which involves preparing a new seedbed by plowing and disking. Once a smooth seedbed is prepared, seed can be drilled or broadcast onto the seedbed, and then cultipacked. The other method is no-till, which involves the use of a herbicide to kill all existing vegetation. A no-till drill is used to place the seed in contact with the soil. What steps should be taken to prepare for new seedings? Fertilize according to soil test, plant at the proper time, plant the proper amount of seed, plant at the proper depth, and plant when moisture is available.

8 How should pastures be fertilized? Proper soil fertility is essential to producing high-yielding, top-quality forages. A soil test is the only way to determine how much fertilizer is needed. A soil test should be taken every 2 to 3 years and sent to a university or private lab for analysis. A sample depth of 2-4 inches is recommended for sod. Lime, potash, and phosphate can be applied any time of the year, usually either spring or fall. Nitrogen should be applied to the grass when it is actively growing. For tall fescue pastures apply 60 lbs. of actual nitrogen in fall after the rains begin, and make another application in the spring for additional growth. What is soil ph? The level of soil acidity or soil ph is one of the most important factors affecting plant growth. A low ph will make soil

9 nutrients less available to plants, which means the fertilizer you apply is not utilized by the plants. The addition of lime can correct a low soil ph. What to do about weeds in pastures? Broadleaf weeds can reduce forage yield and quality. Often a thin stand of forage and high weed pressure are found together. Weeds will fill in areas that are not covered by forages so keeping a healthy stand of forage is important. Several herbicides can be used to control broadleaf weeds. Selecting the best herbicide depends on the type of weeds that are present and the forage that is being sprayed. Many herbicides that control broadleaf weeds will damage various clovers. While spring is an excellent time to control weeds, many broadleaf weeds can be controlled in the fall. Do not spray for broadleaf weeds and seed clovers in the same field. Be sure to read and follow the label directions. Will overgrazing affect forage stands? Yes. Overgrazing will many times result in the loss of a stand in a pasture. Proper grazing management allows plants to be grazed by the horse, but prevents constant overgrazing. The best way to minimize overgrazing is to reduce pasture size and move horses from pasture to pasture, allowing a 3-4 week rest period between grazing.

10 How should forages be grazed? Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue, orchardgrass, wheat, and ryegrass should be grazed when they reach 8 inches tall, and animals should be removed when the forage is grazed down to 3 inches. Bermudagrass can be grazed down to 1-2 inches, because it has more leaves lower on the plant and does not require as much energy from root reserves for regrowth. What pasture program is best? For most horse owners in Tennessee, an endophyte-infected tall fescue pasture overseeded with white ladino clover will provide the longest growing season with good persistence. If mares are to be bred, another type of grass can be planted on a small acreage or another feed can be provided for the two months prior to expected foaling date. If establishing new pastures, low-endophyte fescue should be considered. The farther south and west a farm is located in the state, the greater potential for using bermudagrass as a forage. A bermudagrass pasture overseeded with wheat or ryegrass in the fall can provide a good-quality diet to the horse. Regardless of the forage selected, a solid fertility and weed control program combined with good grazing management practices are a must to maintain pasture longevity. Successful pasture management is nothing more than creating and maintaining conditions in the pasture that favor forage plants over weeds.

11 Recommended planting rates: Forage Seeding rate Seeding date (lbs./acre) Tall fescue 15 to 20 Aug. 15-Oct. 1*, Feb April 1 Orchardgrass 15 to 20 Aug. 15-Oct. 1*, Feb April 1 Timothy 9 to 10 Aug. 15-Oct. 1*, Feb April 1 Wheat 90 to 120 Sept. 1 - Nov. 10 Rye 90 to 120 Aug Oct. 15 Annual ryegrass 20 to 30 Aug Oct. 15 Bermudagraass 6 to 10 April 15 - July 1 Pearl millet 15 to 25 May 1 - July 15 Red clover 8 to 10 Feb April 1 White clover 2 Feb April 1 Annual lespedeza 25 to 40 Feb April 15 * Fall planting is usually the most successful.

12 Your local Co-op has qualified personnel to assist you with your pasture program and a complete line of products to help ensure productive and attractive pastures. See us for: Fertilizer products including nitrogen, phosphate, potash, and micronutrients. We also offer custom application services and custom blending. A complete line of herbicides and assistance with the proper selection of products and correct application rates. An excellent line of quality seed products including: Wrangler Bermudagrass Select Fescue (low endophyte) Benchmark and Hallmark Orchardgrass Colt Timothy Winter Magic Rye FFR SS 76/30 Oats FFR Royal Red Clover Will Ladino White Clover Marshall Ryegrass Gem Alfalfa Plus many more