GRAZING DATA - TENNESSEE AND KENTUCKY

Grazing Experiment - University of Tennessee, Ames Plantation, 2004-05

In 2003 The University of Tennessee's Agricultural Experiment Station planted seventeen 3-acre pastures at Ames Plantation for the purpose of comparing steer performance, forage productivity and longevity of cool-season forages available to Tennessee beef producers Persist orchardgrass was amongst the entries. As of the Summer of 2005, the following exciting data is available:

SUMMARY:

Simply put, the steer preferred Persist over KY-31 and had significantly higher gains.  In 82 days of grazing, the steer gained 99 lbs on Persist and 127 lbs on Persist with clover, compared to gains of only 59 lbs on KY-31.  This data was consistent for the first two years of the experiment.  We expect subsequent data from the next few years to reflect more of the same.

* Click here to watch a Powerpoint of this data *

TRIAL TABLES:

Grazing Experiment - University of Kentucky, Lexington, 2005-09

In 2005 the University of Kentucky planted 5 x 15 randomized plots replicated six times in Lexington,KY. Trials include a rotational grazing study and a continuous grazing study. Persist orchardgrass was amongst the entries. While the trial is small (only four commercial entries), it is worth observing that Persist appears to keep a very high percent stand, while some varieties decrease their stand over the same time period. It is also worth noting the difference in performance of the some entries between continuous and rotational grazing:

Now you know why we say, “Plant for Keeps!”