The Feeding Value of Native Grasses in the Sheyenne National Grasslands
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Date
1978
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Publisher
North Dakota State University
Abstract
Description
Grasses sampled (wooly sedge, big blue stem, switchgrass, little blue stem, needle and thread, blue grama and Kentucky blue grass) were found to differ significantly in their nutritional value. All species were relatively nutritious during early growth stages but declined rapidly as the season progressed. Phosphorus was deficient most of the season in many of the grasses in meeting the requirements of gestating-lactating cows and growing and replacement beef cattle. Additional energy should be supplied for replacement and growing cattle if they are to make satisfactory growth rate after mid-July. Cool season grasses vary more in feeding value than warm season grasses. Upland grasses did not decline in nutritional value to the same extent as grasses in the lowland and midland sites. Burning, mowing or increased grazing rotation improves the utilization of lowland areas and defers grazing on the upland sites until later in the season. These practices would also improve the nutrition available to livestock grazing these areas.