Buy a subscription

Home Contact Sitemap login Checkout

Farming Smarter

Farming Smarter
  • Home
  • Who We Are
    • Who We Are
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • What We Do
    • Agronomy Research
    • Custom Research
    • Field Tested
    • Knowledge & Network
  • What We Offer
    • What We Offer
    • Events
      • Events
      • Farmers Learning Series
      • Agronomist Learning Series
    • Research Projects
      • Research Projects
      • Agronomy Research Projects
      • Field Tested Projects
      • Custom Research Projects
    • Subscriptions
      • Subscriptions
      • FS Agronomy Subscription
      • FS Digital Subscription
    • Sponsorship Opportunities
    • Smart Partner Program
    • Speakers
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved
    • Sponsorship
    • I want to help!
    • With On-farm Research
    • With Product Testing
    • With Small Plot Research
    • Jobs
    • Internship Opportunities
    • Volunteer!
    • Support Research!
  • Learning Resources
    • Learning Resources
    • Online Classroom (CEU)
    • News Articles
    • Videos
    • Magazine
    • Publications & Reports
      • Publications & Reports
      • Published Papers
      • Research Reports
    • Podcasts
    • 360 Videos
Print This Page

Grazing Winter Cereals

Grazing Winter Cereals

Can we obtain supplemental grazed forage from winter cereal crops?

Project Abstract

Short Grass Ranches in the Medicine Hat area found he could graze cattle from late October to early spring on his winter wheat and still have the winter wheat produce a crop the following season.

This study determined the possibility of obtaining supplemental grazed forage from cereal crops including fall rye, winter triticale, winter wheat and their blends. The experimental trials compared grazing in fall with control plots that were not grazed.

The effect of grazing on silage biomass, quality, and grain yield was determined at the end of the season.

Project Details

Timeline 2014-2017
Principal Investigator: Ken Coles
Farming Smarter
Project Contact: Ken Coles
Funded By:

Ducks Unlimited Canada



Project Objectives

Full breakdown of project objectives

Trial 1: Winter Cereal Grazing (crop type, cultivar, and seed treatment)
Trailor Icon Evaluate the effect on biomass (silage) and yield production with fall grazing of cattle on winter wheat, fall rye, winter triticale and blends of each
Trailor Icon Evaluate the differences in crop type and varietal suitability to this practice
Trailor Icon Quantify potential differences in winter survival with the application of a seed treatment
Trailor Icon Complete an economic analysis of silage value following grazing and non-grazed treatments and the potential to carry the crop through to yield


Trial 2: Winter Wheat Seeding Date
Trailor Icon Determine the effect of different seeding dates on winter wheat varieties Moats & Ptarmigan
Trailor Icon Determine the potential differences between Ptarmigan & Moats
Trailor Icon Quantify potential differences in winter survival with the application of a seed treatment and without

Methods

Full breakdown of project methods

Trial 1 Treatments (With and without cruise maxx)

This trial tested best options for crop type (fall rye, winter triticale, winter wheat and some blends) a forage vs. grain variety and a fungicide/insecticide seed treatment (Check). Two identical trials were seeded side by side with one grazed and the other fenced off and not grazed.

Trailor Icon

Fall Rye - Hazlet

Trailor Icon

Fall Rye - Prime

Trailor Icon

Winter Triticale - Fridge

Trailor Icon

Winter Triticale - Luoma

Trailor Icon

Winter Wheat - Moats

Trailor Icon

Winter Wheat - Ptarmigan

Trailor Icon

Blend - Prime + Fridge

Trailor Icon

Blend - Prime +Ptarmigan

Trailor Icon

Blend - Fridge + Ptarmigan


Trial 2 - Winter Wheat Seeding Date

This trial looked for the optimum seeding dates for some varieties of fall grazed winter wheat. We performed a two-factor study considering different seeding dates for winter wheat, different winter wheat cultivars and effects of fungicide/insecticide treatment (Cruiser Maxx Vibrance Cereals CMVC) and non-treatment (Check) under grazing and ungrazed.

a)

b)

a) Field view of grazed and ungrazed trials; b) Weed proliferation in grazed trial in fall 2015


Results

Final Results

Trial 1 - winter cereal grazing (crop type, cultivar, and seed treatment)

The study showed that cultivar selection had significant effect on fall and spring plant density. Also, grazing significantly lowered spring survival compared to non-grazed plots (p <0.001). The same results are seen for winter survival except for the year 2017.

However, winter cereals demonstrated that they could withstand the removal of the above ground biomass and continue to grow after grazing. Between grazed cereals, fall rye (Hazlet 78%, Prima 88&) and winter triticale (Luoma 88%, Fridge 89%) have higher survival rates compared to winter wheat (Moats 69%, Ptatmigan 75%). In general, the study demonstrated that grazing significantly impacted survival in different crops and cultivars, but not by treatment of CMVC and check.

Contrary to survival, fall biomass did not show significant differences among the cultivars. Statistically, Fridge winter tritcale (11.45 T/ha) had the highest total biomass and Prima fall rye (9.02 T/ha) had the lowest. Fall biomass had significantly richer nutrients for feed value over silage. Also, grazing increased yield in all years. The highest averaged yield belongs to grazed Luoma triticale (91 bu/ha) and the lowest is an ungrazed blend of Ptarmigan winter wheat with Prima fall rye (66 bu/ha).


Trial 2 - Winter Wheat Seeding Date

Early seeding from early to mid-August increases the fall biomass but decreases winter survival and yield. The optimal seeding period for Moats and Ptarmigan winter wheat is the first two weeks of September. Silage biomass (around 8 T/ha) of winter wheat in different seeding dates showed higher values vs fall biomass (around 2 T/ha). The grazed plots showed an increased yield in both wheat cultivars. Moats had an 11 bu/ac higher yield on average than Ptarmigan in the ungrazed plots.

Recommendations

  • We observed a good potential to fall graze winter cereals with a high feed quality
  • Grazing proved to increase yield, but compromised winter and spring survival and must be managed accordingly
  • Prima fall rye and Luoma winter triticale showed the highest surivial
  • Hazlet fall rye and a blend of Fridge triticale and Ptarmigan winter wheat had the highest fall biomass
  • Fridge winter triticale had the highest total biomass and Prima rye the lowest
  • Winter surival is significantly impacted by crops, cultivars and grazing, but not by seed treatment of CMVC
  • The highest average yield was grazed Luoma triticale and the lowest is the ungrazed blend of Ptarmigan winter wheat and Prima fall rye
  • Optimal seeding period for Moats and Ptarmigan is the first 2 weeks of September


Extension

Check out our playlist on this exciting project!

Farming Smarter News
Popular Press Articles
Trailor Icon Dual Harvest: Winter Wheat Grazing Project with Scott Lehr
Trailor Icon  Double-Cropping Winter Cereals, Hail Simulator, and Dryland Corn Updates
Trailor Icon Dual purpose cereal crops a win-win?
Trailor Icon Grazing winter cereals can work
Trailor Icon Double whammy crop production
Trailor Icon Winter cereals pressed into double duty

Farming Smarter

211034 Hwy 512, Lethbridge County, AB
T1J 5N9 Canada

Quick Links

Who We Are

What We Do

What We Offer

Get Involved

Learning Resources

More

Staff Directory

Contact

Copyright © Farming Smarter 2023. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions