Category: Forages

Submitted by: Liliane Silva, CUCES Forage Specialist and Janet Steele, CUCES Forestry and Wildlife Resources Agent Site selection is crucial. Suitable sites for establishing silvopasture systems should be determined on criteria considering topography, soil type, drainage, and level of management needed and skills. Moreover, the availability of sunlight, water, fencing, nutrient levels, soil pH, and other […]

Submitted by: Leo Vieira-Filho, Postdoctoral FellowLiliane Silva, CU Assistant Professor and CUCES Forages Specialist Soil Fertility Assessment = Soil Test!Soil fertility is “the quality of a soil that enables it to provide nutrients in adequate amounts and in proper balance for the growth of specified plants when other growth factors, such as light, moisture, temperature, […]

Submitted by: Carlos Garcia, Forage-Livestock Systems Research Specialist IILiliane Silva, Clemson University Assistant Professor and Forage-Livestock Systems Specialist    Forages are the primary feed source for livestock production systems worldwide due to low production costs, adapted species, and diversity. With the growing population agricultural systems are facing challenges in increasing food and fiber production while […]

Submitted by: Liliane Silva, Clemson University Forages Specialist Forage quality is commonly defined as the nutrient concentration and digestibility of forages. It is important to emphasize that in the technical literature, forage quality is defined by forage nutritive value and intake. The nutrient concentration of forages directly impacts individual animal performance (e.g., growth, milk production), while […]

Submitted by: Liliane Silva, Forages Specialist, Clemson University Stockpiling is a management practice that defers forage availability for use later. This practice helps to decrease costs associated with feeding hay in livestock operations. In the southeast U.S., perennial grasses such as bahiagrass and bermudagrass are used to close the forage gap in early fall and extend […]

Author: Liliane Silva, Ph.D., Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist, Forage-Livestock Systems, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Clemson University In the Southeast, most livestock operations are based on perennial grasses, such as tall fescue and bermudagrass. Summer annual forages are high-quality, fast-growing forages that can supplement forage production and quality to support animal performance. They are planted from […]

In the Southeast region, most livestock operations are based on the use of perennial warm-season grasses. Due to the seasonality of production, there is a need to provide supplemental feed to livestock during the cooler months. In this context, implementing management strategies such as stockpiling forages, feeding hay or non-forage feedstuff, or planting cool-season annuals […]

In the Southeast region, most livestock operations are primarily based on perennial warm-season grasses. Due to the seasonality of production, there is a need to provide supplemental feed for livestock during the fall and winter months by stockpiling forages, feeding hay or non-forage feedstuff, or planting cool-season annuals. Annual cool-season forages have high forage quality […]

Johnsongrass [Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.] is a warm-season perennial bunchgrass that can grow up to 6 ft tall. It is best adapted to clay soils, spreads by rhizomes and seeds, and is drought tolerant. Johnsongrass can be found along roadsides and in annual and perennial fields and can rapidly become a troublesome weed in hayfields. […]

Management practices are crucial in determining forage production and quality in forage systems. Among them, fertilization is essential to supply nutrients needed by plants. Over the past decades, the fluctuation of costs of fertilizers has elevated the importance of improving nutrient use efficiency while also seeking alternative strategies to reduce off-farm inputs into forage systems. […]