Persist and Grazing
Grazing Experiments
University of Tennessee
Ames Plantation, 2004-2005
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 the 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:
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.
2004 Spring Steer Performance
Year One
Ames Plantation, SW Tennessee
| Treatment |
Starting Weight |
Ending Weight |
Average Daily Gain |
| Persist & Clover |
661 |
758 |
1.42 |
| Persist |
665 |
767 |
1.13 |
| KY-31 E+ |
690 |
750 |
0.68 |
| in lbs; 84 days of Grazing |
2005 Spring Steer Performance
Year Two
Ames Plantation, SW Tennessee
| Treatment |
Starting Weight |
Ending Weight |
Average Daily Gain |
| Persist & Clover |
660 |
794 |
1.68 |
| Persist |
614 |
716 |
1.29 |
| KY-31 E+ |
690 |
744 |
0.75 |
| in lbs; 84 days of Grazing |
2004-05 Spring Steer Performance
2 Year Average
Ames Plantation, SW Tennessee
| Treatment |
Starting Weight |
Ending Weight |
Average Daily Gain |
| Persist & Clover |
661 |
776 |
1.55 |
| Persist |
640 |
742 |
1.21 |
| KY-31 E+ |
690 |
747 |
0.72 |
| in lbs; 82 days of Grazing |
Want to learn more?
Download the presentation.
University of Kentucky
Lexington, 2005-2009
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:
Intake Study
Persist Good Alternative to Novel-Endophyte Fescue
Results from an intake and digestibility study have recently been published
in Crop Science. The study was conducted by J.C. Burns and D.S. Fischer,
using a low endophyte tall fescue (Cajun), two novel endophyte tall fescues(Max-Q
and HM4), and Persist Orchardgrass. While the primary purpose of the study
was to measure and document the nutrient values and digestible forage qualities
without the “confounding influence of toxic endophyte,” the
study also substantiates those same nutrient values and digestible forage
qualities for Persist orchardgrass. This may be particularly valuable for
beef and dairy producers, as well as hay famers specifically as it relates
to comparing Persist orchardgrass to novel-endophyte tall fescues such
as Max-Q.
As part of the trial, researchers planted and grew hay crops of each
variety. Those crops were later fed to Angus steers and Boer x Spanish
weather goats. Researchers took numerous measurements including daily weights,
fecal collections, and hay samples. Nutrient compositions were calculated
using NIRS and wet chemistry methods. The entire report is quite extensive,
yet worth the read. As it relates to Persist orchardgrass and steers, the
study showed intake of Persist orchardgrass to be 14% higher than that
of Max-Q tall fescue. While Max-Q had a higher digestion rate, the overall
Digestible Dry Matter and Digestible NDF were higher in Persist than in
Max-Q. The researchers concluded their report with this statement: "These
data indicate that in a cattle production setting, either Max Q or Persist
could be expected to give similar animal daily responses."
It is important to note that the researchers chose Persist specifically
because it is was bred for improved persistence. Persist is the most extensively
bred orchardgrass available, with original plant collections and selections
dating back over five decades. While only on the market for six years,
Persist is fast becoming recognized as the most dependable, persistent
orchardgrass variety available. It is also recognized as being able to
tolerate close grazing, provide excellent hay yields, overcome cold weather
and ice storm, survive severe droughts, and generally out-yield and out-survive
other orchardgrass varieties.
To obtain a full copy of the study click
here or read it in Crop Science Vol. 50 January-February 2010.
Nutrition Data
Data from Penn State confirms that Persist's nutritional quality is just
as good as its ability to survive.
Penn State Nutrition Quality
Rock Springs, PA, 2005
| Variety |
Protein |
ADF |
NDF |
| Barexcel |
15.6 |
26.7 |
56.5 |
| Persist |
14.9 |
27.4 |
57.4 |
| Command |
14.7 |
28.4 |
57.8 |
| Bounty |
15.4 |
27.1 |
58.0 |
| Niva |
15.4 |
28.2 |
58.5 |
| Century |
15.1 |
27.0 |
58.3 |
| Pennlate |
15.1 |
27.2 |
58.3 |
| Extend |
14.6 |
27.6 |
58.5 |
| Shiloh II |
14.8 |
28.2 |
59.5 |
| Haymaster |
13.2 |
30.0 |
60.9 |
| Athos |
130 |
32.9 |
61.9 |
| Barlemas |
13.5 |
31.7 |
62.0 |
| measured with NIR |
Palitability Data
Data from Wisconsin State University confirms that Persist is very good!!
Palatability Rating (1-5)*
Lancaster, WI, 2006
| Variety |
Species |
May 5 |
Jun 8 |
Jul 2 |
Sep 9 |
Nov 1 |
Ave |
| Persist |
Orchardgrass |
3 |
4 |
4 |
2.8 |
3.8 |
3.7 |
| Felopa |
Festulolium |
3.6 |
3 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
3.4 |
3.3 |
| Agula |
Festulolium |
3.4 |
3 |
3.6 |
3 |
3.8 |
3.2 |
| Harverster |
Orchardgrass |
3 |
3.2 |
3.2 |
3.3 |
3.8 |
3.1 |
| Matrix |
Festulolium |
3.4 |
2.4 |
3.2 |
3 |
3.3 |
3.1 |
| Sulino |
Festulolium |
3.6 |
2.8 |
3 |
2.8 |
3.5 |
3.1 |
| *PALAT.=Palatability rating 0=0% grazed, 1=20%, 2=40%, 3=60%, 4=80%,
5=100% grazed. Palatability of grasses under grazing is determined
by visual estimation of percent defoliation of plots. The visual determination
is made midway during mob grazing by beef cows of the grass plots for
intake determination. | Lsd = 0.5 |
Calf Study
The objective of this experiment is to compare steer performance and forage
productivity and longevity of cool-season forages available to Tennessee
beef producers. Eighteen 1.2-ha pastures on the Hancock Place at Ames Plantation
are assigned to six cool-season forages with three replicate pastures of
each. The cool-season forage treatments are: (1) endophyte-infected Ky-31
tall fescue;(2) endophyte-infected Ky-31 tall fescue plus red and white
clovers; (3) endophyte-free Jesup tall fescue; (4) Jesup MaxQ tall fescue,
(5) Persist orchardgrass; and (6) Persist orchardgrass plus red and white
clovers. All experimental pastures were established in fall of 2002. In
spring 2003, hay was harvested from each pasture in late May. Pastures
were fertilized with 50kg N/ha in early September and fescue was stockpiled
prior to initiation of grazing in Mid December 2003 with five newly weaned
steers/ 1.2 ha pasture for all grazing seasons. Steers were fed fescue
hay and range cubes when forage growth was not sufficient to support animal
performance. Grazing was terminated in mid June. Following termination
of spring grazing, a new group of newly weaned calves from the fall calving
herd were used to graze summer growth until stockpiling began in early
September. Newly weaned steers began grazing stockpiled pastures in mid
December with four steers/1.2 ha pasture. Grazing continued until early
June of 2005.
Results of spring grazing indicated that the lowest
average daily gain was for steers grazing E+ tall fescue. Animal performance
was similar for Persist orchardgrass and Jesup MaxQ tall fescue.
Complete trial data on the Calf Study is available upon request.