Tall fescue is well adapted to the soil and weather conditions of Missouri. It is especially adapted to the hazardous growing conditions of southern Missouri and will produce more forage on acid, wet soils of sandstone and shale origin than other cool-season grass. Fescue is one of the more drought-resistant field plants grown in Missouri. It also will maintain itself under rather limited fertility conditions. Fescue may be used not only as a forage, but is ideal for waterways, ditch and pond banks, and farm lots and lanes.
Animals will readily graze fescue in April, May, early June and again in the fall, but show reluctance to accept it during summer months of June, July and August.
Fescue is the best adapted cool-season grass available for stockpiling (accumulating growth) for use in the fall and winter. Thus it can provide much of the fall and winter feed for a beef cow herd.
Tall fescue should be part, not all, of a forage program. Give fescue a rest in late summer when cattle perform inadequately on it and let the growth accumulate for use in the fall and winter. If fescue is used in the summer, make every effort to maintain some species of legume with it. Fescue used exclusively for fall and winter stockpiling usually is maintained in a pure stand.
Tall fescue may be used successfully in forage programs for most beef cow herds, but is not recommended for use as a forage for producing dairy cows.
Varieties
Several tall fescue varieties are suitable for Missouri. All new varieties of tall fescue have very low amounts of the endophyte fungus or are free of it. This should be indicated on the bag. Older varieties like Kentucky 31 are also available in the endophyte-free form. Check the seed tag to be sure of endophyte infection levels.
All yield and animal performance data suggest that there is little difference between different varieties under good growing conditions. Varieties such as Fawn have variable animal performance depending on severity of rust infection. In rust-free years, average daily gains of animals grazing Fawn tall fescue are not different from other varieties. However, gains are significantly reduced when leaf rust is a problem.
Mozark and Martin are newly released varieties bred and developed at MU's Southwest Research Center in Mt. Vernon. Both were selected for high hay and seed yields. Mozark also has excellent resistance to crown rust. Martin was selected to have higher magnesium content to help reduce outbreaks of grass tetany in cattle. Animal performance is limited for Martin.
A fescue-ladino clover mixture will furnish better-quality feed than tall fescue alone. It also will produce as much forage as fescue alone fertilized with 80 pounds of nitrogen per acre.
Seeding mixtures
Because of differences in growth habits, palatability and time of the year when they should be used, other grasses should not be included with tall fescue at seeding time. However, one or two legumes should be used in the seeding mixture with fescue, although the stand may eventually be used as a pure species for winter stockpiling. The legumes will be predominant for several years. They will furnish a high-quality forage and serve as a source of nitrogen while the fescue is becoming established. Some examples of seeding mixtures and rates are:
Tall Fescue1 — 15 pounds
- Korean lespedeza
15 pounds
Tall Fescue1 — 15 pounds
- Medium red clover
8 pounds
Tall Fescue1 — 15 pounds
- Alfalfa
10 pounds - Tall Fescue
15 pounds - Ladino clover
1 pound
1One-half pound of ladino clover may also be added.
Establishment
Fescue and accompanying legumes (with the exception of lespedeza, which should be winter or early spring seeded) may be seeded in the spring, fall or winter. Spring seedings should be made before April 15 to avoid annual weeds and early summer droughts.
Fall seedings (August and September) usually have far less weed competition and more favorable moisture conditions than late spring seedings. Seeding fescue with a hessian fly-resistant wheat is often advantageous. Wheat will protect the soil from erosion and furnish additional grazing.
Seedings should not be made later than Aug. 31 in extreme northern Missouri, Sept. 15 in central Missouri and Sept. 30 in southern Missouri. If drought conditions prevail past the seeding deadline, sow the wheat and overseed the fescue and legumes in the wheat during January or February. Graze the wheat in the fall and again in the spring.
Spring growth may also be harvested as hay. Begin spring grazing as soon as the soil is firm. Fall grazing will not harm the new grass and legume seedings unless it is trampled during wet weather.
Fertility practices at seeding time
Take soil tests before making a new seeding. Several alternative fertility plans are available; select the one that best fits the individual situation. Plan A on the soil test report suggests higher plow down applications of phosphorus and potassium than plan B if the soil tests are extremely low in these elements. Plan B, while recommending lesser amounts of phosphorus and potassium at seeding time, suggests larger amounts of these nutrients as annual topdressings than if plan A was followed at time of establishment.
Fescue (like most grasses) has limited response to rock phosphate. Unless legumes are to be maintained with the fescue, only processed phosphate should be used to meet the phosphorus requirements. Grasses are very inefficient users of rock phosphate and must depend upon the legumes to make it available for them.
A liberal supply of processed phosphorus helps to promote root development and plant establishment. While small amounts of nitrogen and potash also are beneficial at seeding time, too high a concentration of these elements will interfere with germination and discourage inoculation of the legumes.
The starter fertilizer is more effective when banded into the soil rather than broadcast.
Managing fescue-legume mixtures
Although animal performance is not as high on fescue as on most other cool-season grasses during the summer, many producers use it because it withstands close grazing and drought. Under these conditions, maintaining a legume with the fescue improves animal performance and increases the level of forage production during the summer period.
Legumes are difficult to maintain in a fescue sod, but there are a number of management practices that help to prevent their disappearance from the mixture.
Legumes can be re-established in fescue sods without completely destroying the old sod and without complete loss of production during the first season.
Fescue-medium red clover
Medium red clover has many advantages as a companion legume with fescue. It is easy to establish, produces well in the summer time, and has moderate resistance to drought. Cattle gain well on it and it only rarely produces bloat. It also is considered one of the most efficient legumes in nitrogen fixation from the air. The variety Kenland is best adapted to Missouri and has resistance to diseases that shorten the life of other varieties. Use only Certified Kenland.
Red clover is a short-lived perennial and often disappears from the stand after two or three years unless special precautions are taken. Although red clover will thrive in more acid soils than alfalfa, the soil pH should be maintained above 5.8 to increase persistence. It also responds to potash fertilization.
The annual use of a 0-1-3 ratio of fertilizer helps maintain red clover in a fescue stand. To encourage red clover in fescue for more than two or three years, manage the clover to produce seed. This should be done initially the second year after establishment. Usually the second crop or cutting is used for seed. Remove the first fescue and red clover growth early in the grazing season. More seed will be produced if the pasture is rested beginning in July. After the seed heads have filled and turn brown to black, the growth may again be grazed.
The fescue grown with red clover should not be allowed to grow so tall as to smother the clover. Keep the early growth grazed off.
Fescue-ladino clover
Fescue and ladino mixtures have been used for many years in Missouri. Ladino is considered an excellent fixer of nitrogen and is very palatable. It is most often faulted because of the inability of ladino to withstand drought and because of its bloat-producing tendencies.
If a consistent fescue-ladino mixture is desired, graze the early pasture closely to prevent smothering. The sod also may be overseeded each year in January or February with 2 pounds of ladino per acre at the same time it is topdressed with phosphate and potash.
Fescue-alfalfa
Alfalfa in a fescue mixture is best adapted to well-drained, high-fertility soils. Alfalfa usually does not persist too long in a fescue mixture, especially under grazing conditions.
Fescue-lespedeza
It is usually difficult to achieve yields of 2 tons of hay equivalent or more per acre and still maintain lespedeza in the stand. Yields can be increased by using the variety Summit lespedeza rather than Common Korean. Lespedeza does not furnish as much nitrogen to the fescue as other legumes, but when additional nitrogen is added the lespedeza may disappear from the stand. Yet many producers are willing to sacrifice some yield in order to maintain the lespedeza because it furnishes a quality feed during the summer months, when fescue production and quality is low.
Most of the production of lespedeza occurs after June 15 while the greatest amount of fescue growth is in the spring.
Three management practices help to maintain lespedeza in the mixture:
- Limited nitrogen fertilization
Even 30 pounds of nitrogen per acre has reduced the amount of lespedeza in the mixture.
It is sometimes possible to use small amounts of nitrogen (e.g. 30 pounds) and still maintain lespedeza in a fescue-lespedeza mixture under strict management practices. Apply the nitrogen in late summer and graze the fescue very close during the early part of the growing season.
- Grazing management
Graze the fescue during the spring to remove early fescue competition and give the lespedeza an opportunity to grow. Remember that lespedeza is an annual and must produce a seed crop in the fall so that it may reseed. Enough lespedeza growth must be maintained during late August and early September to allow a seed set. - Overseeding
Additional lespedeza seed may be overseeded into the sod during the winter months if the amount of lespedeza is decreasing. If the fescue is closely grazed and the sod is somewhat open, the lespedeza seed may be broadcast without disturbing the sod. But if the sod is very dense and there are no open areas, it may be necessary to till the sod with a disc or field cultivator for the seed to become established.
Effect of nitrogen on yield and of a tall fescue-lespedeza mixture (data from MU Department of Agronomy)
| Nitrogen | Total yield | Percent of total harvested after July 1 |
|---|---|---|
| 0 pounds | 1.56 tons | 53 percent |
| 30 pounds | 1.60 tons | 35 percent |
| 60 pounds | 1.61 tons | 27 percent |
| 90 pounds | 1.95 tons | 18 percent |
Effect of nitrogen on yields of grass-legume mixtures (4-year average) (data from MU Department of Agronomy)
| Nitrogen rate | Alfalfa-orchardgrass | Alfalfa-bromegrass |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | 4.6 tons | 3.9 tons |
| 30 | 4.8 tons | 3.9 tons |
| 60 | 4.8 tons | 4.0 tons |
| 90 | 4.7 tons | 3.9 tons |
Fertilizing fescue-legume mixtures
Use a soil test to determine phosphorus and potassium needs.
When legumes make up as much as 30 or 35 percent of the stand, do not use nitrogen fertilizer. When these stands are topdressed with fertilizer containing nitrogen, the growth looks darker and appears more lush, but research shows that production is not increased.
A fescue-legume mixture will remove about 12 pounds of phosphate and 40 pounds of potash from the soil for each ton of hay produced.
Under pasture conditions, it is more difficult to evaluate the amounts removed. Grazing animals will waste approximately one third of the total growth available to them. This is returned directly to the soil. While manure is not deposited evenly across the field, most studies show about 12 to 15 percent of a pasture area is covered with manure by grazing animals each year. If there is an estimated 3 tons of hay produced from a pasture field, then a 0-20-60 fertilizer per acre, applied each year, should maintain production.
If fescue-legume mixtures were established under marginal fertility conditions, then a more liberal topdressing program would be advisable. Soil test pasture fields every three or four years and adjust the topdressing program to those results.
Fescue foot
Fescue foot is a non-infectious disease sometimes found in cattle grazing tall fescue. Fescue foot has been confused with foot rot, frozen feet and mechanical injuries.
Fescue foot is a serious condition and should not be allowed to run its course. Remove affected animals from fescue as soon as lameness is noted.
Although fescue foot may occur under many environmental conditions, the following pattern usually emerges:
- Noticeable lameness appears with onset of cold weather (below 15 degrees Fahrenheit) and snow or ice cover, but has occasionally been noted in warm weather.
- Symptoms include arched back, rough hair coat, stiffness in gait that is especially noticeable in the cool mornings, and swelling of rear limbs about the dewclaw. In severe cases, the loss of rear hoof or hooves, tail and switch and outer one-third of the ears may occur.
- Symptoms usually appear five to 15 days after turning into a new pasture. However, cases have occurred on fields that were continuously pastured.
- Fall regrowth and total yearly accumulated fescue have usually caused the problem. A correlation seems to exist between the length of time that fescue is stockpiled and frequency of outbreaks of fescue foot.
The main preventive method is good management for both tall fescue and the cattle. Pastures composed of tall fescue and legumes appear to give less trouble than pure stands of tall fescue.
Grazing on fall regrowth or yearly accumulated growth before severe weather in January and February reduces the chance of fescue foot. Removing all the vegetative growth once a year (pasturing, baling, clipping) appears to be helpful. Nitrogen fertilizer rates should be consistent with production needs and not excessive. Experimentally, forage from fescue produced by applying 300 pounds of nitrogen per acre, collected in January, has caused symptoms similar to fescue foot.
Hay made before October has not been reported to be toxic. But hay known to be toxic that is harvested in midwinter remains toxic throughout the winter. Toxic fescue left in the field does not appear to have any influence on the next year's growth with respect to toxicity.
Some pastures have a history of repeated fescue foot outbreaks, but in general the outbreaks will not continue. Part of the explanation may be that some herds or individuals within a herd are more sensitive than others.
It has not been determined whether the toxin is produced by a fungus in the grass in response to a fungal infestation or by the grass under certain other environmental conditions. Cooperative Research work with the Northern Regional Laboratory, USDA, is being carried out to determine the chemical that causes fescue foot and the source of that chemical will then be studied.
Thanks to George Garner for his help in preparing this section on fescue foot.
Tall fescue for fall and winter
Fescue has more resistance to low temperatures than orchardgrass, bromegrass, timothy or reed canarygrass. Its leaves remain green later into the winter than other pasture grasses.
Despite the retention of its green color, fescue grows very little after Oct. 15 in Missouri. It is the ability of fescue to remain green rather than its ability to grow very late in the fall and early winter that makes it adaptable for winter stockpiling.
Higher average daily gains have been achieved with fescue than with orchardgrass or reed canarygrass during the fall period. Evidently, a higher level of energy is maintained in the fescue than in other species during the fall. In addition, the heavy sod nearly eliminates mud and is resistant to trampling during wet weather.
Maintaining legumes in fescue that is stockpiled for winter feed is generally difficult. However, recent research indicates that it is possible to produce about 75 percent as much fall growth with legumes as with 80 pounds of nitrogen on straight fescue that is applied in August.
Several management steps must be followed if the legume method is to be successful. Spring growth should be grazed or cut for hay soon after fescue is out of the boot stage or in early flower. Spring growth of fescue is more competitive than fall growth.
Cattle should be removed from these fields no later than the first of August if maximum fall production is to be achieved.
Many legumes must be reseeded periodically during winter. This usually is done by broadcasting legume seed on the existing sod during January or February.
If fescue produces up to its potential, 60 to 70 percent of its total production usually will occur by July 1. Most of the later growth occurs in August and September. For this reason, nitrogen fertilization to stimulate fall growth on straight fescue sods should be applied in the late summer. Dry matter produced after Aug. 1 in several Missouri trials would indicate that 60 to 80 pounds of N would probably be enough to encourage maximum production in this period.
While the greatest benefits from stockpiling fescue occur from nitrogen, don't forget phosphorus and potassium. Soil testing is the best way to determine phosphorus and potassium needs. In summary, two points to remember about fertilizing fescue intended for fall and winter uses are:
- Keep the ratio of nitrogen high
- Apply it early enough (July 15) so that the fescue has an opportunity to use it.
To obtain best results in both quantity and quality from stockpiled fescue, the early spring or elongated growth should be removed by grazing, haying or clipping by June 1. Failure to remove the early elongated growth tends to dilute the quality of the vegetative growth that follows. Later production also may be inhibited if the early growth is not grazed or clipped.
Many producers harvest a seed crop from the fescue and then stockpile the regrowth for winter use. If a good seed crop is desired the following year, clipping of the fescue soon after seed harvest is essential.
Another system to maximize fescue for fall and winter is to harvest hay from the early growth and to stockpile the later growth in the field or "on the stump." For producers who own a round baler, the bales may be left in the field to conserve labor in handling, storing and feeding. Research has verified that this is one of the most efficient ways to handle a beef herd. This is especially true if the cattle are limited to 4 or 5 weeks supply of bales or accumulated fescue at a time.
If cows are restricted to a smaller area, they usually will require about 30 to 35 pounds of hay and accumulated growth per day. However, if they are allowed free access to a large area they will often eat and waste as much as 55 pounds of hay per cow per day.
Don't waste 40 percent of the winter hay supply by failing to use limited grazing. An easy way to do this is with an electric wire. Install the post in good weather in September or October before grazing starts. Make each grazing area of a size so that cattle will clean it up in 3 or 4 weeks. Start grazing in the area where the water supply is located. As an area is grazed off, remove the wire and take it to the next set of posts.
This system not only saves feed, but has an added advantage in times of snow and ice. There usually will be an area in which the fescue is tall enough that cattle will trample the snow into the mat of fescue and will be able to find feed to graze.
The limited access system of winter grazing has considerable merit with stockpiled fescue with or without round bales.
Managing pure fescue stands for hay and grazing
If pure fescue stands are used for hay, high yields can be expected if fertilizer is applied during the winter or very early spring. This is especially true for the nitrogen portion of the fertilizer.
Fescue to be used for hay should receive at least 60 pounds N during winter. But if a yield of 3 tons or more is desired, at least 200 pounds of N in split applications (120-80) should be used. Phosphorus and potassium may be applied any time during the year with satisfactory results. The same management practices apply for early grazing as well as for hay. If much fall pasture is desired, then fertilizer should be reapplied in July. This practice is outlined in the "Tall fescue for fall and winter" section.
Fescue will withstand closer grazing and more abuse than most cool-season grasses. But it can be overgrazed to the point that vigor as well as production is reduced. Don't graze closer than 3 or 4 inches and allow at least 30 days for the fescue to recover.