2022 Forage Guide | Page 10

Grasses

Bromegrass

Bromegrass is a staple perennial grass species grown in Western Canada . Each of the three types ( smooth / meadow / hybrid ) of bromegrass play an important role . They have the ability to establish in varying soils types & levels of moisture , along with the flexibility by bromegrass type to match expectation of pastures or hay acres .
BROMEGRASS AGRONOMIC COMPARISON CHART
TYPE
GROWTH HABIT
REGROWTH
BEST FIT
GRAZING CALENDAR
WINTER SURVIVAL
DROUGHT TOLERANCE
VARIETY
AC Knowles
Meadow X Smooth Hybrid
Mild Sod Former and Bunch
Very Good
Hay and Pasture
Season Long , Stockpile
Very Good
Very Good
AC Rocket
Smooth Southern
Sod Former
Very Good
Hay and Pasture
Late Spring to Early Summer
Excellent
Excellent
hps ® Meadow Bromegrass
Meadow Bunch Excellent
Pasture and Stockpile
Season Long , Stockpile
Good
Good
Source : Thompson , L . C ., Lardner , H . A ., Cohen , R . D . H . and Coulman , B . E . 2003 . Steer performance grazing hybrid bromegrass pastures . Can . J . Anim . Sci . 83 : 165-169 . a – b Means in the same row with different letters are different ( p < 0.05 ).

Ryegrass

BarExtra Italian Ryegrass
High-yielding , tetraploid variety
• Longer , wider leaves than older types
• Improved forage quality
• Very rapid establishment with rapid regrowth after cutting / grazing
• Manage as a winter annual – poor winter survival in the Prairie provinces
8 Grasses