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 and 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 |
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AC Knowles |
Meadow X Smooth Hybrid |
Mild Sod Former and Bunch |
Very Good |
Hay and Pasture |
Season Long Stockpile |
Very Good |
Very Good |
hps ® Smooth Bromegrass |
Smooth Southern |
Sod Former |
Very Good |
Hay and Pasture |
Late Spring to Early Summer |
Excellent |
Excellent |
Fleet 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 .
Ryegrass
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