January 2023
Research results
This research aimed to determine if early seeded winter cereals could be used as an alternative grazing resource during dry conditions.
Viable alternative grazing resource
During periods of dry conditions, early seeded winter cereals can be a viable alternative grazing resource. By seeding early, more grazing periods can be obtained with higher CP forage over regular seeding dates. This can be used as an alternative feed source during drought years, reducing grazing pressure on perennial pastures, the need to buy dry feed, or the need to rent alternative pasture.
The year after a drought, this could be used as a method to defer grazing on drought-stressed pastures until later in the grazing season and provide more rest for these pastures throughout the summer. Additionally, be seeding early, the winter cereals can take advantage of any early growing season moisture that might occur before regular seeding dates.
Higher yields with earlier seeding
Overall, the early seeded treatment produced more total yield that the regular seeded treatment. Plot yield per harvest was not different between the early and late seed treatments, or harvest number. Therefore, the increased yield in the early seeded treatments can be attributed to the extra harvest.
Higher crude protein in early seeded treatment
Crude protein was not different between varieties, but the early seeded treatment had higher crude protein (CP) content than the regular seeded treatment. The first harvest had higher CP than subsequent harvests. Total digestible nutrients were significantly higher in the first harvest than in subsequent harvest but were not different between varieties or seeding dates.
Earlier harvest
The first harvest both the early and regular seeded treatments was between 7-8 weeks after seeding.
After the first harvest, early seeded regrowth was harvested in 3 weeks. The third harvest was 7 weeks after the second harvest.
Regular seeded regrowth was harvested 7 weeks after the first harvest.
Results in LARA's Annual Report
Full research results can be found in Lakeland Agricultural Research Association's (LARA) 2022 Annual Report.
Why is this research important for Alberta ag?
In 2021, the Lakeland region of Alberta experienced one of the driest years since 2002, leaving many agricultural producers scrambling for feed and water resources for livestock and harvesting crops that were yielding as low as 30% of normal yields. As a result, many pastures were overgrazed during fall as producers searched for ways of extending available feed sources. Overgrazed pastures tend to produce less the following year and require additional management strategies that include reduced grazing days to ensure long-term recovery.
Winter cereals seeded in fall have been shown to provide an early season grazing opportunity for livestock producers. This could allow for delayed turnout into stressed perennial pastures, thus providing more recovery time for these forages. A second option is to seed winter cereals in the spring, which prevents the cereals from entering a reproductive stage, meaning that these winter cereals would remain vegetative through summer and fall. Current research into spring seeded winter cereals has focused on seeding during typical seeding times when temperatures are over 10℃.
This project aims to:
Provide unbiased, regional information regarding the establishment, dry matter yield, and nutritional quality of early spring seeded winter cereals for production as livestock feed in Northeastern Alberta.
Compare the establishment, dry matter yield, and nutritional quality of early spring seeded winter cereals (soil temperatures between 2-6℃) with winter cereals seeded at soil temperatures above 10℃.
Determining the additional forage yield achieved through the summer by seeding winter cereals early (soil temperatures between 2-6℃) in a simulated grazing environment.
What benefits can producers expect from this research?
This project will provide Northeastern Alberta livestock producers with a new tool to help manage drought or dry conditions.
The potential increase in grazing days by including an early seeded winter cereal could reduce producer's production costs while maintaining adequate quality and quantity of livestock feed for their operation.
In addition, having this potential avenue of feed production could reduce mental health stress on local agricultural producers who may be scrambling to find the feed sources required to maintain their operation.
How will these research findings reach producers on-farm?
Research results will be delivered to local producers through LARA's website and social media, in the LARA annual report, and through newsletters, events, seminars, and workshops.
Key messages will also be shared with local radio stations and newspapers and made available to Alberta Beef Producers for further extension.
Funded in part by the Government of Canada under the Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.