Progress report for FS23-357
Project Information
The project plan is to use fields that have been barren for close to twenty years with more native grass establishments and little fescue stands. These fields will need seeding and fertilization to establish stand. Fields will be divided into one to two acre plots to plant the different warm season grasses. Four grasses will be considered for this project due to their history of palatability with small ruminants especially goats. These grasses are: Bermudagrass, Switchgrass, Gamagrass and endophyte free fescue.
The plan is to establish these grasses in the first year in four separate fields and graze each field in the summer of the second year for the research project by subdividing the fields into smaller lots for rotational grazing. A control group of goats will be divided into four groups with at least 10 to 20 head per group to graze each field that summer. Their weights will be recorded before the first rotation in each field and at the end of the last rotation of each field that summer.
Cooperators
- - Producer
Research
We are using three different plots with 3 different warm season grasses planted for the goats to graze in the summer. We planted sericea leaspedeza on one plot, big blue stem in another and switch grass in the final plot. The goal of the process is to review growth rates of the goats for the different forages in the summer month as alternative to tall fescue currently available. We plan to use wethers from the smae kidding season to focus on the reasearch goal and hopefully eliminate other variables that might affect the growth rate of goats at different life stages. Plots were killed/sprayed before planting to encourage the establishmenyt of the new warm season grasses.
We have not recorded any results yet because we missed the 2023 planting season due to circumstances beyond our control thus planting/forage establishment occurred in 2024 to hopefully start grazing in the summer of 2025.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
We have patnered with Kentucky State University extension agent Nat Colten to help guide us with information and resources to help us sucessfully establish the forages for the project.
We are waiting to have some results next year before organizing an outreach event.
Farmer education, field day/virtual sessions will be organized by Fatima Jackson and
Extension agent to educate farmers about the results and findings. Training
materials/pamphlets will be distributed to extension agents within the southern
region and beyond. Other farmers who are interested in learning more about the project will be mentored
throughout the project.
Learning Outcomes
Familiarity of planting seasons and warm season grasses forage establishment.
Project Outcomes
Currently in the stage of forage establishment and outreach to extension resources.