|
|
Pastures consist of grasses and legumes to provide cows and sheep with
protein and energy to produce mainly milk or meat. Therefore, most grass
mixes are developed for this purpose and this purpose only.
But do horses have the same needs as cows when we are talking about grass?
The answer is NO! Horses have entirely different needs than cows. Consequently,
Barenburg's agronomists went to work to develop a pasture mix developed
especially for horses.
The differences
Although they are both herbivores, cows and horses differ a lot. The first
difference is the eating habits of horses versus cows. Whereas cows do not
have upper teeth, horses do. A cow shears the grass off with its tongue,
leaving the height of the remaining grass at approximately 2 inches tall.
Horses, however, have both upper and lower teeth and therefore will graze the
grass to a height of approximately 1 inch and if necessary down to below ¼
inch.
The second difference is the way horses move. If you look at a herd of cows
grazing they walk slowly and graze more than they walk. Horses, however, are
much livelier and every now and then, they will start running back and forth.
This causes tremendous traffic pressure to the pasture.
The main difference, however, is inside the horse. Cows have four (!)
stomachs and one of them (the rumen) is very large and filled with bacteria
to degrade the feed. Horses only have one reasonably small stomach. The
majority of their digestion is performed in the intestines and this makes
them very vulnerable to feeding disturbance. Therefore, precaution is
required while feeding horses. Horses need a ration with enough structure to
maintain a constant digestion, whereas cows need a ration with low structure
for easy degrading in their rumen.
It is also very important to know that some grasses (Tall Fescue, Perennial
Ryegrass) can be infected with endophytes. Endophytes can seriously endanger
the health of your horse, causing birth problems or even death. Therefore,
always ask for guaranteed endophyte-free seed. Horsemaster® is always
guaranteed endophyte free.
The solution
Keeping these differences in mind, Barenbrug's agronomists have developed a
mixture that will endure the grazing pressure and that will provide the feed
your horse needs. A part of the solutions lies in grasses with a low growing
point. Every grass plant has a growing point, and if it is removed, the plant
will stop growing. The only way to recover is to sprout all the way from the
roots again. It's not hard to imagine that this will take time and will
result in low yields and poor stands. Barenbrug has developed different
varieties and species that do have a low growing point. Barenbrug has also
developed grasses with extra structure and high feed value. Those grasses
will help your horse to maintain a constant digestion and good health.
Combine those grasses with grasses that will stand heavy traffic and you have
the formula for Horsemaster®.
The ingredients
Unfortunately, not all grasses grow in every area. For grass it makes a big
difference whether your pasture is in West Virginia or in New Mexico.
Therefore, we have adjusted the formula for different areas. We adjust
formulas based upon experience gained by universities, Barenbrug test plots,
and existing users of Horsemaster®.
Site selection
Horsemaster® is blended in different formulas for different areas - more
drought and heat tolerant grasses for the south, more cold tolerant grasses
for the north. Like most grasses, Horsemaster® produces best on fertile,
well-dreained soils under optimal grazing management. Less than optimum
circumstances will reduce grass performance accordingly. However, since
Horsemaster® is developed for harsh conditions it will endure those
circumstances better than any other mixture.
Establishment
At planting, apply 30 lbs/acre nitrogen to ensure good establishment. In
moderate climate regions, planting may be made in both the spring and fall.
Fall plantings are recommended in summer-drought-prone regions.
There are a number of ways Horsemaster® can be established. Full cultivation
seedings are recommended and are best made with a Brillion type seeder, or by
broadcast with a spin seeder onto a well-firmed seedbed, followed by light
harrowing, then by rolling. Herbicide suppression of the existing vegetation
is mandatory with no-till plantings. Existing stands can be thickened by spot
broadcasting and by allowing the "hoof" to plant. A seeding rate of
25 lbs/acre has proven satisfactory. White clover can be a nice companion for
Horsemaster®. Clover enhances pasture feed value and provides a source of
valuable nitrogen. Seed clover at 2-3 lbs/acre.
Management
Horsemaster® produces durable, persistent pastures that can withstand abuse
once they are established. To achieve this, careful stand management during
the first year of establishment is essential for long term productivity.
Horsemaster® is a blend of perennial bunch grasses. A single shoot is
produced from a single seed. As this shoot is bitten or clipped off, the
plant sends up multiple new shoots, or tillers,, from the basal buds at the
base of the plant.
To maximize tiller growth during the first year, the height of the pasture
should be maintained in the 3 to 10 inch range to allow maximum sunlight
penetration. Once the newly seeded plants are firmly rooted, they should be
lightly grazed or machine-mowed several times before heavy use to promote tillering.
Under good growing conditions this could be 6-7 weeks after a spring sowing
or 10-12 weeks for an autumn sowing.
Defer making hay until late in the season of the first year. Once
established, a Horsemaster® pasture should be grazed starting at the 6-7 inch
height, leaving a 3 inch residual, or machine-harvested for hay or silage in
the pre-boot stage. Graze or mow to keep the stand leafy and vegetative.
Management should be aimed at maintaining a dense, leafy pasture cover.
To enhance production, the tactical application of 50 lbs/acre of nitrogen is
recommended at the start of spring, to jump-start early growth and periodic
applications of 30 lbs/acre timed with rainfall made during the summer to
overcome summer slump.
Click on the “Buy It” symbol: 
   
[If the navigation menu doesn't
sppear, try the Site Map]
|
|