Henderson County Now

By Rick Hirsch/County Extension Agent

Maintaining your cows on a proper plane of nutrition can be a chore – especially during dry times and facing the onset of winter. One possible alternative to increase the amount of forage available to cattle during this time of year is sodseeding. Sodseeding is the practice of planting unrelated plant species into an established perennial such as bermudagrass or bahiagrass. Small grains and ryegrass are the species most often sodseeded in East Texas. The competition between the two different plants is the main concern in establishing a sodseeded crop. In the case of warm season grasses and small grains and ryegrass, we have an advantage in that one is a warm season plant and the other is a cool season plant. This means that the only time you will be concerned with competition is in the early fall and spring. Small grains, clovers and ryegrass and combinations of all those are options for winter pastures. Small grains, clovers and ryegrass combinations of all these are options for winter pastures.

Small grains that may be used include rye, wheat, oats and triticale. Ryegrass and legumes may also be sodseeded if the seed is planted shallow. Good seed is essential for successful sodseeding. Rye will produce the most forage in cool weather followed by wheat and oats. The small grain needs to be planted at a rate of 80 – 100 lbs. seed per acre. A mixture of small grains can be used successfully as long as 100 lbs./acre is the seeding rate. Ryegrass should be planted at 20 lbs. per acre when planted with small grains and 40 – 50 lbs. when planted alone. Small grain seed should be planted 1 – 2 inches deep in the soil. Continue reading “Use sodseeding to help cow nutrition”