Is Johnson grass hay good for cows?

When the first frost hits, beef producers should be concerned for grazing cattle if the field contains Johnsongrass. Cattle may suffer from prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) poisoning caused by this grass, which by the way, is an excellent forage for cattle if properly managed.

When can cows eat Johnson grass?

So wait 3 to 5 days after a freeze before grazing the Johnsongrass. Because the concentration of prussic acid can vary in the plant, It is difficult to say how much must be consumed before it is lethal. Johnsongrass and other grasses in the sorghum family (sudangrass and hybrds, etc.)

Is Johnson grass a good pasture?

Livestock producers in the southern Great Plains should not overlook johnsongrass in their pastures. For one thing, under certain conditions it can kill your cattle. Another reason not to overlook johnsongrass is that it is excellent forage – if you can get over the fact that it can kill your cattle!

What grass makes the best hay for cattle?

Alfalfa
Alfalfa- It is probably the best high quality feed for livestock and as a cash crop but it requires deep, well drained soils and high fertility for high yields. While it can be used for grazing, it is best adapted for hay or silage.

What grasses are bad for cows?

Sorghum, Sudans, Millets and Corn. Four main categories of sorghum and millets are grain sorghum, forage sorghum, sudangrass and sorghum-sudan-grass hybrids. These all put grazing cattle at risk for prussic acid HCN poisoning.

When can you not graze Johnson grass?

It is important to make sure you have had a killing frost because the sorghum plants will initiate tillering after a light frost. These shoots will have very high levels of HCN. It is recommended to not graze for 7-14 days after a killing frost.

When can you not graze Johnsongrass?

Is Johnsongrass good for anything?

Good forage In grazing and palatability studies at the Noble Research Institute (Ardmore, Okla.), johnsongrass was shown to be a preferred species by grazing yearling steers. The forage quality of vegetative johnsongrass ranges from 10 to 14 percent crude protein and 55 to 60 percent total digestible nutrients.

What is the best hay to feed cows?

Most experts recommend mixing alfalfa with grass hay, rather than relying exclusively on alfalfa hay. Alfalfa hay is often recommended for dairy cattle, but may not be a good fit for beef cattle, since it can lead to bloat. Legume hay is another nutritious option for cattle, since it’s high in protein.

What makes the best hay for cattle?

Timothy hay is recommended by many experts due to its ease on various animal’s digestive system as well as promotion of bowel regularity. Additionally, there have been scientific studies done that show Timothy hay is an ideal feed for pregnant or lactating cows.

Is Johnson grass toxic to humans?

All parts of the plant are poisonous especially if wilted or in regrowth after the grass is cut. The Cyanide blocks the action of the cellular enzyme cytochrome oxidase thus preventing hemoglobin from releasing oxygen to the tissues. Death results rapidly from anoxia.

What is another name for Johnsongrass?

Sorghum halepense
The scientific name of Johnsongrass is Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers.