Forages and Baleage Resources
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Forages are a key component to grazing animal diets in Georgia. Accurately testing the nutritive value of your forage is important. The nutritive value of most forages in Georgia can be evaluated through near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). This resource focuses on common questions from forage-livestock producers about NIRS.
Lisa Baxter, Jasmine G. Major, William Fleming, and Justin C. Burt
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C 1180
Fescue Toxicosis in Horses
Tall fescue is the primary cool season perennial forage grown in the state of Georgia, and toxicity issues related to the grass can have significant impacts on equine reproduction. Tall fescue is the most heat tolerant of the cool season grasses due to a fungus that grows within the plant called an endophyte. This endophyte produces ergot alkaloids that can have negative effects on animals that eat the infected forage. The toxic effects of the endophyte can be successfully managed by eliminating the grazing or feeding of toxic tall fescue, as described in this publication.
Brenda Jackson and Lisa Baxter
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This management guide provides producers with specific tactics that may minimize the potential for short- and long-term problems during a drought. These tactics are based on specific characteristics including water loss, forage growth, and rainfall.
Lisa Baxter, Pedro Carvalho, and William Secor
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Stressful plant growing conditions may result in high concentrations of nitrates in forage and plant species commonly found in pastures and hayfields. Animals consuming high-nitrate material will experience symptoms associated with nitrate toxicity or poisoning. This resource answers the most-asked questions about nitrates in forage systems.
Lisa Baxter
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The goal of this publication is to guide the user to a better understanding of basic forage quality terms and to recommend management changes that will improve forage quality. To that end, our objectives are to explain how forage quality is measured, describe how to interpret a forage analysis, present the effects of management on forage quality, and list the key management strategies that can increase the nutritive value of forage crops.
Uttam K. Saha and Lawton Stewart
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Producers growing grasses for hay or forage can use this resource to learn about, identify, and control smutgrass. Perennial grass weeds can be problematic in forage systems as few herbicides are available, especially for use in bahiagrass and tall fescue. An integrated weed management plan is critical for combatting smutgrass in Georgia forage systems. For example, a timely fertilizer application following hexazinone can accelerate bahiagrass recovery giving it a competitive advantage over other weed species. This resource also includes a brief summary of smutgrass research at UGA.
Lisa Baxter, Nicholas John Shay, Nicholas Tuschak Basinger, William Secor, and Guy Hancock
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Toxic weeds may be found in pastures and hayfields throughout Georgia. This resource can help you identify the species on your farm and what symptoms to watch for in grazing livestock. If you suspect that your animal has consumed a toxic plant species, please contact your local veterinarian for an official diagnosis and treatment.
Lisa Baxter, Hailey Partain, and William R. Fleming
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This resource is for university researchers and Extension specialists, county Extension agents, and producers of livestock, forages, and feeds. It highlights the role of selenium in animal nutrition; selenium concentration and distribution in soils and feedstuffs (grains and forages) produced in various parts of the United States and in Georgia; disorders resulting from selenium deficiency or toxicity; various methods of selenium supplementation; and recommendations for selenium management in Georgia.
Uttam K. Saha and Lawton Stewart
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SB 28-10
Alfalfa Pest Management
Commercial insect and weed control in alfalfa. Updated annually.
Lisa Baxter and G. David Buntin
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