PR-460

2001 Cool-Season Grass Grazing Tolerance Variety Report

R.F. Spitaleri, J.C. Henning, T.D. Phillips, G.D. Lacefield, C.T. Dougherty, and J.E. Roberts

Introduction

Cool-season grasses such as tall fescue and orchardgrass are the primary pasture grasses in Kentucky. Other species such as perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairiegrass can be used in pasture systems. Little is known about the effect of variety on the grazing tolerance of these cool-season grass species.

The purpose of this report is to summarize current research on the grazing tolerance of varieties of tall fescue, orchardgrass, and other species when they are subjected to continuous, heavy grazing pressure by cattle within the grazing season. The main focus will be on plant stand survival.

Description of the Tests

Grass variety tests for grazing tolerance were established in Lexington in the fall of 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2000. The soils at this location are well-drained silt loams and are well suited to tall fescue and orchardgrass production. Plots were 5 x 15 feet in a randomized complete block design with each variety replicated six times. In each test, 20 pounds of seed per acre were planted into a prepared seedbed using a disk drill. Grazing began in April and was continuous until October. Plots were grazed down to below 4 inches quickly by feeder steers and kept at that height or below for the remainder of the grazing season. Supplemental hay was fed during periods of slowest growth. Animals were removed from plots after all fall growth had been removed and when little regrowth was expected. Visual ratings of percent stand were made in the fall and spring after each grazing season. Grass plots were fertilized with 60 pounds of actual N per acre in the spring, and other fertilizer (lime, P, and K) was applied as needed.

Results and Discussion

Weather data for Lexington for 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 are presented in Table 1. Data on percent stand are presented in Tables 2 through 10. Statistical analyses were performed on all entries (including experimentals) to determine if the apparent differences are truly due to variety. Varieties not significantly different from the highest numerical value in a column are marked with one asterisk (*). To determine if two varieties are truly different, compare the difference between the two varieties to the Least Significant Difference (LSD) at the bottom of the column. If the difference is equal to or greater than the LSD, the varieties are truly different when grown under the conditions at a given location. The Coefficient of Variation (CV), which is a measure of the variability of the data, is included for each column of means. Low variability is desirable, and increased variability within a study results in higher CVs and larger LSDs.

Tall fescue: Kentucky 31 tall fescue with the endophyte (KY31+) is considered to be the most grazing-tolerant variety and is the grazing-tolerant check variety. In these studies, several endophyte-free or low-endophyte tall fescue varieties have been grazed continuously and heavily to see whether they can tolerate overgrazing as well as KY31+ and whether there are differences among varieties (Tables 2, 3, 4, and 5). Many endophyte-free tall fescues and other varieties such as Duo have tolerated grazing as well as Ky31+.

It is routine to check the endophyte status of tall fescues in the grazing trials either by checking the tillers from the plots themselves or from the seed. It is expected that commercial varieties should have zero or nearly zero endophyte content. Varieties that are infected with the "novel" endophyte or friendly endophyte should have a high percentage of infection (e.g., Jesup 542). Infected KY31 had nearly 100% infection as was expected.

Perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairiegrass varieties were grazed during the 2001 growing season (Table 6). Significant separation occurred by the end of one season.

Orchardgrass: Tekapo was the most grazing tolerant of the commercial varieties in the 1997 seeding (Table 7), while Boone, Benchmark, Shiloh, Hallmark, and Haymate were at the top of the 1998 seeding (Table 8). There was no separation among commercial varieties in the 1999 or 2000 seeding (Tables 9 and 10).

Table 11 (fescue, perennial ryegrass, and prairiegrass) and Table 12 (orchardgrass) summarize information about distributors and persistence across locations and years for all varieties in these tests. Varieties are listed in alphabetical order with experimental varieties listed at the bottom. Shaded areas indicate that the variety was not in that particular test (labeled at the top of the column), while clear blocks mean the variety was in the test. A single asterisk (*) means that the variety was not significantly different from the top-yielding variety in that study. It is best to choose a variety that has performed well over several years.

Summary

These studies indicate that there are varieties of cool-season grasses that can tolerate overgrazing for multiple seasons and still maintain reasonable stands. Several varieties of endophyte-free tall fescue have been able to maintain equivalent stands to endophyte-infected KY31. There is no `KY31+' equivalent to orchardgrass; that is, no variety has historically been proven to be tolerant of overgrazing. Therefore, comparison of the limited years of data on orchardgrass grazing tolerance is difficult. However, it does appear that some separation is occurring among orchardgrass cultivars in the current studies.

This information should be used along with yield and other information (for example, relative maturity in spring) in selecting the best grass variety for each individual use. It is not recommended that tall fescue or orchardgrass be continuously overgrazed as was done in these trials. While several varieties expressed tolerance to the level of grazing pressure used in these trials, overgrazing greatly reduces yield and therefore profitability of these varieties. This information should be an indication of those varieties that will better withstand the occasional overgrazing that sometimes becomes necessary in livestock operations.

Good management for maximum life from any grass would be to allow it to get completely established before grazing and to avoid overgrazing it during times of extreme stress, such as drought.

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.

Table 1. Temperature and rainfall at Lexington during the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 growing seasons.

1998 1999 2000 2001

Temp Rainfall Temp Rainfall Temp Rainfall Temp Rainfall

MON °F DEP IN DEP °F DEP IN DEP °F DEP IN DEP °F DEP IN DEP

JAN 41 +10 3.96 +1.10 36 +5 5.64 +2.78 32 +1 3.48 +0.62 31 0 0.9 -1.9

FEB 41 +6 2.54 -0.67 40 +5 2.32 -0.89 43 +8 4.97 +1.76 40 +5 3.2 0

MAR 46 +2 3.40 -1.00 40 -4 3.27 -1.13 48 +4 3.47 -0.93 40 -4 2.7 -1.7

APR 54 -1 6.20 +2.32 56 +1 1.87 -2.01 53 -2 4.10 +0.22 59 +4 1.7 -2.2

MAY 67 +3 6.14 +1.67 65 +1 1.35 -3.12 67 +3 2.96 -1.51 66 +2 4.9 +0.4

JUN 73 +1 10.81 +7.15 74 +2 3.89 +0.23 73 +1 3.22 -0.44 71 -1 2.0 -1.6

JUL 75 -1 7.98 +2.98 80 +4 1.00 -4.00 74 -2 3.42 -1.58 75 -1 5.6 +0.6

AUG 76 +1 0.29 -3.64 75 0 1.31 -2.62 74 -2 3.38 -0.55 76 +1 4.8 +0.8

SEP 74 +6 0.61 -2.59 69 +1 1.03 -2.17 66 -2 5.47 +2.27 65 -3 3.0 -0.2

OCT 58 +1 2.41 -0.16 57 0 1.91 -0.66 59 +2 0.92 -1.65 56 -1 3.6 +1.1

NOV 47 +2 2.09 -1.28 51 +6 1.70 -1.69 43 -2 1.59 -1.80 51 +6 2.8 -0.6

AVG 59.3 +2.7 4.2 +0.5 58.5 +1.9 2.3 -1.4 57.5 +0.8 3.4 -0.8 57.3 +0.7 3.2 -0.5

DEP is departure from the long-term average for that location.

Table 2. Percent stand ratings for tall fescue varieties sown September 5, 1997, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Percent Endophyte
Infection ¹ Percent Stand

Sep 29, 1998 Nov 9, 1999 Oct 20, 2000 Apr 2, 2001 Oct 17, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

KY31+ ² 97.0 100.0 76.7 60.0 57.5 50.8*

Festorina 3.3 100.0 83.3 55.0 55.8 44.2*

Johnstone 1.7 100.0 70.0 48.3 60.0 32.5

Jesup EF 6.7 100.0 85.0 47.5 60.0 31.7

Martin II 10.0 98.2 66.7 41.7 55.8 30.0

Cattle Club 5.0 98.2 68.3 31.7 45.8 19.2

Southern Cross 0.0 90.7 63.3 24.2 40.0 13.3

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

KYFA9304 8.3 100.0 75.0 64.2 68.3 53.3*

KYFA9301 0.0 100.0 70.0 59.2 66.7 50.0*

KYFA9303 14.2 100.0 76.7 60.5 64.2 49.2*

KY31-² 18.3 100.0 75.0 51.7 63.3 45.8*

KYFA9302 1.7 100.0 70.0 38.3 58.3 43.3*

WVPB-TF-500 10.8 88.9 63.3 38.3 33.3 36.7*

TF8805 8.3 100.0 76.7 40.8 57.5 32.5

KYTF2 21.7 100.0 71.7 49.2 58.3 23.3

B-1 3.3 98.2 73.3 43.3 55.8 20.8

Mean - 98.4 72.8 47.1 56.3 36.0

CV, % - 2.35 11.99 23.20 18.9 45.2

LSD, 0.05 - 2.66 10.04 12.57 12.2 18.7

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ Means of six replications using tiller samples taken on April 29,1999.
² "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected; "-" indicates variety is endophyte free.

Table 3. Percent stand for tall fescue and perennial ryegrass (PRG) varieties sown September 15, 1998, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Percent Endophyte Infection ¹ Percent Stand

Oct 4, 1999 Oct 10, 2000 Apr 2, 2001 Oct 15, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Kenhy 0.0 79.2 74.7 80.0 50.8*

Vulcan 6.7 73.3 61.7 71.7 48.3*

Select 0.0 81.7 65.3 71.7 47.5*

Johnstone 3.3 81.7 67.2 76.7 46.7*

KY31+ ² 83.3 71.7 66.8 74.2 44.2*

Cattle Club 0.0 78.3 63.8 60.8 43.3*

Jesup EF 3.3 84.2 64.0 75.0 40.0

Bronson 0.0 73.3 42.0 57.5 16.7

TF33 0.0 74.2 31.7 48.3 15.0

Fuego 0.0 73.3 33.0 47.5 11.7

Polly II (PRG) 0.0 61.7 24.2 30.8 7.5

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

KYTF2 36.7 75.8 70.0 79.2 56.7*

Georgia 5-542 ³ 96.7 71.7 39.2 50.8 50.0*

Jesup 542 ³ 96.7 79.2 59.5 69.2 50.0*

Jesup EI 100.0 84.2 56.8 74.2 48.3*

Ampacpp1 6.7 84.2 60.5 57.5 46.7*

KyFA9301 13.3 80.0 66.3 72.5 45.0*

KY31- ² 6.7 81.7 65.0 76.7 45.0*

Woodburn 97 23.3 39.2 41.3 54.2 39.2

Jesup 502 ³ 93.3 84.2 51.3 67.5 35.0

Mean - 75.6 55.2 64.6 38.0

CV, % - 10.2 18.5 14.3 35.2

LSD, 0.05 - 8.9 11.7 10.6 15.4

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹Means of six replications using tiller samples taken on April 29,1999.
² "-" indicates variety is endophyte free; "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected
³ Novel endophyte tall fescue.

Table 4. Percent stand of tall fescue varieties sown October 4, 1999, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Seedling Vigor ¹Nov 4,1999 Percent Stand

October 23, 2000 Apr 4, 2001 Oct 15, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Ky31+ ² 3.5 85.2 82.5 65.8*

Duo (festulolium) 4.5* 82.1 82.5 65.8*

Cattle Club 2.5 85.7 80.0 56.7

Select 1.8 80.4 76.7 50.8

BAR9TMPO 2.0 83.3 78.3 45.8

Stargrazer 2.0 76.3 74.2 34.2

Festorina 2.8 74.4 71.7 32.5

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

KYFA 9304 3.0 87.1 85.0 69.2*

KYFA 9301 3.5 85.4 83.3 69.2*

KYTF 2 3.2 83.8 81.7 67.5*

Ky31- ² 3.2 86.7 80.0 65.0*

Ga 156L 542 ³ 2.5 78.5 80.0 64.2*

Jesup 542 ³ 2.3 85.4 80.8 63.3*

Jesup 584 ³ 2.2 87.9 85.8 60.8*

Ga5 584 ³ 2.3 79.6 78.3 48.3

Ampac pp7 3.3 66.9 60.0 40.0

Ga7clone 542 ³ 2.7 73.0 68.3 39.2

Ga153E 542 ³ 2.5 70.4 68.3 35.0

BARFaBTR 6 2.8 78.0 70.8 16.3

BARFaBTR 7 3.0 77.1 72.5 15.8

Ampac pp8 3.8 43.3 50.8 14.2

Ampac pp3 4.8* 22.8 36.7 7.5

Mean 2.9 76.1 74.0 46.7

CV, % 15.10 11.50 9.07 23.10

LSD, 0.05
0.51
10.00 7.7 12.40

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous.
² "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected; "-" indicates variety is endophyte free.
³ Novel endophyte tall fescue.

Table 5. Percent stand of tall fescue and timothy varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Percent Stand

Apr 9, 2001 Oct 15, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

KY31+ ¹ 89.2 74.2*

Cattle Club 90.0 67.5

Select 86.7 65.0

Hoedown 90.0 58.3

Stargrazer 87.5 56.7

Kokanee 86.7 45.0

Tuukka (timothy) 86.7 21.7

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

AGRFA110 86.7 80.0*

R4663 ² 89.2 73.3*

KY31- ¹ 90.0 72.5*

KYFA9401 90.0 71.7

KYFA9402 90.0 70.8

KYFA9301 89.2 70.0

KYFA9304 90.0 70.0

KYFA9403 90.0 66.7

KYTF2 89.2 65.8

Q4508 2 90.0 55.0

Mean 88.9 63.8

CV, % 2.09 11.07

LSD, 0.05 2.14 8.10

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ "-" indicates variety is endophyte free; "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected
² Novel endophyte tall fescue.

Table 6. Percent stand of perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Percent Stand

Variety Species Apr 9, 2001 Oct 17, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Linn perennial ryegrass 90.0 70.8*

Spring Green festulolium 90.0 70.0*

Duo festulolium 90.0 64.2

Matua prairiegrass 83.3 40.0

Citadel perennial ryegrass 90.0 30.8

Polly II perennial ryegrass 90.0 7.5

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

AGRLP103 perennial ryegrass 90.0 75.0*

AGRLH101 perennial ryegrass (hybrid) 90.0 55.8

AGRBW101 prairiegrass 87.5 50.8

Mean 89.0 51.7

CV, % 1.79 15.24

LSD, 0.05 1.86 9.19

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Table 7. Percent stand of orchardgrass varieties sown September 8, 1997, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Percent Stand

Sep 30, 1998 Nov 9, 1999 Oct 20, 2000 Apr 2, 2001 Oct 17, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Tekapo 78.3 78.3 65.0 63.3 35.0*

Benchmark 88.3 68.3 60.0 58.3 21.7

Ambrosia 78.3 63.3 54.7 47.5 19.2

Crown 85.0 65.0 53.3 60.0 17.5

Warrior 81.7 66.7 50.0 52.5 12.2

Takena 81.7 60.0 47.5 52.5 16.7

Condor 85.0 53.3 45.8 47.5 11.3

Haymate 85.0 58.3 44.2 50.8 15.2

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

OFI93E 88.3 73.3 63.0 68.3 40.8*

AV61 86.7 61.7 55.0 54.2 20.8

OFI93M 86.7 63.3 54.2 50.8 14.2

OFI93L 86.7 58.3 47.5 54.2 17.5

Mean 84.3 64.2 53.4 55.0 20.2

CV, % 5.82 10.30 17.58 16.43 48.83

LSD, 0.05 0.57 7.64 10.85 10.46 11.40

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Table 8. Percent stand of orchardgrass varieties sown September 15, 1998, at Lexington, Kentucky. in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Percent Stand

Oct 4, 1999 Oct 20, 2000 Apr 4, 2001 Oct 15, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Boone 89.2 81.7 80.0 67.5*

Benchmark 83.3 78.3 74.2 60.0*

Shiloh 85.0 77.5 75.0 55.8*

Hallmark 1970 ¹ 84.2 73.0 75.0 55.0*

Haymate 80.8 76.7 68.3 52.5*

Hallmark 1996 ¹ 85.8 70.8 74.2 51.7*

Crown 80.8 74.2 69.2 50.0

Cheyenne 81.7 71.7 68.3 49.2

WP 300 77.5 71.0 68.3 49.2

Tekapo 85.0 70.8 62.5 47.5

Pizza 75.0 70.0 60.0 32.5

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

OG9501 86.7 82.5 77.5 67.5*

OG9705G 85.0 79.7 80.8 66.7*

KYO7G 23-335 82.5 81.7 76.7 64.2*

KYDG9303 84.2 72.7 75.0 51.7*

Ampac pp 2 80.0 48.0 44.2 23.3

Mean 82.9 73.8 70.6 52.8

CV, % 5.46 12.31 11.29 27.78

LSD, 0.05 5.20 10.44 9.16 16.85

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.

Table 9. Seedling vigor and percent stand of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) varieties sown October 1, 1999, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Seedling Vigor ¹ Percent Stand

Nov 11, 1999 Oct 23, 2000 Apr 4, 2001 Oct 15, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Tekapo 1.67 83.33 78.3 62.5*

Hallmark 1996 ² 2.67* 82.50 80.8 60.0*

Hallmark 1970² 2.67* 84.17 84.2 58.3*

Haymate 1.83 77.83 78.3 55.8*

Benchmark 2.17 80.00 80.0 53.3*

Sidekick (KBG) 1.00 65.00 75.8 49.2*

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

KYO7G 23-335 2.00 80.00 80.0 63.3*

OG9705G 2.50* 82.50 82.5 61.7*

BAR Dgl 9 BTR G 1.00 86.67 86.7 57.5*

BAR Dgl 9 BTR F 2.00 82.00 79.2 52.5*

Mean 1.95 80.40 80.6 57.4

CV, % 18.44 6.62 6.15 21.6

LSD, 0.05 0.42 6.19 5.76 14.43

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous.
² Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.

Table 10. Seedling vigor and percent stand of orchardgrass and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety Seedling Vigor ¹October 31, 2000 Percent Stand

Apr 9, 2001 Oct 17, 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Boone 3.2 90.0 75.8*

'CAS-LG31' 1.8 90.0 73.3*

Prairie 3.0 89.2 70.8*

Benchmark 3.0 90.0 68.3*

Haymate 2.5 90.0 55.8

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

OG9705G 2.0 89.2 72.5*

K5568K 3.0 90.0 72.5*

KYO7G 23-335 2.0 89.2 68.3*

K5633D (prairiegrass) 5.0* 76.7 15.0

K5632M (prairiegrass) 5.0* 83.3 14.7

Mean 3.1 87.8 58.7

CV, % 7.91 5.18 18.14

LSD, 0.05 0.28 5.29 12.38

* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.
¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous.

Table 11. Persistence of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass (PRG), prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii), festulolium, and timothy varieties under heavy grazing pressure across years and locations.

Lexington

1997 ¹ 1998 1999 2000

Variety Proprietor/KY Distributor Oct 2000 ² Oct 2001 Oct 2000 Oct 2001 Oct 2000 Oct 2001 Oct 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

BAR 9TMPO Barenbrug USA *

Bronson Ampac Seed Company

Cattle Club unknown * * *

Citadel (PRG) Donley Seed

Duo (festulolium) Ampac Seed Company * *

Festorina Advanta Seeds * *

Fuego Advanta Seeds

Hoedown Jenks Seed Connection

Jesup EF Pennington Seed *

Johnstone Willamette Seed Co./Public * *

Kenhy Public * *

Kokanee Ampac Seed Company

KY31+ (endophyte infected) KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Public * * * * * * *

Linn (PRG) Public *

Martin II International Seeds, Inc.

Matua (prairiegrass) AgResearch (USA)

Polly II (PRG) FFR/Southern States

Select FFR/Southern States * * *

Southern Cross

Spring Green (festulolium) Turf-Seed, Inc. *

Stargrazer FFR/Southern States

TF 33 Barenbrug

Tuukka (timothy) Ampac Seed Company

Vulcan International Seeds *

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

AGRLP103 (PRG) AgResearch (USA) *

AGRLH101 (PRG) AgResearch (USA)

AGRBW101 (prairiegrass) AgResearch (USA)

AGRFA110 AgResearch (USA) *

Ampac pp1 mix Ampac Seed Company *

Ampac pp3 mix Ampac Seed Company

Ampac pp7 mix Ampac Seed Company

Ampac pp8 mix Ampac Seed Company

B-1 Olsen-Fennell Seeds Inc.

BARFaBTR 6 Barenbrug USA *

BARFaBTR 7 Barenbrug USA

GA 153E 542 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

GA 156L 542 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * *

GA 5 542 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental *

GA 5 584 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental *

GA 7 clone 542 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

GA Jesup EI GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental *

Jesup 502 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

Jesup 542 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * *

Jesup 584 GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * *

KY31- (endophyte free) KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * * * * * *

KYFA9304 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * * *

KYFA9401 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

KYFA9402 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

KYFA9403 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental

KYTF 2 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * * *

Q4508 Wrightson Seed Ltd.

R4663 Wrightson Seed Ltd. *

TF 8805 FFR Cooperative

Woodburn 97 Western Production Inc.

WVPB TF500 Western Production Inc. *

¹ Establishment year.
² Date of visual estimation of percent stand.
* Not significantly different from the most persistent variety in the test. Shaded boxes indicate that the variety was not in the test. Open boxes indicate the variety was in the test but persistence was significantly less than the top-ranked variety in the test.

Table 12. Persistence of orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass (BG), and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties under heavy grazing pressure across years and locations.

Lexington

1997 ¹ 1998 1999 2000

Variety Proprietor/KY Distributor Oct 2000² Oct 2001 Oct 2000 Oct 2001 Oct 2000 Oct 2001 Oct 2001

Commercial varieties -- available for farm use

Ambrosia Pennington Seeds *

Benchmark FFR/Southern States * * * * *

Boone KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * *

'CAS-LG31' Jenks Seed Connection *

Cheyenne Western Production Inc.

Condor Hansford Seed Co.

Crown Scott Seed Co./Sphar Seed Co. *

Hallmark 1996 ³ James VanLeeuwen * * *

Hallmark 1970 James VanLeeuwen * * * *

Haymate FFR/Southern States * * *

Pizza Advanta Seeds West

Prairie Turner Seed Company *

Shiloh Green Seed * *

Sidekick (BG) Ampac Seeds *

Takena Smith Seed

Tekapo Modern Forage Systems/Oldfields Seed * * * *

Warrior Olsen-Fennel Seeds Inc.

WP 300 Western Productions, Inc.

Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use

Ampac pp2 Ampac Seeds

AV61 Western Production Inc. *

BAR Dgl 9 BTR F Barenbrug USA * *

BAR Dgl 9 BTR G Barenbrug USA * *

K5568K Ampac Seeds *

K5632M (prairiegrass) Ampac Seeds

K5633D (prairiegrass) Ampac Seeds

KYDG9303 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * *

KYO7G 23-335 KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental * * * *

OFI93E Olsen-Fennel * *

OFI93L Olsen-Fennel

OFI93M Olsen-Fennel *

OG9501 FFR Cooperative * *

OG9705G FFR Cooperative * * * * *

¹ Establishment year.
² Date of visual estimation of percent stand.
* Not significantly different from the most persistent variety in the test. Shaded boxes indicate that the variety was not in the test. Open boxes indicate the variety was in the test but persistence was significantly less than the top-ranked variety in the test.
³ Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.

Equal opportunity statement

Table 1. Temperature and rainfall at Lexington during the 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001 growing seasons.
	1998				1999				2000				2001
	Temp		Rainfall		Temp		Rainfall		Temp		Rainfall		Temp		Rainfall
MON	°F	DEP	IN	DEP	°F	DEP	IN	DEP	°F	DEP	IN	DEP	°F	DEP	IN	DEP
JAN	41	+10	3.96	+1.10	36	+5	5.64	+2.78	32	+1	3.48	+0.62	31	0	0.9	-1.9
FEB	41	+6	2.54	-0.67	40	+5	2.32	-0.89	43	+8	4.97	+1.76	40	+5	3.2	0
MAR	46	+2	3.40	-1.00	40	-4	3.27	-1.13	48	+4	3.47	-0.93	40	-4	2.7	-1.7
APR	54	-1	6.20	+2.32	56	+1	1.87	-2.01	53	-2	4.10	+0.22	59	+4	1.7	-2.2
MAY	67	+3	6.14	+1.67	65	+1	1.35	-3.12	67	+3	2.96	-1.51	66	+2	4.9	+0.4
JUN	73	+1	10.81	+7.15	74	+2	3.89	+0.23	73	+1	3.22	-0.44	71	-1	2.0	-1.6
JUL	75	-1	7.98	+2.98	80	+4	1.00	-4.00	74	-2	3.42	-1.58	75	-1	5.6	+0.6
AUG	76	+1	0.29	-3.64	75	0	1.31	-2.62	74	-2	3.38	-0.55	76	+1	4.8	+0.8
SEP	74	+6	0.61	-2.59	69	+1	1.03	-2.17	66	-2	5.47	+2.27	65	-3	3.0	-0.2
OCT	58	+1	2.41	-0.16	57	0	1.91	-0.66	59	+2	0.92	-1.65	56	-1	3.6	+1.1
NOV	47	+2	2.09	-1.28	51	+6	1.70	-1.69	43	-2	1.59	-1.80	51	+6	2.8	-0.6
AVG	59.3	+2.7	4.2	+0.5	58.5	+1.9	2.3	-1.4	57.5	+0.8	3.4	-0.8	57.3	+0.7	3.2	-0.5
DEP is departure from the long-term average for that location.

Table 2. Percent stand ratings for tall fescue varieties sown September 5, 1997, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Percent Endophyte Infection ¹	Percent Stand
Variety	Percent Endophyte Infection ¹	Sep 29, 1998	Nov 9, 1999	Oct 20, 2000	Apr 2, 2001	Oct 17, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
KY31+ ²	97.0	100.0	76.7	60.0	57.5	50.8*
Festorina	3.3	100.0	83.3	55.0	55.8	44.2*
Johnstone	1.7	100.0	70.0	48.3	60.0	32.5
Jesup EF	6.7	100.0	85.0	47.5	60.0	31.7
Martin II	10.0	98.2	66.7	41.7	55.8	30.0
Cattle Club	5.0	98.2	68.3	31.7	45.8	19.2
Southern Cross	0.0	90.7	63.3	24.2	40.0	13.3
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
KYFA9304	8.3	100.0	75.0	64.2	68.3	53.3*
KYFA9301	0.0	100.0	70.0	59.2	66.7	50.0*
KYFA9303	14.2	100.0	76.7	60.5	64.2	49.2*
KY31-²	18.3	100.0	75.0	51.7	63.3	45.8*
KYFA9302	1.7	100.0	70.0	38.3	58.3	43.3*
WVPB-TF-500	10.8	88.9	63.3	38.3	33.3	36.7*
TF8805	8.3	100.0	76.7	40.8	57.5	32.5
KYTF2	21.7	100.0	71.7	49.2	58.3	23.3
B-1	3.3	98.2	73.3	43.3	55.8	20.8

Mean	-	98.4	72.8	47.1	56.3	36.0
CV, %	-	2.35	11.99	23.20	18.9	45.2
LSD, 0.05	-	2.66	10.04	12.57	12.2	18.7
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ Means of six replications using tiller samples taken on April 29,1999. ² "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected; "-" indicates variety is endophyte free.

Table 3. Percent stand for tall fescue and perennial ryegrass (PRG) varieties sown September 15, 1998, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Percent Endophyte Infection ¹	Percent Stand
Variety	Percent Endophyte Infection ¹	Oct 4, 1999	Oct 10, 2000	Apr 2, 2001	Oct 15, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Kenhy	0.0	79.2	74.7	80.0	50.8*
Vulcan	6.7	73.3	61.7	71.7	48.3*
Select	0.0	81.7	65.3	71.7	47.5*
Johnstone	3.3	81.7	67.2	76.7	46.7*
KY31+ ²	83.3	71.7	66.8	74.2	44.2*
Cattle Club	0.0	78.3	63.8	60.8	43.3*
Jesup EF	3.3	84.2	64.0	75.0	40.0
Bronson	0.0	73.3	42.0	57.5	16.7
TF33	0.0	74.2	31.7	48.3	15.0
Fuego	0.0	73.3	33.0	47.5	11.7
Polly II (PRG)	0.0	61.7	24.2	30.8	7.5
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
KYTF2	36.7	75.8	70.0	79.2	56.7*
Georgia 5-542 ³	96.7	71.7	39.2	50.8	50.0*
Jesup 542 ³	96.7	79.2	59.5	69.2	50.0*
Jesup EI	100.0	84.2	56.8	74.2	48.3*
Ampacpp1	6.7	84.2	60.5	57.5	46.7*
KyFA9301	13.3	80.0	66.3	72.5	45.0*
KY31- ²	6.7	81.7	65.0	76.7	45.0*
Woodburn 97	23.3	39.2	41.3	54.2	39.2
Jesup 502 ³	93.3	84.2	51.3	67.5	35.0

Mean	-	75.6	55.2	64.6	38.0
CV, %	-	10.2	18.5	14.3	35.2
LSD, 0.05	-	8.9	11.7	10.6	15.4
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹Means of six replications using tiller samples taken on April 29,1999. ² "-" indicates variety is endophyte free; "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected ³ Novel endophyte tall fescue.

Table 4. Percent stand of tall fescue varieties sown October 4, 1999, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Seedling Vigor ¹Nov 4,1999	Percent Stand
Variety	Seedling Vigor ¹Nov 4,1999	October 23, 2000	Apr 4, 2001	Oct 15, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Ky31+ ²	3.5	85.2	82.5	65.8*
Duo (festulolium)	4.5*	82.1	82.5	65.8*
Cattle Club	2.5	85.7	80.0	56.7
Select	1.8	80.4	76.7	50.8
BAR9TMPO	2.0	83.3	78.3	45.8
Stargrazer	2.0	76.3	74.2	34.2
Festorina	2.8	74.4	71.7	32.5
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
KYFA 9304	3.0	87.1	85.0	69.2*
KYFA 9301	3.5	85.4	83.3	69.2*
KYTF 2	3.2	83.8	81.7	67.5*
Ky31- ²	3.2	86.7	80.0	65.0*
Ga 156L 542 ³	2.5	78.5	80.0	64.2*
Jesup 542 ³	2.3	85.4	80.8	63.3*
Jesup 584 ³	2.2	87.9	85.8	60.8*
Ga5 584 ³	2.3	79.6	78.3	48.3
Ampac pp7	3.3	66.9	60.0	40.0
Ga7clone 542 ³	2.7	73.0	68.3	39.2
Ga153E 542 ³	2.5	70.4	68.3	35.0
BARFaBTR 6	2.8	78.0	70.8	16.3
BARFaBTR 7	3.0	77.1	72.5	15.8
Ampac pp8	3.8	43.3	50.8	14.2
Ampac pp3	4.8*	22.8	36.7	7.5

Mean	2.9	76.1	74.0	46.7
CV, %	15.10	11.50	9.07	23.10
LSD, 0.05	0.51	10.00	7.7	12.40
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous. ² "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected; "-" indicates variety is endophyte free. ³ Novel endophyte tall fescue.

Table 5. Percent stand of tall fescue and timothy varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Percent Stand
Variety	Apr 9, 2001	Oct 15, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
KY31+ ¹	89.2	74.2*
Cattle Club	90.0	67.5
Select	86.7	65.0
Hoedown	90.0	58.3
Stargrazer	87.5	56.7
Kokanee	86.7	45.0
Tuukka (timothy)	86.7	21.7
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
AGRFA110	86.7	80.0*
R4663 ²	89.2	73.3*
KY31- ¹	90.0	72.5*
KYFA9401	90.0	71.7
KYFA9402	90.0	70.8
KYFA9301	89.2	70.0
KYFA9304	90.0	70.0
KYFA9403	90.0	66.7
KYTF2	89.2	65.8
Q4508 2	90.0	55.0

Mean	88.9	63.8
CV, %	2.09	11.07
LSD, 0.05	2.14	8.10
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ "-" indicates variety is endophyte free; "+" indicates variety is endophyte infected ² Novel endophyte tall fescue.

*Table 6. Percent stand of perennial ryegrass, festulolium, and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.*
		Percent Stand
Variety	Species	Apr 9, 2001	Oct 17, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Linn	perennial ryegrass	90.0	70.8*
Spring Green	festulolium	90.0	70.0*
Duo	festulolium	90.0	64.2
Matua	prairiegrass	83.3	40.0
Citadel	perennial ryegrass	90.0	30.8
Polly II	perennial ryegrass	90.0	7.5
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
AGRLP103	perennial ryegrass	90.0	75.0*
AGRLH101	perennial ryegrass (hybrid)	90.0	55.8
AGRBW101	prairiegrass	87.5	50.8

Mean		89.0	51.7
CV, %		1.79	15.24
LSD, 0.05		1.86	9.19
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Table 7. Percent stand of orchardgrass varieties sown September 8, 1997, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Percent Stand
Variety	Sep 30, 1998	Nov 9, 1999	Oct 20, 2000	Apr 2, 2001	Oct 17, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Tekapo	78.3	78.3	65.0	63.3	35.0*
Benchmark	88.3	68.3	60.0	58.3	21.7
Ambrosia	78.3	63.3	54.7	47.5	19.2
Crown	85.0	65.0	53.3	60.0	17.5
Warrior	81.7	66.7	50.0	52.5	12.2
Takena	81.7	60.0	47.5	52.5	16.7
Condor	85.0	53.3	45.8	47.5	11.3
Haymate	85.0	58.3	44.2	50.8	15.2
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
OFI93E	88.3	73.3	63.0	68.3	40.8*
AV61	86.7	61.7	55.0	54.2	20.8
OFI93M	86.7	63.3	54.2	50.8	14.2
OFI93L	86.7	58.3	47.5	54.2	17.5

Mean	84.3	64.2	53.4	55.0	20.2
CV, %	5.82	10.30	17.58	16.43	48.83
LSD, 0.05	0.57	7.64	10.85	10.46	11.40
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD.

Table 8. Percent stand of orchardgrass varieties sown September 15, 1998, at Lexington, Kentucky. in a grazing tolerance study.
Variety	Percent Stand
Variety	Oct 4, 1999	Oct 20, 2000	Apr 4, 2001	Oct 15, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Boone	89.2	81.7	80.0	67.5*
Benchmark	83.3	78.3	74.2	60.0*
Shiloh	85.0	77.5	75.0	55.8*
Hallmark 1970 ¹	84.2	73.0	75.0	55.0*
Haymate	80.8	76.7	68.3	52.5*
Hallmark 1996 ¹	85.8	70.8	74.2	51.7*
Crown	80.8	74.2	69.2	50.0
Cheyenne	81.7	71.7	68.3	49.2
WP 300	77.5	71.0	68.3	49.2
Tekapo	85.0	70.8	62.5	47.5
Pizza	75.0	70.0	60.0	32.5
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
OG9501	86.7	82.5	77.5	67.5*
OG9705G	85.0	79.7	80.8	66.7*
KYO7G 23-335	82.5	81.7	76.7	64.2*
KYDG9303	84.2	72.7	75.0	51.7*
Ampac pp 2	80.0	48.0	44.2	23.3

Mean	82.9	73.8	70.6	52.8
CV, %	5.46	12.31	11.29	27.78
LSD, 0.05	5.20	10.44	9.16	16.85
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.

Table 9. Seedling vigor and percent stand of orchardgrass and Kentucky bluegrass (KBG) varieties sown October 1, 1999, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.

Variety	Seedling Vigor ¹	Percent Stand
Variety	Nov 11, 1999	Oct 23, 2000	Apr 4, 2001	Oct 15, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Tekapo	1.67	83.33	78.3	62.5*
Hallmark 1996 ²	2.67*	82.50	80.8	60.0*
Hallmark 1970²	2.67*	84.17	84.2	58.3*
Haymate	1.83	77.83	78.3	55.8*
Benchmark	2.17	80.00	80.0	53.3*
Sidekick (KBG)	1.00	65.00	75.8	49.2*
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
KYO7G 23-335	2.00	80.00	80.0	63.3*
OG9705G	2.50*	82.50	82.5	61.7*
BAR Dgl 9 BTR G	1.00	86.67	86.7	57.5*
BAR Dgl 9 BTR F	2.00	82.00	79.2	52.5*

Mean	1.95	80.40	80.6	57.4
CV, %	18.44	6.62	6.15	21.6
LSD, 0.05	0.42	6.19	5.76	14.43
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous. ² Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.

*Table 10. Seedling vigor and percent stand of orchardgrass and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties sown September 19, 2000, at Lexington, Kentucky, in a grazing tolerance study.*

Variety	Seedling Vigor ¹October 31, 2000	Percent Stand
Variety	Seedling Vigor ¹October 31, 2000	Apr 9, 2001	Oct 17, 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Boone	3.2	90.0	75.8*
'CAS-LG31'	1.8	90.0	73.3*
Prairie	3.0	89.2	70.8*
Benchmark	3.0	90.0	68.3*
Haymate	2.5	90.0	55.8
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
OG9705G	2.0	89.2	72.5*
K5568K	3.0	90.0	72.5*
KYO7G 23-335	2.0	89.2	68.3*
K5633D (prairiegrass)	5.0*	76.7	15.0
K5632M (prairiegrass)	5.0*	83.3	14.7

Mean	3.1	87.8	58.7
CV, %	7.91	5.18	18.14
LSD, 0.05	0.28	5.29	12.38
* Not significantly different from the highest numerical value in the column, based on the 0.05 LSD. ¹ 0 to 5 scale with 5 being most vigorous.

*Table 11. Persistence of tall fescue, perennial ryegrass (PRG), prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii), festulolium, and timothy varieties under heavy grazing pressure across years and locations.*
		Lexington
		1997 ¹		1998		1999		2000
Variety	Proprietor/KY Distributor	Oct 2000 ²	Oct 2001	Oct 2000	Oct 2001	Oct 2000	Oct 2001	Oct 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
BAR 9TMPO	Barenbrug USA					*
Bronson	Ampac Seed Company
Cattle Club	unknown			*	*	*
Citadel (PRG)	Donley Seed
Duo (festulolium)	Ampac Seed Company					*	*
Festorina	Advanta Seeds	*	*
Fuego	Advanta Seeds
Hoedown	Jenks Seed Connection
Jesup EF	Pennington Seed			*
Johnstone	Willamette Seed Co./Public			*	*
Kenhy	Public			*	*
Kokanee	Ampac Seed Company
KY31+ (endophyte infected)	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Public	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
Linn (PRG)	Public							*
Martin II	International Seeds, Inc.
Matua (prairiegrass)	AgResearch (USA)
Polly II (PRG)	FFR/Southern States
Select	FFR/Southern States			*	*	*
Southern Cross
Spring Green (festulolium)	Turf-Seed, Inc.							*
Stargrazer	FFR/Southern States
TF 33	Barenbrug
Tuukka (timothy)	Ampac Seed Company
Vulcan	International Seeds				*
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
AGRLP103 (PRG)	AgResearch (USA)							*
AGRLH101 (PRG)	AgResearch (USA)
AGRBW101 (prairiegrass)	AgResearch (USA)
AGRFA110	AgResearch (USA)							*
Ampac pp1 mix	Ampac Seed Company				*
Ampac pp3 mix	Ampac Seed Company
Ampac pp7 mix	Ampac Seed Company
Ampac pp8 mix	Ampac Seed Company
B-1	Olsen-Fennell Seeds Inc.
BARFaBTR 6	Barenbrug USA					*
BARFaBTR 7	Barenbrug USA
GA 153E 542	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
GA 156L 542	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental					*	*
GA 5 542	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental				*
GA 5 584	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental					*
GA 7 clone 542	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
GA Jesup EI	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental				*
Jesup 502	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
Jesup 542	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental				*	*	*
Jesup 584	GA Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental					*	*
KY31- (endophyte free)	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental	*	*	*	*	*	*	*
KYFA9304	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental	*	*			*	*
KYFA9401	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
KYFA9402	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
KYFA9403	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental
KYTF 2	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental			*	*	*	*
Q4508	Wrightson Seed Ltd.
R4663	Wrightson Seed Ltd.							*
TF 8805	FFR Cooperative
Woodburn 97	Western Production Inc.
WVPB TF500	Western Production Inc.		*
¹ Establishment year. ² Date of visual estimation of percent stand. * Not significantly different from the most persistent variety in the test. Shaded boxes indicate that the variety was not in the test. Open boxes indicate the variety was in the test but persistence was significantly less than the top-ranked variety in the test.

*Table 12. Persistence of orchardgrass, Kentucky bluegrass (BG), and prairiegrass (Bromus wildenowii) varieties under heavy grazing pressure across years and locations.*
		Lexington
		1997 ¹		1998		1999		2000
Variety	Proprietor/KY Distributor	Oct 2000²	Oct 2001	Oct 2000	Oct 2001	Oct 2000	Oct 2001	Oct 2001
Commercial varieties -- available for farm use
Ambrosia	Pennington Seeds	*
Benchmark	FFR/Southern States	*		*	*		*	*
Boone	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental			*	*			*
'CAS-LG31'	Jenks Seed Connection							*
Cheyenne	Western Production Inc.
Condor	Hansford Seed Co.
Crown	Scott Seed Co./Sphar Seed Co.			*
Hallmark 1996 ³	James VanLeeuwen				*	*	*
Hallmark 1970	James VanLeeuwen			*	*	*	*
Haymate	FFR/Southern States			*	*		*
Pizza	Advanta Seeds West
Prairie	Turner Seed Company							*
Shiloh	Green Seed			*	*
Sidekick (BG)	Ampac Seeds						*
Takena	Smith Seed
Tekapo	Modern Forage Systems/Oldfields Seed	*	*			*	*
Warrior	Olsen-Fennel Seeds Inc.
WP 300	Western Productions, Inc.
Experimental varieties -- not available for farm use
Ampac pp2	Ampac Seeds
AV61	Western Production Inc.	*
BAR Dgl 9 BTR F	Barenbrug USA					*	*
BAR Dgl 9 BTR G	Barenbrug USA					*	*
K5568K	Ampac Seeds							*
K5632M (prairiegrass)	Ampac Seeds
K5633D (prairiegrass)	Ampac Seeds
KYDG9303	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental			*	*
KYO7G 23-335	KY Agric. Exp. Sta./Experimental			*	*		*	*
OFI93E	Olsen-Fennel	*	*
OFI93L	Olsen-Fennel
OFI93M	Olsen-Fennel	*
OG9501	FFR Cooperative			*	*
OG9705G	FFR Cooperative			*	*	*	*	*
¹ Establishment year. ² Date of visual estimation of percent stand. * Not significantly different from the most persistent variety in the test. Shaded boxes indicate that the variety was not in the test. Open boxes indicate the variety was in the test but persistence was significantly less than the top-ranked variety in the test. ³ Seed for this test came from fields planted on dates indicated.