Seasonal effects on forage quality have been noted in grazing trials in Florida, where forage regrowth intervals were kept constant. A "summer slump" was observed in that gains of grazing cattle were less during the summer than in spring and fall. That this slump in cattle weight gain during the summer is an effect of environment on forages — and not due to the effect of the environment on animals — was suggested by a direct comparison of bahiagrass with dwarf elephantgrass.
The summer slump was dramatic with bahiagrass, but not apparent with elephantgrass even though similar cattle grazed adjacent paddocks of the two grasses. Summer slumps in quality of warm-season grasses have been observed with hay harvested after similar regrowth intervals on different dates throughout the growing season (Table 3). Summer regrowth may have lower quality because high temperature increases lignin deposition, and high rainfall increases growth rates and maturation of the forage.
In the case of hay made in Florida, the negative effects of season and maturity on forage quality may be additive. Spring harvests are made generally after short regrowth periods, while summer harvests are made after long regrowth periods because of heavy summer rainfall that delays harvests. Therefore, the quality of bermudagrass hay is highest when harvested in the spring or early summer.
In some cases, insects can defoliate forages, thus decreasing forage quality. Additionally, cattle grazing improved forages grown under very wet conditions (i.e., standing water) are observed to have low rates of performance, but the reasons for this effect are not well defined.
Implications