Breeding Small Grains for Grazing Tolerance.

Forage production is an important contributor to agricultural income in the southern Great Plains. Ranchers and livestock producers in this region have used small grains for high protein pasture. This study was initiated to evaluate the response of small grain superior selections and early generation lines for grazing tolerance. Six each of rye, wheat, triticale and 10 oat advanced lines were evaluated. In addition, 22 triticale and 14 rye F₃ and F₄ lines were also assessed to select grazing tolerant lines. Seeds were sown in mid to late September and plots were grazed once the plants attained a height of 25- 30 cm. After similar re-growth the plots were re-grazed successively. Data were recorded on available forage, plant stand, plant height, re-growth ratings and percent of stand grazed at different time points. Once the plants reached the jointing stage, grazing was suspended and the plants were allowed to produce seed. After grazing seasons, rye showed the best plant stand and recovery ratings followed by triticale and wheat. Oat had the worst plant stand. Variation within a crop was most prominent in triticale.  For grazing preference, rye ranked the top and triticale the least. Within three days 90% of the rye plots were grazed. About 80% of wheat, 78% of oat and only 56% triticale were grazed at the same period. ‘Maton II’, the recently released rye cultivar from our program, and top lines of other small grains (in the process to be released as new cultivars) were evaluated in different studies to see animal performances on these cultivar/lines.