Forage Resources forLivestock Production

Glen K. Fukumoto, County Extension Agent

College of Tropical Agriculture and Human ResourcesUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa

Forages

• Grasses• Legumes

• Forbs• Trees

Considerations

• Environment• Management• Understand Ecosystem Processes• Forage Varieties

Match Forages to your Environment

Environment

Management

• Continued education• Set your goals• Planning• Monitoring• Adjust and Replan

Other Management Considerations

• Weed Control• Fertilization• Grazing plan• Animal type

– Cows– Forage-finish– Stocker

Ecosystem Process

• Energy Flow• Water Cycle

• Mineral Cycle

Solar Dollar Concept:SUN PLANT ANIMAL SOLAR

DOLLAR

Water Cycle

Mineral Cycle

Forage Diversity

Forages Website:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/forages

Grass Varieties

• Mealani Collection• 130+ kikuyu

selections• 33 varieties

• Dwarf napier• Suerte• Switch

Legume Varieties

• Arachis pintoi• 11 varieties• USDA ARS, Georgia• 3 commercially

available

• Arachis glabrata• 1 variety

Legume Varieties

• Leucaena leucocephala

• 16 varieties developed by Dr. James Brewbaker

• 2 commercially available Australia

• Use: Protein banking

Tangan tangan technology

• Leucaena leucocephala• Improved varieties (Australia)

– Kx2– Tarramba

Regrowth and Quality (CP)

02

468

101214

1618

Kikuyu Pangola Star Signal

4-wk8-wk12-wk

Regrowth and Yield (Mealani)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

Kikuyu Pangola Star Signal

4-wk8-wk12-wk

Quality and Yield(Kikuyu @ Mealani)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

4-wk 8-wk 12-wk024681012141618

YieldCP

8-wk Yield and Location

0500

10001500

200025003000

350040004500

Kikuyu Pangola Star Signal

WaimanaloWaiakeaMealani

Pasture ProductionCase Studies

• Grass-finish beef at University of Hawaii• Small rancher example

Investigative Garden

Forage Demonstration

Gardens

Kikuyu Collection

Leucaena Collection

Perennial Peanut Collection

Economics

Corn silage/grain

Animal Handling

Quality Forage-Finished Beef

PIECES TO THE PUZZLE

Marketing Genetics

Education

Research

Mealani Research Station, CTAHR, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2003

One Last Thought …

• Formation of a Grazing Cooperative/Association.

• Build teamwork• Shared knowledge base

Mahalo