Posted By: Bigfoot
Eastern gamma grass - 06/10/19 03:18 PM
Has any body had much experience with growing it for hay ? We bought some about 10 years ago in big square bales where we fed it we now have some nice patches of gamma grass .I am truly impressed with it it's on ground that we have never fertilized and right now it's waist-deep and if we cut it off for hay it'll be waist-deep by August .fall and winter grazing hasn't seemed to hurt it at all .last year in the drought it looked just exactly like it looks now . when we cut our hay off it came back and was 18 in tall in a month with no rain no fertilizer. I just thought I would pass the word along to any of you beef people out there just how good of stuff we feel this is
Posted By: TurkeyTime
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/10/19 05:38 PM
We have a 15 acre patch in CRP. Stuff is pretty tough and resistant like you said. Like you also mentioned in the little bunches that show up here and there in hay ground it does bounce back quick from being cut. Only reason I can think it never became popular is you can't let cattle grub it down to nothing.
Posted By: Bigfoot
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/10/19 08:28 PM
It seems to do well in rotation but the cows like it to much for a full time pasture
Posted By: MikeC
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/11/19 11:08 AM
One of the best forages going. Livestock will eat it first and keep it at ground level, that's why it was one of the first grasses to disappear when livestock first showed up. I have quite a bit of it planted in buffer area and waste areas. The deer like the seed heads when they start to mature. Mike
It is considered an ice cream species for rotational grazers. Meaning, its preferred and cattle will go graze it selectively over many other species.
For hay, I am sure it would love nitrogen.
Posted By: Bigfoot
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/11/19 09:37 PM
For hay, I am sure it would love nitrogen.
Im sure it would but it does phenomenal with out it dangdest stuff ive ever seen
Posted By: Guthrie
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/12/19 11:14 AM
They call it ice cream grass. Can be expensive to plant and hard to get established. It works well in intensive grazing but if you continuous graze I am sure it wouldn't last long.
Posted By: run
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/12/19 12:12 PM
What is the scientific name of this grass? I need to see if my seed dealer can get it in stock.
Posted By: Bigfoot
Re: Eastern gamma grass - 06/12/19 02:14 PM
gamma grass seed coHeres a link to a company that post alot of information .there is another on facebook( may eastern gamma grass) they are a family opperation in KY