Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Crested wheatgrass is native to the dry and cold plains of Russia, western Siberia and central Asia. It was introduced to the Canadian Prairies during "the Dirty ‘30s," and many of these stands still exist today. Crested wheatgrass was a solution to many soil erosion problems.
As Saskatchewan landowners convert more of their annual cropland to forages, crested wheatgrass should be kept in mind when developing new pastures, according to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food Forage Development Specialist, Glenn Barclay.
“A crested wheatgrass pasture, used exclusively for grazing first thing in the spring, can greatly reduce the grazing pressure on native range and tame pastures,” Barclay says. “Providing a period of rest for the other pastures will replenish growth and return vigour.”
Crested wheatgrass reaches full production about one month earlier than most native grasses. Studies at the Lethbridge Research Station in Alberta showed that crested wheatgrass produced about 90 per cent of its total annual yield before mid-June. In contrast, native range grasses do not normally reach their peak production until late June, and produce only 35 per cent of their total annual yield by mid-June.
“Having a crested wheatgrass pasture divided into two or more paddocks and situated close to a home base is a good idea,” says Barclay. “It will provide early spring grazing that is easy to monitor, and will allow moving cattle to another crested wheatgrass paddock when required. Remember that different paddocks should be used at the start of each grazing season so that the same paddock isn't used year after year."
The early growth of crested wheatgrass is high in protein, and is palatable to all classes of livestock. Palatability drops off markedly over the summer, as the plant matures and becomes dormant in hot weather. If a summer supplies lots of rain, the plant may maintain palatable growth throughout most of the season. Fall growth can also start quickly when wet weather arrives.
Barclay notes that is advisable not to seed another grass with crested wheatgrass in a new pasture.
“The grasses will grow and mature at different times, and be palatable at different times. Allowing crested wheatgrass to develop into coarse plants that are not consumed could result in under-utilization for next year's grazing season,” he says.
When the end of June arrives, the cattle should be moved onto the native range or tame pasture, Barclay points out.
“If there is sufficient carry-over or regrowth, the cattle can still graze the crested wheatgrass if needed," he says. "This trait can be very useful in drought years. During hot, dry periods, the grass can become dormant, and this trait reduces injury from the elements. It withstands close grazing and trampling, and it competes well with other plants.”
There are two species of crested wheatgrass: Agropyron cristatum, known as the Fairway type, and Agropyron desertorum, called the standard type. Both types are very hardy, long-lived perennial bunchgrasses that have a non-creeping, deep root system. The two species will not cross with each other.