Does anyone over seed their pasture with Ryegrass? What variety do you use and do you have any issues with high sugar content?
I know my horses would love to have additional grazing but 2 are older and I don’t know if Ryegrass would be too high in sugar? Right now they are on a track system/drylots to protect the pastures.
Yes. I have oversown my coastal bermuda pastures with winter rye forage grass for the past nine years. Depending upon the rainfall after I spread the seed, some years I have been able to go without buying and feeding any hay.
The cost of the rye seed and fertilizer is about what I figure I would otherwise spend on buying hay. But the horses have grass and can graze year-round.
I am in the east central Georgia area. I have had the best success with Attain. Attain is a hybrid developed by the University of Florida and should be pretty much spot on for your climate.
I do it every year, with the perennial rye I get at the feed store. It comes in fast and gives the horses a little extra to munch on.
I’ve used several varieties and can’t say I’ve seen a difference between them. IME the growing conditions are a bigger factor than the variety. Temperature, precipitation etc. I have a small place so the cost for seed and fertilizer is pretty negligible. Pony wears a grazing muzzle when in the grass. Horse wears a grazing muzzle in spring when I have them on the grass for longer hours to mow it down enough for the summer grasses to come in. YMMV
Would it be too late to plant this year? With all the rainfall we have been having I think it would not be a bad idea to see what happens. I tried once before and had no luck because it didn’t rain at all and it never did anything.
If I already had seed, I’d spread it.
I would spread it. It’s plenty cold. I’ve had mine keep growing into May some years
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
