planting winter pasture- oats, wheat, clover or ryegrass?

[4horses]

I’m trying to decide what to overseed my pasture with this winter.

The local university website recommends oats, wheat, clover or ryegrass (I’m in North FL).

We tried ryegrass a few years back. It did nothing. (but maybe it was the wrong variety?)

Oats- I heard oat hay has high nitrate levels which can be a safety concern for feeding horses. Wouldn’t oats be the same?

White clover- I’ve heard this is good, but can cause slobbers when temperatures warm up. I heard the new varieties (Patriot) can act as a perennial.

wheat- Not sure how well it will hold up for grazing?

I’m thinking of buying small bags, and just planting a few patches of everything as an experiment. What do you think?

Maybe someone who has cattle can chime in here. I know overseeding is much more popular with cattle farmers.

[China_Doll]

In Iowa where clover grows we don’t like it and try to get rid of it. Some white clover causes slobbers and is toxic. I assume you need some kind of Bermuda grass.

[Florida_Gator]

I’m in North Flroda too and we overseed with rye and it does well. We keep them off the seeded pastures until the grass starts to come in to give it a chance. What kind of grass do you have in the summer? Have you done a soil test?

[4horses]

Working Hunter,
What variety of rye do you over seed with? Do you use annual ryegrass or rye (the grain)?

The soil test came back great! ph was 6, high in phosphorus, potassium etc.

[Doctracy]

I’m using ryegrass for the first time this year and really like it. It loves heavy rain and has some shade tolerance. I bought a pasture rye grass from the feed store but don’t remember the type.
I’ve done oats many times and it works well but get the beardless.
I’m not so fond of oats in late spring when it starts to mature. I’d rather have the ryegrass, as it doesn’t turn to coarse straw and-oats.

[ElementFarm]

We use annual ryegrass., overseeding in early/mid Oct. It holds up to winter rain well, and gets going just as the regular grass is giving up. It keeps the horses busy and supplements hay until about mid Dec. It kind of takes a break in the dead of the winter, but March sun stimulates it and it starts growing like crazy, tiding the horses over until the normal grass comes back in late April or so.