Dual purpose value of perennial forage grain for food grain crop and fall/winter grazing of beef cattle focus of new study

About the Project

Maintaining beef cattle on pasture in the fall/winter season to reduce labour and feed costs is common practice in western Canada, however there are still many challenges associated with extended grazing strategies for stockpiled forage. Difficulty arises primarily in terms of nutritive value of pasture, which is often low and can negatively affect cattle performance. At the University of Manitoba, a new first-of-its kind study is underway evaluating the perennial grain intermediate wheatgrass (IWG) as a dual-purpose crop - to provide both a cash food grain crop and high quality forage regrowth for grazing cattle into the late fall and early winter. In recent years IWG has gained a lot of attention from food processors and consumers alike – particularly in the United States where it was developed – because of the novelty and environmental benefits associated with its being a perennial grain. Agronomic research in Canada has shown IWG to be highly adaptable to the prairies, being able to withstand cold, drought and excess moisture, sometimes all in a single growing season. This western Canadian project will encompass simultaneous assessments of agronomic and cattle performance, grain and forage quality, environmental sustainability indicators such as enteric methane emissions, nitrogen and carbon cycling, ecosystem services in terms of songbird and nesting waterfowl habitat, as well as greenhouse gas footprinting of the combined IWG-based crop and livestock system.