Forage Potential of Summer Annual Grain Legumes in the Southern Great Plains

Abstract

Core Ideas Forage quality gap during mid through late summer affects stocker cattle production. A broad range of under‐utilized grain legumes may serve as high‐quality forages. Adoption of such crops could enhance sustainability of stocker‐based grazing systems. Winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and perennial warm‐season grasses are the primary forage resources for grazing yearling stocker cattle (Bos taurus) in the US Southern Great Plains (SGP). However, low nutritive value of perennial grasses during mid to late summer limits high rates of growth by stocker cattle. In response, there has been a continued search for plant materials with the potential to provide forage high in crude protein (CP) and digestibility during August through September. A broad range of under‐utilized legume species that are grown as grain crops in Africa, India, and South and Central America may have some capacity to serve as high quality pasture or harvested forage in the SGP. However, any crop selection must account for limitations related to unpredictable summer rainfall amounts and patterns, and the frequent occurrence of prolonged drought. Further, any selection should not create water deficits for following winter wheat, the primary forage and grain crop in the region. This article summarizes a small subset of the broad range of underutilized grain legumes (pulses) which exist worldwide and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] that may have capacity to serve as high quality forage for late‐summer grazing. Bringing these crops into forage–stocker production systems could improve the overall system effectiveness, in addition to providing other ecosystem services (e.g., ground cover, grain crops).