As cattle producers work through tough economic times, any crop that can prove itself as dual purpose is worth a second look. That is the case with switchgrass, which is becoming more and more popular among cattlemen across the country, as they recognize the value it has as a highly palatable and nutritious feed source and a bioenergy crop that can be used for the future production of renewable energy.
For cattlemen like Ed Cahoj of Half Way, Missouri, switchgrass is a “no brainer” because of its outstanding ability as an exceptional source of livestock feed as well as its great value for the production of renewable energy.
“My cattle love this stuff,” exclaimed Cahoj, whose biggest problem is getting them to move away from the hay ring during the summer when they have access to mixed pasture abundant with clover. Even young calves find the switchgrass very palatable as Cahoj tests the palatability of this feedstuff by keeping it in front of his Braunvieh cattle, just to see how long they’ll keep eating it. They were still surrounding the feeder in July, while standing knee deep in clover.
Cahoj’s plan for his two-year-old stand is to harvest it twice this year for hay and then allow it to grow and not harvest it again until after it is dormant. Second cuttings of his two fields were completed on June 27 and July 6 and both fields have netted just over 2.2 tons per acre so far and the last cutting (to be used for processing) will come after dormancy. In 2008 the one year old stand produced 3.4 tons per acre. Cahoj notes, cattle do not prefer switchgrass if it is allowed to fully mature.
Nutritional analysis of the hay has been good. As with any hay crop, nutritional value is dependent upon the crop’s stage of maturity when harvested. Lab reports from Cahoj’s fields have indicated crude protein values on a dry matter basis of 8.47 to 11.8 percent. Terry Bohmont, who operates Bohmont Ranch near Sparta and is known by many as the warm season grass specialist of southwest Missouri, has received nutritional analysis test results of up to 14 percent crude protein.
“The 14 percent crude protein analysis came under pasture conditions when we were early onset grazing the switchgrass,” said Bohmont, adding that when he has tested more mature hay crops from the same fields, the protein level has been more in the 12% range. Nutritional analysis “always goes back to maturity,” said Bohmont, “but that’s the great thing about switchgrass as a dual purpose crop, it doesn’t matter how mature it gets – it’s the tonnage and dry matter that’s needed for biofuel. You can let it mature and harvest it for fuel. If you happen to mismanage your field, you still have an option.”
Switchgrass is a deep-rooted, warm-season grass with short, stout rhizomes and heavy biomass growth during late spring and early summer, and it is native to most of the United States. Switchgrass performs very well with little or no maintenance and tolerates a wide range of soil conditions. It is widely acclaimed as a conservation plant for erosion control, pasture, hay, wildlife habitat and native prairie restoration.
“It will grow on a knob or in the river bottom; from Texas to Canada” says Bohmont. “No matter where you go – any place you can raise any type of grass or grain, it will grow.” As a result, Bohmont added that many people are looking to switchgrass as an alternative crop that provides a lot more diversification – once it’s planted and established there are no recurring annual costs.
The diversity of switchgrass gained some attention recently during Congressman Roy Blunt’s Annual Agricultural Tour of Southwest Missouri when it made a stop on the Richard McConnell beef farm in Polk County on August 11th. McConnell told the crowd making the tour that not only does the grass allow for both grazing and haying, but it cuts down on his overall input costs and can even be used for making ethanol in the future, hopefully netting farmers a profit.
The high yields of switchgrass make it a good choice for conversion into energy. The production of electricity from switchgrass has been documented and a grassroots organization in which both Cahoj and Bohmont are active, is working diligently to turn switchgrass into biofuel.
Many technology companies are in the process of developing both centralized and decentralized processing plants which can efficiently turn switchgrass into various forms of energy, mainly biofuel and ethanol. An additional thermochemical process will produce a product known as biochar which is becoming well known as a product that can be incorporated back into the soil to hold moisture, improve soil tilth and dramatically lower nutrient leaching. Biochar also lowers plant mortality, increases soil microbial activity, and is an aid in carbon sequestration.
Currently, the National Biomass Producers Association (NBPA) is working toward the creation of mobile production units that can be brought into rural areas to process bales of switchgrass into biofuel. In the meantime, switchgrass can be utilized on beef farms as a crop that offers crop diversity and the opportunity to fuel the future.
Cattlemen wishing more information regarding switchgrass and/or the NBPA may contact Cahoj at ecahoj@windstream.net or (417) 298-3068.
Braunvieh calf enjoys switchgrass. | 
