[Carpenter] Warm vs. Cool season for cattle

[Kevin N Carpenter]

I keep hearing pros and cons around warm season (e.g. Native) vs cool

season grass nutrition and edibility for cattle.

I was talking with Frank Oberle this afternoon, and we were knocking 
around the idea of doing a side-by-side comparison in one my fields. 

We originally talked about taking a field, perhaps my eastern one with 
the large pond, and splitting it in half - 50% cool, 50% warm 
(chemically treated to kill the fescue and broadcast seeded to augment 
the present warm season species).

When I think of most agricultural field test, they are done in strips.  
I suspect that would make the most sense, since it would minimize local 
variance such as sun exposure or soil conditions.  e.g.  If Frank had, 
say, a 16' foot sprayer, we would process the field in 16' strips, 
alternating cool and warm seasons strips (presumably, once sprayed, it 
would quickly become obvious where the fescue was for later seeding).  I 
have not talked to Frank about this crazy idea yet, other than via this 
e-mail.  Of course, wider strips or zones would work too, but I think 
having 10 or so of each in the field would make for better science.

Once the fields were established, photo cronicals could be created as 
well as cattle usage observations and manual inspections.  My guess is 
there would be some seasonality to it as the various grasses hit their 
prime.  Of other interest might be to see which invaded the other, given 
fair and equal initial footing.  I suppose "fair and equal" would be 
tough to create since the fescue is already established - but than 
again, so are some of the warm seasons.

Does this make any sense?

Seems like the results would be something of interest to the scientific 
and prairie restoration folks.  Maybe their might be some cost share to 
help with the experiment?

Kevin