Growing canola for beef cattle pasture is a new idea for stocker operations. Until now, canola is primarily raised for the high oil content of the seed, but because of its early growth pattern, it has a potential as a fall and spring pasture forage for cattle. Also, canola meal, which is a high protein feed co-product, is produced after the extraction of the oil and is an important protein supplement for all classes of livestock.

Although Canada, North Dakota and Minnesota are the major canola producing areas, the use of canola as a forage crop is being developed in Kansas by researchers at Kansas State University. In the northern areas of canola production, canola is planted in the spring, but in moderate winter areas it can be planted in the fall and produce considerable lush forage for pasture cattle. Practical experience has been attained by John and Dave Griffin, livestock operators and seed producers at Nickerson, Kansas. They are exploring and developing valuable experience in the use of this crop for pasturing cattle.

An old crop with a new name
Canola is a selection of rape. In the past, rape was used by livestock people as pasture forage for cattle, sheep and swine. Little rape is now planted in the U.S. and has been replaced by canola.
The seed from rape has two properties that make the oil unusable for human consumption. Plant breeders in Canada made selections with low contents of erucic acid and glucosinolates, and then changed the name to canola.

Canola production as a forage
Kansas State University (KSU) has tested some of the varieties at the Manhattan, Colby, and the South Central Kansas Experimental Fields west of Hutchinson, Kansas. Charlie Rife, KSU’s plant breeder and canola expert at Manhattan, Kansas, explains that canola has a good potential as a fall planted forage for cattle. He points out that much of the Canadian crop is spring planted, but in Kansas the varieties they have selected for trial are fall planted.

When fall planting is used, one of the key farming practices, according to Mr. Rife, is to get emergence of the crop which will lead to good top growth. He explained, “This helps get adequate forage for cattle and contributes to winter hardiness of the plants.” Regarding getting a stand, Rife stressed, “Wheat is a robust crop, while canola is not a robust crop.” At the Colby, Kansas, location they used sprinkler irrigation to get the crop established for their tests. Roger Stockton, KSU agronomist at Colby said growing canola takes less water for seed production than corn.

Bill Heer, researcher at KSU’s South Central Experimental Fields near Hutchinson, Kansas, said, “We achieved a good stand in the fall of 2003. The soil was dry when we planted in September and then the rains came and helped establish a good emergence and a large amount of forage.” He further explained the material for cutting in December was still very lush. He said, “Visually, we had much greater growth than on our wheat plots.” (The weight of the forage per acre from their test plots was not available at press time.)
Practical experiences at Nickerson, Kansas

John and Dave Griffin, at Nickerson, Kansas, has been pasturing canola for two years. They plant their canola in early September, start pasturing in October, and keep the cattle on the canola pasture until the end of November, depending on the moisture for plant growth and weather conditions. They also pasture the crop in the spring until mid-March and one of their pastures last year until mid-April. The Griffins are also seed producers and harvested considerable canola seed from these same fields even after extensive pasturing. For seed production, the Griffins have found swathing the canola and letting it dry down before the combining/threshing harvest of the seed works best. They have also pastured volunteer canola in the late summer and fall that emerged after harvest.

They have not experienced any bloat or digestive problems when pasturing canola. They feed a free choice wheat pasture mineral with magnesium and salt. ©

Comments or questions on this or any article by Dr. Sprague can be directed to him at 625 Grandview, Newton, Kansas, 67114 or b calling him at 316-283-8692.