STF-43™
STF-43 is an innovative blend of late-maturing, soft-leaved tall fescues. STF-43 produces impressive dry matter yields with exceptional levels of digestible fiber. STF-43 is the result of Barenbrug's forage analyses program which measured NDF (neutral detergent fiber) and NDFd (NDF digestibility).
With the laboratory analyses, Barenbrug identified significant differences in amount of fiber (NDF) and its digestibility (NDFd) between improved varieties. STF-43 is formulated with varieties to provide exceptional levels of digestible fiber per pound of dry matter fed. STF-43 is part of our NutriFiber and Pinpoint families of products.
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Soft Leaf Tall Fescue
When viewed under a microscope, it is easy to see the difference between the soft-leaf and the ‘coarse’ leaf. With no burs, STF-43 is more highly palatable than traditional KY-31 and other tall fescues and is preferred by cattle in trials.
Technical Information
Establishment
The recommended seeding rate is 25 lbs/acre into a well-prepared seed bed. Brillion seeders or broadcasting the seed followed by a cultipacker works best. If a regular drill is used, we suggest crossing the field twice, at an angle or seed at 6 inch row spacing,. STF-43 is well suited for both intensive grazing and cutting for hay or grass-silage. When used for pasture, plant 25 pounds of STF-43 per acre. After establishment of STF-43, red and/or white clover can be added to the stand (3-4 pounds per acre of white clover such as Alice™ or RegalGraze™, 8-10 pounds per acre of red clover such as Barduro™ or Freedom!™). For dedicated harvested forage applications, 10 pounds per acre of STF-43 can be planted with 15 pounds of AlfaBar.
Management
Good stand management is essential for long term productivity. STF-43 is a mixture of perennial soft leaf tall fescues. A single shoot is produced from a single seed. As this shoot is bitten or clipped off, the plant seeds up new shoots, or tillers, from buds at the base of the plant. As these new tillers are cut or grazed off, more tillers are formed creating an increasing larger bunch. This process continues until the spaces are filled, producing a dense, leafy stand. To maximize tiller growth during the first year, the height of the pasture should be maintained in the 3 to 6 inch range to allow maximum sunlight penetration. Once the newly seeded plants are firmly rooted, they should be lightly grazed or machine mowed several times before heavy use to promote tillering. Under good growing conditions, this could be 6-7 weeks after a spring sowing or 10-12 weeks for an early autumn sowing. Defer making hay until late in the season of the first year. Once established, STF-43 should be grazed starting at the 6-7 inch height, leaving a 3 inch residual, or machine harvested for hay or silage in the pre-boot stage. Graze or mow to keep the stand leafy and vegetative. Management should be aimed at maintaining a dense, leafy pasture cover.
