Sweet success? Managing yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) with grazing attractants in dairy pastures

Abstract

Yellow bristle grass (YBG) is a summer-active grass weed which is rapidly spreading in dairy pastures in the North Island. Different grazing attractants were applied to Waikato dairy pastures at the end of January and February. Cows responded to attractants containing molasses (foliar applied or pellets), but not to coarse agricultural salt or sugar. There was less pasture dry matter, less YBG cover and more bare ground in the pellets treatment. Keywords: Setaria pumila, yellow bristle grass, grazing attractants, molasses, salt, sugar