Hi Dr. Beth,
I have been on the search here and would like some info on Lespedeza for our Pastures and hay this coming year.
I know I have seen a web that you have posted for the difference in the NSC contents of hay but can't seem to find it. We live in Tennessee and have been dealing with so much drought for the last couple years and I know this is a good pasture for this region.
Could you give me the heads up on this type of grass/hay, for the following year??
Thanks- I always end up coming to
you for my answers,becki

I called on the expertise of Dr. Bob Van Saun, a veterinary nutritionist at Penn State. Here is what he said:

"I have not worked with this particular forage, but it is one that was investigated long ago as a potential forage and more recently as it may have anti-parasitic properties. I have attached a pdf file from U. Arkansas [http://www.uaex.edu/Other_Areas/publications/pdf/FSA-3050.pdf
], which has a nice overview of the forage. Essentially, it is a warm-season legume plant similar to alfalfa. Not sure it is appropriate for Oregon weather conditions, maybe in Tennessee. From what I read this forage feeds similar to alfalfa hay, just not quite as good. I could not find any specific nutrient content values, but being a legume plant it should not have high NSC content like cool season grasses. From that perspective it should be ok for horses in preventing the carbohydrate-related problems. The antiparasitic effects come from high concentrations of condensed tannins. Not a problem for goats and this forage is being touted as a solution to the anthelminitic-resistance issues in sheep and goats. Not sure how this would affect nutrient availability in horses as tannins can inhibit absorption of some nutrients."

It seems that this could be a good option for you.

thankyou for checking... I think we will go ahead with this seeding for the spring with Orchard grass too. I do give my Horses their nutrients on a regular basis. But will look up the specifics on the site you gave me. Thanks again. becki