Relative Traffic Tolerance of Warm-Season Grasses and Suitability for Grazing by Equine.
Authors: Jaqueth Aubrey L, Turner Thomas R, Iwaniuk Marie E, McIntosh Bridgett J, Burk Amy O
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
# Editorial Summary Warm-season grasses engineered for sports turf and golf courses could offer equine operations a genuinely wear-tolerant grazing option, particularly in climates where cool-season species struggle—and crabgrass warrants consideration as a hardy alternative where conventional forages fail. Researchers established replicated plots of five warm-season cultivars (bermudagrass and zoysiagrass) plus forage crabgrass, then subjected them to simulated hoof traffic (zero, one, or two passes weekly) for six weeks, followed by four-week recovery periods, across two summer seasons, measuring soil compaction, biomass recovery, plant persistence, and nutritional composition throughout. All grasses showed increased soil compaction proportional to traffic intensity, though none lost persistence; notably, light traffic actually increased available biomass in year one, suggesting that moderate grazing stimulation may promote growth rather than diminish it. Zoysiagrass cultivars emerged as the strongest candidates—they ranked highest for traffic tolerance, maintained moderate yields, and critically, stayed below 12% nonstructural carbohydrates (NSC), making them suitable for horses prone to laminitis or metabolic disease. Whilst this controlled trial provides encouraging foundational data, farm-based validation is essential to establish realistic stocking rates and long-term persistence under actual grazing pressure before practitioners invest in establishing these species.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Zoysiagrass is the preferred warm-season grass for high-traffic equine pastures due to superior wear tolerance and favorable nutritional profile (low NSC); avoid bermudagrass in heavily trafficked areas
- •Light to moderate traffic actually increases available biomass in year 1, suggesting appropriate grazing management can optimize forage production without overuse
- •On-farm validation studies are needed to establish optimal stocking rates and rest periods before implementing zoysiagrass systems on your operation
Key Findings
- •Soil compaction increased significantly with higher traffic levels across all cultivars (P < .0001)
- •Low-level traffic treatment increased biomass available for grazing in year 1 (P = .0193)
- •Zoysiagrass cultivars demonstrated superior traffic tolerance compared to bermudagrass with low nonstructural carbohydrates (<12% NSC)
- •No treatment effect on cultivar persistence, suggesting warm-season grasses remain viable despite simulated hoof traffic