Glossary
acid soil - A soil that has a pH of less than 6.6.
alkaloid - A nitrogen-containing compound of plant origin that can act as a toxin, resulting in impaired animal performance.
animal unit month (AUM) - The amount of forage required for one animal unit for one month. One 1000 lb (450kg) cow, with or without a
calf, is equivalent to one animal unit. An AUM is used to measure the impact different numbers, sizes and types of livestock have on a forage
stand in a standardized way.
auricle - An ear-like lobe or appendage located at the base of the leaf blade, close to the stem or clasping the stem. Not all grass species have
auricles; a useful distinguishing characteristic between grass species.
basal growth - Leaf growth originating from growth points close to the soil surface.
bloat - Occurs when a ruminant animal is unable to evacuate gases accumulating within the rumen. Frothy bloat occurs in ruminants
(particularly when grazing legume pastures) when forage is rapidly broken down by rumen microbes. Bloat causes rumen distension, which
exerts pressure on the diaphragm and main blood vessels, which may lead to death by suffocation.
biennial - A plant that lives for two years. Vegetative growth occurs in the first year and flowering in the second.
biodiversity - The variety and variability found within and among living organisms and the natural systems they live in.
carry over - Plant matter remaining after defoliation. Carry over cycles nutrients back into the soil, insulates the soil from temperature
extremes, and reduces moisture loss from the soil (also known as “litter” or “residue”).
coultering - Placing fertilizer into the soil with an applicator equipped with sharp wheel-like discs that cut through sod to assist in fertilizer
placement.
coumarin - Compound found in sweet clover that can be converted to dicoumarol by microbial activity in hay that is baled moist. Dicoumarol
interferes with an animal’s ability to clot blood. Internal bleeding can occur in calves or mature animals. Fetal or calf mortality may result. Low
coumarin sweet clover varieties are available.
crude protein - An estimate of the total protein content of a feed, including available (true protein) and unavailable (non-protein) proteins.
Crude protein is measured by determining the percent nitrogen content of a feed. Protein is used to build muscles and perform maintenance
functions within the body.
cultivar –A population of a plant species that has been bred and selected for specific characteristics such as winter hardiness or disease
resistance; also known as variety.
decreaser species - A term that describes a native plant species that tends to decrease with increased grazing pressure. Generally, these
species have higher production, palatability, and forage value than increaser species.
defoliation - The removal of above ground plant parts through haying or grazing.
digestible dry matter (DDM) - The percentage of the total feedstuff (less water) that can be broken down and absorbed within the digestive
tract for use by the animal.
digestibility - How easily/effective a feedstuff is broken down and absorbed in the digestive tract for use by an animal. More digestible feeds
produce smaller amounts of waste (feces).
dormant seeding - Planting seeds into soil too cold to allow for the initiation of germination. Dormant seeding generally occurs after October
15th.
erosion - The wearing away of soil or the movement of soil from one location to another by natural forces such as wind or water.
endophyte - Compounds formed by fungi growing within tall fescue. Can cause fescue foot in livestock, an affliction characterized by weight
loss, rough hair coat, fat necrosis, lameness and gangrene of the feet, tail and ears. Low endophyte varieties of tall fescue are available.
fertility - The amount of nutrients in the soil available to the plant.
Source: Saskatchewan Forage Council, 2007.
Dryland Forage Species Adaptation CD.
Fescue Prairie - Grassland type occurring on Dark Brown to Black soils in the Prairie Parkland or Aspen Parkland ecoregion. Dominant species
is plains rough fescue.
germination % - The percent germination indicates what percent of the seed in a lot will germinate under appropriate conditions.
increaser species - A species that tends to increase in abundance as grazing pressure increases. Generally, these species have lower net
production and forage value than decreaser species.
inoculate - The process of applying rhizobia bacteria to legume seed. Rhizobia cause the formation of root nodules and the fixation of nitrogen
by legumes.
killing frost - When air temperature drops below -4 o Celsius for a period sufficient to cause significant damage to plant cells.
ligule - The appendage, membrane, or ring of hairs at the junction of the sheath and blade of a grass leaf. Not all grass species have ligules; a
useful distinguishing characteristic between grass species.
litter - See carry over.
Mixed Grass Prairie - The largest grassland type in North America. It is dominated by a mix of short and mid grasses that vary in abundance,
depending on local growing conditions. The Mixed Grass Prairie ecoregion formed under fire, drought and grazing and is defined by specific
moisture, topography, and soil influences.
nodulation - The process of nitrogen-fixing bacteria infecting the root hairs, forming an infection thread, moving into the roots, and forming a
swelling of the root cells (nodules). The legume and surrounding plants are provided with nitrogen produced in the nodule.
organic matter digestibility (OMD) - The percentage of the total feed that is organic matter (excluding ash, minerals, & inorganic
compounds) and is easily broken down and absorbed within the digestive tract.
palatability - The degree of acceptability of a feed to livestock.
Prairie Parkland (Aspen Parkland) - Region characterized by a mosaic of aspen groves and fescue grasslands. Locally, grasslands occupy the
drier upper and south-facing slopes, while aspen is found on the moist lower, mid- and north-facing slopes.
Pure Live Seed (PLS) - The percentage of viable seed within a seed lot; calculated by multiplying the % germination by the % purity of the
seed lot. Using a Pure Live Seed calculation allows for forages to be seeded at proper rates to obtain a productive stand.
purity – The percentage of the desired species in relation to the total quantity, including other species, weed seed, and foreign matter.
rangelands - A broad category of land comprising more than 40% of the earth’s land area, characterized by native grasses and forbs which are
often associated with grazing and are managed by ecological rather than agronomic methods. Rangelands are habitat for many species of
plants, mammals, birds, insects, and soil microbes.
reclamation - The process of returning land to its natural state or form; often involves seeding suitable native plant species.
residue - See carry over.
rest - Period of time during the growing season when plants are left ungrazed or unharvested.
rest-rotation grazing - A grazing management scheme in which rest periods for individual pastures, paddocks or grazing units, generally for
the full growing season, are incorporated into a grazing rotation.
rhizomes - An elongated, horizontal, underground plant stem. Rhizomes can give rise to shoots as they grow outwards away from the “mother
plant”.
riparian area - The “moist green zone” found between the dry upland and the water in water bodies (seasonal or permanent). This transition
zone is important habitat for many plant, mammal, bird, and insect species.
root-bound - Term used to describe forage plants that have produced large quantities of root matter, thereby tying up nutrients. Root bound
forages can be fertilized, broken, knifed, or coultered to disturb roots and stimulate new growth.
salinity - A soil with high enough concentrations of water soluble salts (sodium sulphate, magnesium sulphate, and calcium sulphate) to impair
productivity.
Source: Saskatchewan Forage Council, 2007.
Dryland Forage Species Adaptation CD.
scarification - The process of roughening a seed coat to encourage moisture uptake. Scarification increases the germination rate of plants with
naturally hard or impermeable seed coats.
soil zone- An area with similar general soil characteristics influenced by historical and current climatic conditions and above ground vegetation.
In Saskatchewan, the Brown, Dark Brown, and Black soils were formed under grasslands, while the Grey soil zone was formed under aspen
forest.
stocking density - The number of animals on a particular area of land at a particular point in time. For example, a pasture system of 160 acres
is divided into two paddocks for a total of four months of grazing. Currently, 30 cows are grazing one paddock. The stock density is 0.375
AUM/acre.
stocking rate - The number of animals on a unit area of land during a grazing period; usually expressed in animal unit months (AUM) per acre.
For example, a 160 acre pasture that supports 30 cows for a four-month grazing season has a stocking rate of 120 AUM per quarter section
(0.75 AUM/acre).
stockpiled forage - Forage that is left standing or in windrows for use outside of the growing season (fall and winter).
Tall Grass Prairie - Ecoregion characterized by high summer temperatures, moderate levels of precipitation and consistent distribution of
moisture throughout the growing season. Warm-season “C4” plants are co-dominant or dominant. True Tall Grass Prairie coincides with the
“Corn Belt” region of central North America.
total digestible nutrients (TDN) - A term used to describe the approximate available energy value/content of a feedstuff derived from
proteins, fats, carbohydrates, and fibre.
variety – See cultivar.
vegetative state - Plant growth stage prior to reproductive stem emergence or flowering.
vernalization - The process of subjecting a plant or seed to a cold treatment to induce germination or flowering.
warm-season “C4” plants - Plants that display their principle growth in summer when soil temperatures are high. C4 plants fix atmospheric
carbon into four carbon molecules which allows photosynthesis to continue at higher temperature, in contrast to C3 plants that fix carbon into
three carbon molecules. There are few warm-season rangeland plants found in Saskatchewan; examples are blue grama, little bluestem, and big
bluestem.
wolf plants - Grass plants (often wheatgrasses) that have old, coarse standing growth remaining after the growing season. Wolf plants can
reduce forage utilization by creating a physical barrier to grazing of new growth. Wolf plants can be eliminated through intensive grazing,
mowing, burning, or haying.
Source: Saskatchewan Forage Council, 2007.
Dryland Forage Species Adaptation CD.