Looking for information on Gordo grass. I believe that's the correct spelling. I recently aquired 25 acres planted in Gordo grass. The farmer that leased the place cut and bailed it for cattle and I'm trying to find out if it's decent forage for horses, goats, etc. Any info greatly appreciated.
Bill Payne

From Dr. Larry Redmon, State Forage Specialist: Not much information on Gordo. It is one of the Old World bluestems that is well-adapted to heavy clay soils that may be subject to flooding.

As with any of the warm-season perennial grasses, appropriate fertilizer and harvest at the right stage of maturity can yield an excellent forage for any class of livestock.

Gordo bluestem is an excellent grass for horses, if cut before it matures to much. I planted 40 acres in '88, had one heck of a time planting it,for I didn't have right equipment. I didn't know the seed was so light and had hairs, and tried to broadcast it in a 3 point hitch seed.....Big mistake..finally I had to ride between seeder and tractor and just threw it out my hand..figured I wasn't going to be successful in getting anything to grow. But,as it turned out got a beautiful stand. I fertilized after it had germinated and let it grow.I wanted it produce seed and thicken the stand, so I didn't cut it until late fall. By that time, it had grown taller than a chevy truck and was so thick you could bearly drive thru it. We had a big wind and rain about 2 weeks before trying to cut. It had got blow down and was hard to cut, finally gave up and turned cattle in on it. Cattle wintered in and out the pasture,until spring, and by spring had eaten most of the blow down growth.I ran A light disk over the pasture the first week of April, and waited. Come July, it took off and grew, made hay until 1st frost; several cuts. I would cut right when most of the field looked to be still in boot..It made beautiful hay. Cattle and horses loved it.You got to cut it before it gets too stemy..makes beautiful hay ..smells great. We rolled all ours, but squares would be the way to go for horses, although our horses ate rolls and got fat