Meadow bromegrass (<i>Bromus riparius</i> Rehm.) is a recently introduced pasture grass in western Canada. Its leafy production and rapid regrowth have made it the most widely used grass species for pasturing beef animals in this region. As relatively little breeding work has been done on this species, there is little information on its breeding behaviour. The main objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and assess breeding methodologies for meadow bromegrass. Forty-four meadow bromegrass genotypes from the three available cultivars and forty half-sib (polycross (PX) and open-pollinated (OP)) and selfed (S1) progenies were evaluated for morphological and agronomic characters, and molecular (RAPD) markers. Genetic variation for total biological yield, head weight, seed yield, harvest index, height, growth habit, spread, and volume was significant in the OP and S1 tests. Genetic variation estimates for dry matter yield were negative (PX), not significant (OP), or moderate (S1). Estimated geneticvariation for quality traits and those characters which were visually evaluated was not significant, except for growth habit (OP and S1) and acid-detergent fiber (ADF) (S1). Among progeny lines, RAPD marker variation found in the half-sib progenies accounted for about 15% of the total variation. In the S1 test the variation among progeny lines was twice that of the half-sib progenies. Correlations between the different characters demonstrated that is possible to simultaneously improve both seed and forage yield. Since leafiness was found to be correlated with dry matter yield but not with seed yield it may be possible to simultaneously improve all three characters. Rankings of progenies by the half-sib tests for forage and seed yield were not changed by the use of the synthetic parental value (SVi) which includes information from selfed progeny. The PX progeny test did not discriminate parents as well as the OP and S1 tests, which may be due to non-random pollination in the polycross. The S1 progeny test showed the highest predicted response to selection, followed by the OP test. Heritability estimates from the OP and S1 tests for total biological yield, seed yield, harvest index, and height, were similar to those found in the clonal evaluation test. Therefore, a clonal evaluation test will provide sufficient information to choose parents for breeding an improved synthetic cultivar for these characters. Observed dissimilarity of ranking of progeny lines over progeny tests for some traits (head weight, seed yield, and harvest index) was due to discrepancies between the PX and OP tests. No differences in progeny line ranking among the progeny tests were observed for all other traits. Analysis of variance on marker frequency means showed that interaction between genotypes and progeny lines was also not significant.

A series of experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 to evaluate five perennial grass species for forage yield and quality, steer performance and grazing capacity, animal intake, plant energy reserves and economic return under grazed conditions. In 1999, two 0.8 ha replicates each of Paddock meadow bromegrass (<i>Bromus riparius</i>Rehm.), Carlton smooth bromegrass (<i>Bromus inermis</i>Leyss.) and AC Knowles hybrid bromegrass (<i>B. riparius</i> x <i>B. inermis</i>) were seeded. In 2003, two 0.8 ha replicates each of AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (<i>Agropyron cristatum </i> (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass, and Courtenay tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea </i> Schreb.) were seeded. A long established stand of crested wheatgrass acted as the control pasture. For 2003 established pastures, AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (7515 kg ha-1) had greater (P<0.05) cumulative dry matter yield than hybrid bromegrass (3136 kg ha-1) during the 2005 grazing season. Average (2005-2006) crude protein (CP) was greatest (P<0.05) for hybrid and smooth bromegrass for 1999 established pastures at start and middle of period one. Control pastures had the greatest (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber (NDF) mid-grazing period. Over 2 years, smooth bromegrass had greater acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<0.05) than control pastures at the end of the grazing period one. Average (2005-2006) in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greatest for hybrid and meadow bromegrass (P<0.05) at the start of grazing period one. Control pastures (129 g kg-1) had lower CP levels at the start of the 2005-2006 (average) grazing period 1 (P<0.05) compared to species seeded in 2003. Control and hybrid bromegrass pastures had the greatest NDF and ADF levels at the start of grazing period 1 (2005-2006 average) while tall fescue pastures had the lowest (P<0.05) NDF and ADF levels. Over 2 years, control pastures had the lowest IVOMD at start of grazing (P<0.05). In 2006, hybrid and smooth bromegrass had greater etiolated re-growth than control pastures (P<0.05). In 2006, grazed plants seeded in 1999 had greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than ungrazed plants. For 2003 seeded grasses, crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than tall fescue and control pastures. Average daily gain was similar (P>0.05) for all 1999 and 2003 seeded grasses. Overall, bromegrasses seeded in 1999 produced greater animal grazing days (AGD) than control pastures (P<0.05). Total beef production (TBP) was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid and meadow bromegrass compared to the control. All species seeded in 2003 produced greater AGD (P<0.05) compared to the control. Crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) TBP than the control over both years of the study. The C33:C32 alkane ratio estimated greater DMI (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass (9.9 kg d-1) and control pastures (9.6 kg d-1) compared to crested wheatgrass (6.8 kg d-1) or tall fescue (6.8 kg d-1) during period 1 in 2006. Over 2 years, net return to labor, equity and personal draw was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass ($91.24 ha-1) compared to the control (-$54.32 ha-1). For 2003 seeded pastures, all pastures generated positive returns over 2 years. Crested wheatgrass ($92.49 ha-1) had greater net return than control pastures (-$54.32 ha-1) (P<0.05). Finally, the results of this grazing study indicate beef producers can manage these grasses during the summer grazing season and maintain high levels of animal performance and pasture production. This study has demonstrated that bromegrasses, crested wheatgrass and tall fescue could work well in a complementary grazing system.

A series of experiments were conducted during 2005 and 2006 to evaluate five perennial grass species for forage yield and quality, steer performance and grazing capacity, animal intake, plant energy reserves and economic return under grazed conditions. In 1999, two 0.8 ha replicates each of Paddock meadow bromegrass (<i>Bromus riparius</i>Rehm.), Carlton smooth bromegrass (<i>Bromus inermis</i>Leyss.) and AC Knowles hybrid bromegrass (<i>B. riparius</i> x <i>B. inermis</i>) were seeded. In 2003, two 0.8 ha replicates each of AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (<i>Agropyron cristatum </i> (L.) Gaertn.), hybrid bromegrass, and Courtenay tall fescue (<i>Festuca arundinacea </i> Schreb.) were seeded. A long established stand of crested wheatgrass acted as the control pasture. For 2003 established pastures, AC Goliath crested wheatgrass (7515 kg ha-1) had greater (P<0.05) cumulative dry matter yield than hybrid bromegrass (3136 kg ha-1) during the 2005 grazing season. Average (2005-2006) crude protein (CP) was greatest (P<0.05) for hybrid and smooth bromegrass for 1999 established pastures at start and middle of period one. Control pastures had the greatest (P<0.05) neutral detergent fiber (NDF) mid-grazing period. Over 2 years, smooth bromegrass had greater acid detergent fiber (ADF) (P<0.05) than control pastures at the end of the grazing period one. Average (2005-2006) in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) was greatest for hybrid and meadow bromegrass (P<0.05) at the start of grazing period one. Control pastures (129 g kg-1) had lower CP levels at the start of the 2005-2006 (average) grazing period 1 (P<0.05) compared to species seeded in 2003. Control and hybrid bromegrass pastures had the greatest NDF and ADF levels at the start of grazing period 1 (2005-2006 average) while tall fescue pastures had the lowest (P<0.05) NDF and ADF levels. Over 2 years, control pastures had the lowest IVOMD at start of grazing (P<0.05). In 2006, hybrid and smooth bromegrass had greater etiolated re-growth than control pastures (P<0.05). In 2006, grazed plants seeded in 1999 had greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than ungrazed plants. For 2003 seeded grasses, crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) etiolated re-growth than tall fescue and control pastures. Average daily gain was similar (P>0.05) for all 1999 and 2003 seeded grasses. Overall, bromegrasses seeded in 1999 produced greater animal grazing days (AGD) than control pastures (P<0.05). Total beef production (TBP) was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid and meadow bromegrass compared to the control. All species seeded in 2003 produced greater AGD (P<0.05) compared to the control. Crested wheatgrass produced greater (P<0.05) TBP than the control over both years of the study. The C33:C32 alkane ratio estimated greater DMI (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass (9.9 kg d-1) and control pastures (9.6 kg d-1) compared to crested wheatgrass (6.8 kg d-1) or tall fescue (6.8 kg d-1) during period 1 in 2006. Over 2 years, net return to labor, equity and personal draw was greater (P<0.05) for hybrid bromegrass ($91.24 ha-1) compared to the control (-$54.32 ha-1). For 2003 seeded pastures, all pastures generated positive returns over 2 years. Crested wheatgrass ($92.49 ha-1) had greater net return than control pastures (-$54.32 ha-1) (P<0.05). Finally, the results of this grazing study indicate beef producers can manage these grasses during the summer grazing season and maintain high levels of animal performance and pasture production. This study has demonstrated that bromegrasses, crested wheatgrass and tall fescue could work well in a complementary grazing system.