Common forage crops used in livestock feeding are specific plant species cultivated for their high nutritional value and suitability for consumption by various farm animals.
These crops serve as essential food sources for livestock, providing them with essential nutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates, and vitamins. Some commonly used forage crops include alfalfa, clover, ryegrass, and oats, which are grown in agricultural fields or pastures.
These crops are carefully selected and cultivated to ensure a balanced diet for the animals, promoting their growth, health, and overall well-being.
The incorporation of these forage crops in livestock feeding practices is crucial for sustaining healthy animal populations and ensuring the efficiency and productivity of farming operations.
The most common forage crops used in livestock feeding include the followings:
Maize plant used in making silage.
Sugar Beet is used in making hay and silage.
Sorghum almum (Columbus Grass).
Lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet).
Andropogon gayanus (Northern Gamba Grass.
Andropogon tectorum (Southern Gamba Grass).
Hyparrhenia rufa (Shuchi Grass).
Pennisetum typhoides cv Maiwa.
Stylosanthes guianensis cv Schofield stylo.
Stylosanthes hamata cv Verano stylo.
Brachiaria decumbens (Signal Grass).
Digitaria smutsii (Woolly Finger Grass).
Giliricidia sepium (Almond Blossom).
Read Also: Definition and Classification of Pasture Plants
Pasture Weeds: When pastureland is left unattended in terms of management practices for years, there is a tendency for weeds to invade the pasture. These weeds could be controlled manually by removing them by hand or by cutting them with cutlasses.
The farmer may decide to use chemicals such as pre or post-emergence herbicides at the time of pasture establishment, mainly for broad-leaved weeds. Weeds reduce the quality of pasture especially when they invade large portions of land in the pasture.
They also compete vigorously with pasture plants for space, nutrients, light intensity, and moisture content. Examples of common pasture weeds include Amaranthus caudatus (waterleaf), Crinum ornatum (Lily), Solanum incanum (Graden egg), Cyperus rotundus; Kyllinga sp. (Nut Grass), Cucurbita maxima-C. pepo (Pumpkin) etc.
Pasture weeds are plant species that grow in grazing areas or pastures and are considered undesirable or harmful to the intended vegetation.
These weeds often compete with desired pasture plants for essential resources such as sunlight, water, and nutrients, potentially reducing the overall quality and quantity of the forage available for livestock.
Common pasture weeds can include thistles, dock, and ragwort, among others. Controlling pasture weeds is crucial for maintaining a healthy and productive grazing environment for animals, as well as ensuring the long-term sustainability of the pastureland.
Implementing effective weed management practices is essential to minimize the negative impact of these unwanted plant species and to promote the growth of beneficial forage crops for livestock feeding.
Pasture can be defined in different ways based on the context in which it is used. Pasture plants are classified according to their morphological structure or life cycle
There are many pasture plants depending on the locality where the pasture land is situated. However, many weeds tend to invade the pastures under poor management.
In conclusion, pasture and forage crops have unique characteristics that can easily be used to identify them in the field. These morphological differences have a direct effect on the forage yield and quality of the plants. Animals graze the leafy parts of the plants first before other parts are eaten.
This is because the leaves are more palatable and nutritious compared to the stems or branches. Studying the morphological parts of pasture and forage crops will enable us to know how to properly utilize our pasture and forage resources.
Grasses are morphologically divided into fibrous roots and shoots (leaves, stems, and flowers). Legumes are divided into roots, branches, leaves, and flowers
Shrubs are like forage legumes except that they have more woody stems, leaves, and flowers and their height is up to 4 meters.
Read Also: Recommended Pastures for your Livestock Grazing
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