Feeding Out Multiple Forages

Fodder crops vary greatly in nutritional value as shown in the table below:

	Fresh Yield (t/ha)	Dry Matter (%)	Crude Protein (%)	D Value	Metabolise Energy (MJ/kg DM)
Fodder beet roots	65 - 80	10 - 20	6	80	13.2
Fodder beet tops	10 - 20	10 - 13	15 - 20	65	10.4
Swedes	70 - 90	9 - 13	10 - 12	80 - 82	14
Kale	60 - 75	14 - 16	18 - 20	66 - 68	11
Forage rape	20 - 30	12 - 14	18 - 20	66 - 68	11
Hybrid brassicas	25 - 35	12 - 16	18 - 22	66 - 70	11

They also host different benefits e.g. fodder beet achieves a high yield, kale is cold tolerant meaning it is winter hardy and hybrid brassicas can offer summer, autumn and winter grazing.  Growing different forages across a field and grazing down through the mix, allows the benefits to be maximised of each individual crop, while also balancing the nutrition of the animal.  For example, in a normal winter the high protein fodder beet leaves often die back leaving the roots for grazing which are low in protein. Kale is winter hardy and high in protein, grazing both crops simultaneously would allow for an excellent source of both protein and energy for growing animals.

This method can also be integrated using EFA land such as EFA green cover, where a temporary crop should be established in the autumn, made up of two crops e.g. alfalfa, barley, red clover, white clover, mustard, oats, phacelia, radish, rye, triticale or vetch.

Kirsten Williams, kirsten.williams@sac.co.uk