We are all familiar with several types of crops grown by farmers, such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. But you may not know about forage crops. Are you curious? Let’s check some interesting information below.
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What Are Forage Crops?
These plants are cultivated to obtain their vegetative parts and are usually used in fresh or preserved form for animal feed, especially livestock. In general, they are divided into two varieties include
1. Grass Forages
Forage grasses are known to have more structural material in their leaves than legumes. In addition, the fiber in forage is easier for cattle to digest. Common types of forage grasses commonly cultivated include tall fescue, orchardgrass, timothy, ryegrass, and bermudagrass.
2. Legume Forages
Legume forages are known to have a higher protein content than grass forages. Therefore, farmers usually use this type of forage as the best dietary supplement for livestock. Some of the commonly cultivated forage legumes include alfalfa, red clover, white clover, and alsike clover.
Forage Crops Benefits
Apart from being used as livestock feed, forage crops benefits generally include
- The grass root system can improve the organic matter content of the soil.
- Very rich in fiber, vitamins, and protein which can increase the metabolic activity of livestock.
- Very rich in minerals that can help bone growth, eggshell formation, and fluid balance, and hormone production in poultry.
- Can reduce weed growth.
- Can reduce soil erosion.
- Can increase the seasonal distribution of forage production throughout the year to complement the summer perennial grass.
Cultivation Tips
Are you interested in cultivating forage crops? If so, for successful cultivation, it is recommended to do the following tips.
Choice of Seeding Site
In determining the foraging site, please note that it should be adjusted to the purpose of the forage being planted.
If it is designated as forage straw and silage, you should pay attention to the proximity of the forage site location to the storage area. Suppose it costs a lot because the location is too far away, it takes a long time to transport the harvest to the storage area; you should choose a closer site location.
And if it is designated as a pasture that supports livestock, you must ensure that the site has easy access to a water source. If you plan to use an electric fence on a foraging site, you must ensure that the site is located close to electrical outlets. If the distance is too far, you inevitably have to use solar-powered batteries.
Soil
Each forage can thrive in certain types of soil. However, in general, seeding should be done firmly on the weed-free ground. If the soil has been amended with limestone or fertilizer, you may need more aggressive tilling.
Forage Choice
The choice of forage you will plant depends on the species and class of animals that will consume it. So, you should first consult with a forage-trained specialist or livestock nutritionist to find out which forage plants are suitable.
Seeding
Since forage consists of many different plants, you should consult a forage-trained specialist regarding forage seeding to find out what type of equipment, planting date, seed depth, herbicide application, and seeding level is suitable.
Weed Control
Some effective ways commonly used to reduce weed competition are using herbicides labeled according to the forage planted, clipping, or including companion plants at the time of forage seeding. The best companion crop you can choose is spring wheat, as it helps protect against weeds and can be harvested as forage before further grain filling occurs.
Time of Use
Please note, especially for pasture, livestock should not be released into the field too quickly. You must first make sure the forage is well-rooted, and the soil is firm enough to support the livestock.
For those of you who are currently cultivating forage crops for silage, you certainly know that the silage fermentation process requires films that have good resistance to weathering, right? If the quality of the films is poor, the fermentation process can be hampered, and the quality of the nutritional content can decrease.
To get high-quality silage films, of course, you have to buy them from a trusted manufacturer, for example, Silopak. More than ten years of experience as the world’s leading silage film and bale net wrap manufacturer. All the products offered are undoubtedly of high quality. For more detailed information about products and how to order, you can access the official website at www.silopak.com.