In determining the right kind of green fodder for cows, it’s of great importance that you start by growing it yourself. This way, you can save more on expenses and costs while at the same time you can give the animals the best kind of feed whose quality is excellent. There are several groups of cow fodder that are commonly used today: cereal, grass, legume, and tree.
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Green Fodder for Cows: Cereal
Cereal fodder can be divided into several more subgroups.
Co-4 Grass
Co-4 grass is grown as a cross between Bajra and Napier cereals. The variety is high-yield, with at least 150 tons per acre per year. This variety possesses a protein content of 8 to 11 percent.
Maize Fodder
It is grown on different varieties of soil types, provided it is fertile and well-drained. Maize is typically grown within the June-July period.
Sorghum
Sorghum is one of the best crops made into fodder for dairy cows. The plant is harvested both as green fodder for cows and its grains. It is also tolerant of drought.
Sorghum can be planted all year round with several different varieties to choose from. Maize is suitable to plant under a temperature range of 25 to 35 degrees Celsius. Around 40 kg of seeds is required to grow sorghum per hectare. Sorghum can be harvested after flowering to turn it into fodder.
Green Fodder for Cows: Grass
Grass fodder options consist of:
Blue Buffalo Grass
This grass can adapt to dry areas with little precipitation. Important varieties include C. ciliaris and C. setigerous. The good kind of soil suitable for growing this type of grass is that whose calcium levels are high and well-drained.
To grow blue buffalo grass as green fodder for cows, 1-hectare land should be planted with 6-8 kg seeds. Harvesting of this grass may be conducted after 70-75 days after the seeds are planted.
Guinea Grass
This grass grows on a short creeping rhizome. It can be propagated easily by slips or by seeds. This plant has high levels of crude protein at 4-14 percent.
Hybrid Napier
This hybrid grass has more leaves and is perfect for dairy cows. It has a crude protein content ranging from 8 to 11 percent. It can be propagated by slips.
Para Grass
This grass is suitable for growing in areas that are flooded whose condition is humid. While it’s not resistant to winter, it is suitable for growing in either arid or semi-arid areas. For harvesting green fodder for cows from para grass, you will need at least 800 kg of stems per hectare.
Green Fodder for Cows: Legumes
Legumes are great green fodder for cows. Its varieties include:
Cowpea
This plant is native to both tropical and subtropical as well as warm temperate areas. Cowpea has an average crude protein content of 20 percent.
Desmanthus
It can be grown all year round. It takes at least around 20 kg of Desmanthus seeds in a hectare of land.
Lucerne
Also known as alfalfa, lucerne is high in crude protein, at 15-20 percent. Growing alfalfa can significantly improve soil fertility.
Stylo
This Brazilian native plant can grow up to 0.6 to 1.8 meters high. Stylo has a crude protein level range of 15-18 percent.
Green Fodder for Cows: Tree
Tree fodder includes varieties such as:
Gliricidia
This variety can be planted on several different soil types such as clay, rocky, and sandy. The tree is mostly ornamental or shades in its use.
Sesbania
Sesbania trees have a protein content of 25 percent with a production of 100 tons per year.
Subabul
This green fodder for cows is harvested 40-80 days after harvesting. Subabul trees yield 80 to 100 tons per year.
The Best Wrapper for the Best Green Fodder for Cows
To make the best green fodder for cows, you can consider any one of the aforementioned varieties to grow. Harvest the plants and wrap them in our sealing products. You can count Silopak for our lines of products that are of the highest quality and dependable durability. We deal with worldwide shipping, so you don’t have to worry about living too far away from us. Contact us for a quote on our products or to ask any questions you have on your mind at the moment.