Feed is the foundation of livestock production, supplying both energy and the nutrients animals need to grow, reproduce, and stay healthy. For ruminants such as cattle, buffalo, and sheep, green fodder is the core of the diet, and it comes in far more variety than many farmers make use of. This guide covers the main types of green fodder, the species worth knowing, and where each fits.
The Three Types of Green Fodder
Green fodder for livestock falls into three broad groups:
- Fodder legumes, the highest-protein group.
- Fodder grasses, the bulk of most rations.
- Other forages, including crop residues and miscellaneous plants.
Most good feeding systems combine them, using legumes for protein, grasses for bulk and fiber, and other forages to fill gaps or use what is available. The sections below look at each.
Fodder Legumes
Legume fodder is the premium group, higher in protein and minerals than grasses, which is why it is often described as superior forage. That protein and mineral content also makes legumes palatable and, generally, well accepted by livestock.
Common fodder legumes include Centro, Turi (Sesbania), peanut and cowpea leaves, and various forage beans. A note on nutritional figures: the values below reflect the plant at a good stage of growth, and actual content varies with maturity and conditions.
Centro (Centrosema)
Centro originates from Central America and Mexico. It is a valuable protein legume, with crude protein around 24% and crude fiber that can reach about 32% depending on maturity. It is a climbing or trailing legume often used in mixed pasture and cut-and-carry systems.
Turi (Sesbania grandiflora)
Turi is native to tropical Asia and widely grown in Indonesia, India, Malaysia, and the Philippines. It is high in protein, in the region of 25 to 30%, which makes it a strong protein supplement. It does contain tannins, however, so it is best fed as part of a mixed ration rather than as a sole feed, since high tannin intake can reduce protein availability and palatability.
Fodder Grasses
Fodder grasses are divided into wild grasses and cultivated grasses. Cultivated grasses are the more productive and reliable choice for a working farm, though wild grasses are used where they grow naturally.
Grasses are a good source of fiber, typically carrying crude fiber from around 18% upward, which is essential for healthy rumen function. Their protein content is more modest than legumes, generally in the range of 8 to 14% depending on species and maturity, and it falls as the plant matures. Grasses are a bulk and fiber source; for protein, they are best paired with legumes.
Wild fodder grasses include reeds, sedge grass, and needlegrass. Cultivated fodder grasses include elephant grass, Guinea grass, and Setaria, among others.
Elephant Grass (Pennisetum purpureum)
Elephant grass is one of the most productive tropical fodder grasses in the world, which is why it is so widely grown. It grows in an upright clump, tolerates a wide altitude range, and thrives in fertile soil with adequate rainfall, though it will not tolerate waterlogging. It is commonly found along riverbanks and is a mainstay of cut-and-carry feeding across the tropics. Cut young, before it becomes stemmy, it provides good feed value; left too long, its fiber rises and quality falls.
Guinea Grass (Panicum maximum)
Guinea grass, sometimes called Bengal or buffalo grass regionally, originates from Africa and is a widely used perennial fodder. It grows in erect clumps and superficially resembles elephant grass. It adapts to a range of conditions and altitudes and is valued for reliable production, making it a common choice for meeting daily feed needs.
Setaria Grass
Setaria also originates from Africa and grows well across a range of soils and altitudes, though it benefits from soil preparation such as loosening and fertilizing before establishment. It carries crude protein around 8% and crude fiber up to about 32%. Its practical strengths are resilience: it tolerates waterlogging, dry seasons, and a range of diseases, which makes it a dependable option in variable conditions.
“The farms that feed well are usually the ones that mix their fodder rather than relying on a single grass. A high-protein legume like Turi or Centro alongside a productive grass like elephant grass gives you protein and bulk together. We see this especially in tropical systems, where the range of available fodder species is huge but often underused. The species are there; the opportunity is in combining them well.”
— Sue Su, Marketing Director of Silopak
Other Forages
Beyond legumes and grasses, a range of other plants and residues serve as fodder: straw, sweet potato vines, hibiscus leaves and flowers, and various crop by-products. These are generally lower in feed value than dedicated legumes and grasses, which is why they are used less as a primary feed and more to supplement, extend supply, or make use of what would otherwise be waste.
Crop residues in particular, like straw and stover, are abundant and cheap but low in protein and digestibility, so they need supplementation to be useful. Used sensibly alongside better forages, they stretch feed resources without carrying the whole ration.
Choosing and Combining Fodder
No single fodder type does everything. Legumes bring protein and minerals but can be harder to establish and, as silage, harder to ferment. Grasses bring bulk, fiber, and reliable production but less protein. Other forages fill gaps economically. The strongest feeding systems combine all three according to what the animals need and what the land grows well.
| Fodder Type | Main Contribution | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Legumes | Protein and minerals | Centro, Turi, cowpea, forage beans |
| Grasses | Fiber and bulk | Elephant grass, Guinea grass, Setaria |
| Other forages | Supplementary feed, use of residues | Straw, sweet potato vines, crop by-products |
Preserving Green Fodder
Whichever fodder you grow, it grows seasonally while animals need feeding year-round. Preserving the surplus as silage or hay bridges that gap. Legumes and grasses can both be ensiled, though legumes need extra care to ferment well, and preservation depends on a reliable airtight seal for silage.
Silopak manufactures silage film and bale net wrap that keep preserved fodder sound through storage. To be clear about what we make: Silopak produces the wrapping materials, silage film, net wrap, and round bale film, not the feed itself. Those products are what protect the fodder you grow so its nutritional value survives to the point of feeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the main types of green fodder for livestock?
Green fodder falls into three groups: legumes, grasses, and other forages. Legumes such as Centro and Turi are highest in protein and minerals. Grasses such as elephant grass, Guinea grass, and Setaria provide fiber and bulk with more modest protein. Other forages, including crop residues like straw and plants like sweet potato vines, are lower in feed value and used mainly to supplement or extend feed supply. Good feeding systems combine all three according to the animals’ needs.
Q: Which green fodder has the most protein?
Legumes are the highest-protein fodder group. Among the examples here, Turi (Sesbania) carries around 25 to 30% crude protein and Centro around 24%, well above typical grasses, which generally range from 8 to 14% depending on species and maturity. This is why legumes are used as the protein component of a ration, paired with grasses that supply fiber and bulk. Note that Turi contains tannins, so it is best fed within a mixed ration rather than alone.
Q: Is elephant grass good fodder?
Yes. Elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) is one of the most productive tropical fodder grasses and a mainstay of cut-and-carry feeding across the tropics. It yields heavily, grows across a wide altitude range, and thrives in fertile soil with adequate rainfall, though it will not tolerate waterlogging. The key to quality is cutting it young, before it becomes stemmy, since fiber rises and feed value falls as it matures. It provides good bulk and fiber but should be paired with a legume for protein.
Q: Can green fodder be preserved for the dry season?
Yes, through silage or hay. Preserving surplus fodder from the growing season carries feed through dry periods when fresh forage is scarce. Both grasses and legumes can be ensiled, although legumes require extra care because their low sugar and high protein make them harder to ferment. Successful preservation depends on excluding oxygen, which for baled or bunker silage means a reliable airtight film seal maintained throughout storage.
Reviewed by Sue Su, Marketing Director of Silopak, on 15 September 2026. This guide has been revised to correct fodder nutritional figures and to clarify that Silopak manufactures wrapping materials rather than feed.
