Which grass is used as fodder for cattle?

There are various fodder varieties like Bajra Napier (Co-4), Guinea grass (Anjan grass), Fodder sorghum (CoFS-27), Multi cut fodder Sorghum (CoFS-29), African tall maize, Legumes (Lucerne, Desmanthus, Stylo, Cowpea) and tree fodder varieties (Sesbania, Subabul, Glyricidia).

How do you grow Brachiaria grass?

Drill the seeds and cover with light soil. You can also sow the seed in a nursery bed and transplant the seedlings after six weeks. Ensure you mulch the nursery bed with dry grass. Root splits are planted at the beginning of rains or irrigated for better results, space each split 50 cm apart and 25 cm within rows.

Is Lucerne a fodder crop?

Lucerne, also known as alfalfa, is the single most important fodder crop that a dairy farmer should always have in the farm. The term Alfalfa is an Arabic word meaning “best fodder” because of its palatability and high feeding value. Lucerne can grow in many areas across the country.

What animals eat signal grass?

Signal grass (Brachiara decumbens) is widely used as a forage in tropical regions.

• Palatability. Signal grass is palatable during the vegetative growth stage, but coarse and stemmy growth is not well accepted by livestock (Loch, 1977).
• Nutritive value.
• Dairy cows.
• Beef cattle.
• Beef cows.
• Sheep.

How is brachiaria grass harvested in Kenya?

Harvest the grass 4-5 months after planting. Cut the grass 5cm above the ground. Re-harvest the pasture grass in 8-12 weeks depending on soil moisture status and soil fertility. The grass can remain productive for 20 years under better pasture stand management.

Why lucerne is queen of fodder?

LUCERNE/RIZKA (Medicago sativa) Lucerne is also known as “Queen of forage crops”. It is generally grown during rabi season as an important fodder crop, in areas where water supply is inadequate for Berseem. Its deeper root system makes it very well adaptable to dry areas with irrigation facility.

Which crop is called as king of cereal crops?

Wheat
Explanation: Wheat is known as the King of cereals.

When did the new fodder grass come out in Kenya?

Read the whole article by Mwangi Ndirangu in Smart Farmer Kenya: New fodder grass stirring excitement in farmers, Mar 2016. Loading… One blogger likes this.

Why are legumes used as pasture in Kenya?

It has hairs on its surface and usually clings over grasses by means of fine hooks on the stems. The legume is very nutritious with high protein content and very palatable. It is resistant to grazing but special management to regenerate is needed before animals are brought back after grazing. If this is not done the crop can easily disappear.

Where can I find Brachiaria grass in Kenya?

‘For the last two years, the Kenya Ag­ricultural and Livestock Research Organisation ( KALRO) has been evaluating four varieties of improved Brachiaria grass on fields in north-western Kenya, lower eastern, coastal lowlands and central high­ lands,” explains Dr Donald Njarui, the Sci­entist at KALRO, who leads the research programme in Kenya.

What kind of legumes can be used as fodder?

This is a creeping and twinning perennial legume which climbs on anything nearby. It is mostly found in highlands and mixes well with most tall grasses. It smothers dwarf grasses. The palatability is moderate but protein content is high. It can withstand heavy grazing and not easily shaded out.