Your own forage base is the most reliable way to lower the production cost of meat, milk and wool. Even if you buy part of your feed, understanding the crops helps you choose good-quality hay and grain.
Main crops
| Crop | Where it grows best | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Alfalfa | Under irrigation and in zones with sufficient moisture; a perennial crop | Hay, haylage, green fodder; rich in protein. Under irrigation in the south it gives several cuts per season. |
| Sainfoin | Drought-resistant, suitable for rain-fed land | Hay and pasture; readily eaten, a honey plant. |
| Maize | Warmth and irrigation or sufficient moisture | Silage (harvested at the milk-wax stage) and grain. |
| Sudan grass | Hot, dry areas | Green fodder and hay; regrows after cutting. |
| Barley | Widely across the country | Feed grain, straw. |
When to cut
- Alfalfa — at early bud stage or early flowering. Later the stems become coarse and nutritional value drops.
- Sainfoin — at early flowering.
- Grasses — at the heading stage.
Hay, haylage, silage
- Hay is dried grass. Dry it quickly and do not over-dry it in the sun: the leaves fall off, and they hold most of the nutritional value. Store under a shed.
- Haylage is wilted grass preserved without air (in a trench or in plastic-wrapped bales). It depends less on the weather at harvest.
- Silage is chopped green mass (most often maize) fermented without access to air. The key is good compaction and covering.
Feed quality
Mouldy, dusty or rotting hay and spoiled silage are dangerous for animals, especially rabbits and young stock. Good feed has a pleasant smell and a green colour and is not dusty.
