Summer Fodders: Warm Season Grasses and Nutritive Value PDF

Summer Fodders: Warm Season Grasses and their Nutritive Value 1 Summer Forages Maize Sorghum Soghum Sudan Millet 2 1 3 4 2 5 6 3  Maize Origin: Southern Mex...

Summer Fodders: Warm Season Grasses and their Nutritive Value 1 Summer Forages Maize Sorghum Soghum Sudan Millet 2 1 3 4 2 5 6 3  Maize Origin: Southern Mexico Description: Annual Erect, Thick stemmed, leafy, 8-10 feet tall, High carbohydrate contents, High forage digestibility Dual purpose The most important fodder of summer season Crop ready within 50-60 days of sowing Adaptation Adapted to soils with good water holding capacity/irrigation Major Use: Fresh forage, Silage, grain 7 Establishment: Can be cultivated in 3 seasons Feb - Sept Feb-March , July-Aug ,Aug- November In rotation can be grown with rice & potatoes Seed rate 10-15 kg/acre for hybrid, drill sowing 40 -50 kg for tradition sowing Crop production=20-25 tons/acre as fodder Less yield in arid Hybrid verities 8 4  Fertilization: Responsive to N2, P, and K Need lime application on acidic soils Types Baharia makaii (Feb, March) Summer crop (July, Aug) Autumn crop (Aug-Nov) Pakistan environment is good for Maize Production 9 Corn Forage Composition on DM basis Name DM CP EE CF NFE Ca P Mg Maize(early/full bloom) 16.07 13.4 1.9 36.8 40.8.44.28 1.5 Maize (milkstage) 20.4 9.4 2.3 32.1 49.6.41.49.91 Maize (latecut) 29.3 7.7 2.1 30.53 52.06.25.24.24 10 5  Contd… Excellent for dairy and fattening animals Starch contents of grains= 65% TDN value = 85-90 % Protein in maize: – Zein and Gluten 11 Contd… Low in Ca++ Improved varieties Opaque 2 – High lysine contents Floury 2, – High in lysine and methionine 12 6 13 Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) Origin: Northern Africa Description; Major summer fodder Coarse stemmed, erect annual, 4-15 ft tall Grain type short with large seed heads Forage types tall with small seed heads Primary adaptability; Resistant to hot & dry weather Grows well in arid + irrigated zone Heavy rainfall and Hilly areas not suitable Not tolerant to acid soils 14 7 15 16 8 17 18 9  Contd…… Establishment: Seed rate for fodder – 30-35kg/acre Grain type – 8 kg/ acre Growing time as fodder – March-Aug Growing time grain type – Mid July – Mid Aug Sowing methods – Line + broad casting Distance between line should be less than 30 cm for more production. Should be irrigated 3 weeks after sowing Fertilization: Moderate fertilization required 19 Sorghum Continued….. Major uses: Nutritive quality 85 to 90% corn Suitable for all kinds of animals. Some varieties give 2 cuttings – Production lower by 30-40% in 2nd cuttings. Nitrate accumulation and prussic acid poisoning in some cases Management: Harvesting time when cobs appear & crop give milky appearance. Av. Yield = 20-25 tons/acre 20 10  Sorghum Forage Composition on DM basis Name DM ME, M.Cal/Kg CP NDF ADF EE As Ca P h Sorghum 28% 2.1 to 2.2 8.2% 57% 35% 3.5 9% 4% 2.1% 21 22 11 23 Sadabahaar (Sudex) Origin: Northeast Africa Description: Cross b/w sorghum and Sudan grass, Major summer fodder, Coarse stemmed, erect annual, 8 ft tall, leafy, seed heads a panicle Multi-cut fodder-- 3 to 4 cuts Primary Adaptation: Drought tolerant Not tolerant to acidic soils Requires more irrigated water 24 12  Major use: Pasture, hay, and silage High nutritive value if harvested at immature stage Difficult to make hay ? Nitric acid and prussic acid toxicity Excellent fodder during the period of shortage of fodder in summer (May and June) Establishment: Time of cultivation = Feb-July Varieties – Pak-Sudex – SSG 988 – Local 25 Contd… Seed rate – 10-12 kg / acre Grown in lines: Distance between lines should be 50-70 cm. Better to cultivate between 15 march-30 April. In 3 cuttings: crop production = 60-70 tons/ acre. Fertilization: very responsive to N2, lime treatment on acidic soils Less cuttings due to attack of shoot fly. 26 13  Management Requires high stocking rate, preferably grazed rotationally to utilize rapid growth and maintain high nutritive value. Horses should not be allowed to graze, equine cystitis Thin stemmed varieties recover more rapidly after cutting Hay and silage should be cut at 30-40 inches height 27 28 14  Sada Bahar Forage Composition on DM basis Name DM ME, Mcal/kg CP NDF ADF EE Ash Ca P Sorghum x 20% 2.2 11% 66 36% 2.7 9.7% 4.6% 1.5% Sudan grass % 29 Fox-Tail Millet Origin: Southern Asia Description: annual, summer fodder, 3-4 feet tall, leafy, fine stemmed, seed heads cylindrical bristled pinnacle Primary Adaptation: Irrigated, Barani. Well drained soil, fairly drought tolerant, Important in arid zone, Can be grown in every soil except Saline soil Major uses: fresh forage, hay, In dry stages, the stalk is consumed as fodder for animals 30 15  Seasonal Production: most varieties can be harvested in 60-70 days Less productive than pearl millet, sorghum and Sada Bahar, One cutting only Establishment: drilling 6.5 to 9 kg/acre Fertilization: Responsive to N2 Management: should be cut for hay near seed head emergence Not recommended for horses hay: toxins can cause kidney and joint problems 31 Pearl Millet Origin: North central africa Description: annual, summer fodder, 3-8 feet tall. Leafy, very wide leaves serrated at margins, seed head a large cylindrical spike Primary Adaptation: sandy soils, not adapted to calcareous soil, well drained soil Fairly drought and acidity tolerant Major uses: Suitable for lactating and drought animals. Fresh forage, pasture and silage, High nutritive value if harvested at immature stage. Nitrogen accumulation 32 16 33 34 17 35 36 18  Seasonal Production: most varieties can be harvested in 60- 70 days Less sorghum and Sada Bahar, One cutting only Establishment: Sowing method =Seed broad caste+ line Line spacing=1ft Drilling 6 kg/acre in irrigated and 4 kg in un irrigated kg/acre, 11 to 14 kg broad casting Fertilization: Responsive to N2, more tolerant to soil acidity than sorghum Management: Best time of cultivation = April- Aug Require high stock rate, preferably with rotational stocking. For hay cut at 30-40 inch height 37 Varieties use in PK: Giant Composit- 79 Multi cut 18-BY MB-87 MB-95 38 19  Pearl Millet Forage Composition on DM basis Name DM ME, Mcal/kg CP NDF ADF EE Ash Ca P Sorghum x 20- 2.2 12.4% 65% 34.5% 2.0% 12% 5.5% 2.6% Sudan grass 25% 39 20