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Identify the categories of forage crops
Enumerate the different forage grasses and
forage legumes
Determine the advantages and
disadvantages on each forage crops
Determine what is silage and the materials
and preparations needed
OBJECTIVES :
01
02
03
04
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INTRODUCTION
● Forage crops plays a vital role in supporting the livestock
industry, ensuring the availability of nutritious feed,
improving animal health and promoting sustainable
agricultural practices.
● Farmers are encouraged to adopt integrated forage
management systems , combining pasture grazing with
cut-and-carry systems, silage production and fodder
conservation methods.
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WHAT IS FORAGE CROPS?
- forage crops specifically refers to plant
material, such as grass, hay, or silage, that
is used as feed for livestock animals.
-forage is commonly consumed by ruminant
animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats,
which have specialized digestive systems
capable of efficiently processing plant-
based feeds.
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Forage quality
- It refers to the nutritional value and
composition of the forage, including its
protein content, energy density, fiber
content, and mineral composition.
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FORAGE GRASSES
● Also known as fodder grasses or pasture
grasses.
● a group of grass species cultivated
specifically for their use as livestock feed.
● this grasses are highly valued for their
ability to provide nutririous and palatable
forage for grazing animals.
● this are typically fast growing , have high
biomass production, and offer a range of
nutrtional benefits for livestock.
● its common physical characteristics are ;
leaf blade , stems, and inflorescence.
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COMMON
FORAGE
GRASSES IN
THE
PHILIPPINES
Napier Grass
( Pennisetum purpureum )
Guinea Grass
( Panicum maximum )
Signal Grass
( Brachiaria decumbens )
Para Grass
( Urochloa mutica )
Setaria Grass
( Setaria sphacelata)
Carpet Grass
( Axonopus compressus )
Mulato II Grass
(Brachiaria ruziziensis)
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Napier Grass
(Pennisetum purpureum)
• also known as elephant grass or uganda grass, a
tall perennial grass native to Africa.
• it is valued for its high biomass production, and is
primarily grown as a forage crop for livestock
feed.
• it has long , thick stems that can reach heights of
3-4 meters and wide leaf blades
• the nutritional composition of Napier grass is
relatively high,with good levels of protein and
energy. It is rich in fiber but can be low in certain
minerals.
• it is suitable for beef and dairy cattle, goats and
sheep, carabao ,rabbits, horses, and poultry
animals .
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ADVANTAGES OF
NAPIER GRASS
• High biomass
production
• Nutritional value
• Multiple harvest
• Soil improvement
DISADVANTAGES OF
NAPIER GRASS
• Low mineral content
• Escessive fiber may
cause digestive issues
• Water requirement
• Management
consideration
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Guinea Grass
( Panicum maximum )
• a tropical grass that is native to Africa
but is now cultivated and utilize
wordwide in tropical and subtropical
regions.
• it is valued for its high productivity ,
palatability, and nutritional content
making it a popular choice of feeding
livestock.
• it is suitable for cattle, goats and
sheep, carabao,horses , and poultry
animals.
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ADVANTAGES OF
GUINEA GRASS
• High productivity
• Nutritional value
• Adaptability
• Palatability
• Soil conservation
DISADVANTAGES OF
GUINEA GRASS
• Escessive fiber may
cause digestive issues
• Maturity stage
• Water requirement
• Management
consideration
• Nutritional imbalances
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Signal Grass
( Brachiaria decumbens )
• is one of the most cultivated species of the genus
Brachiaria in South America, Asia and the South
Pacific region
• It is a valuable forage used in permanent pastures.
• It is high-yielding and forms low leafy stands that
do well on infertile soils.
• It is palatable to all classes of livestock and
withstands heavy grazing suitable for various
livestock species including cattle, sheep, and
goats.
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ADVANTAGES OF
SIGNAL GRASS
• primarily used for grazing
• hay production
• silage production
• pasture improvement
• soil conservation
• drought tolerance
• adaptable to tropical and sub
tropical climate
• high productivity and nutritional
value
DISADVANTAGES OF
SIGNAL GRASS
• Allelopathic properties
• potential toxicity
• invasive potential
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Para Grass
( Urochloa mutica )
• is a semi-aquatic plant native to tropical Africa
• is a stoloniferous grass, generally around 1 m tall
• It can form pure stands in low-lying, seasonally-
flooded wetlands
• When growing along the banks of deep
waterways it has stems that float over the water
surface
• Para grass has a variable nutritional value, with a
protein content of 10.2% and 23.6% crude fiber in
fresh grass.
• the grass is use as green fodder, soiling and even
for dry hay
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ADVANTAGES OF PARA
GRASS
• high productivity
• adaptability
• nutritional value
• grazing tolerance
• source of energy
• fiber and mineral
content
DISADVANTAGES OF
PARA GRASS
• nutritional limitation
• prussic acid
• potential mineral
imbalances
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Setaria Grass
( Setaria sphacelata)
• a tall tufted perennial, without elongated
rhizomes and has widely varying vegetative
characteristics.
• it is widely grown for grazing by dairy and
beef cattle, but high oxalate levels make it
undesirable for horses and donkeys.
• the inflorescence structure is a cylindrical
spike-like panicle 8-25 cm long and 7-8
mm wide, varying in colour from purplish
brown to brown.
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ADVANTAGES OF
SETARIA GRASS
• high forage production
• nutritional value
• drought tolerance
• adaptability
DISADVANTAGES OF
SETARIA GRASS
• nitrate accumulation
• prussic acid poisoning risk
• palatability and digestability
• high oxalate level
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Carpet Grass
( Axonopus compressus )
• Carpetgrass, commonly known as flat
grass, is a perennial warm-season grass.
• Native to the tropical and subtropical
regions of America, this creeping grass
tolerates low soil fertility and high soil
moisture
• suitable for grazing system
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ADVANTAGES OF
CARPET GRASS
• Adaptability
• shade tolerance
• grazing tolerance
• high energy content
• palatability and
digestibility
• moderate protein
content
DISADVANTAGES OF
CARPET GRASS
• requires
supplementation
• reduced digestability
during maturing
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Mulato II Grass
(Brachiaria ruziziensis)
• Mulato II is a semi-erect perennial
apomictic grass that can grow up to 9
ft tall.
• It is established by seed, although it
could be propagated vegetatively with
stem segments, if necessary.
• It produces vigorous cylindrical
stems (some with a semi-prostrate
habit) capable of rooting at the nodes
when they soil
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ADVANTAGES OF
MULATO ll GRASS
• more meat and milk for
its nutritional quality.
• increase weight gain
• enhance reproductive
performance
• balanced diet
• cost free
DISADVANTAGES OF
MULATO ll GRASS
• nutritional deficiency
• prussic acid content
• oxalate content
• availability
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FORAGE LEGUMES
• Forage crops are a group of plants that
beling to the legume family Fabaceae and
are primarily grown for their value as
livstock forage.
• They are known for their ability to fix
atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic
relationship with nitrogen fixing bacteria
that reside in their root nodules.
• are cultivated in agricultural system as a
source of high quality feed for grazing
animals such as cattle, sheep, and goats.
• the characteristics vary from their growth
habit , leaf structure and stem structure
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CENTROSEMA
(Centrosema pubescens)
• it is highly regarded as a forage plant due to its
nutritive value and ability to thrive in tropical and
subtropical regions
• also known as centro or butterfly pea
• they are rich in protein, avaeraging around 20-25%
protein content which is considrably higher than
other tropical legumes
• it also offers good digestibility, allowing animals to
extract nutrients from the plant material
• a twining or climbing herbaceous vine, annual or
perennial, with alternate leaves, and compound
trifoliate with broad oval leaflets and long petioles.
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• High protein content
• improved animal growth
• enhanced milk production
• palatability
• nutrient digestibility
• grazing persistance
• soil fertility improvement
• cause photosensitivity
on cattle , sheep and
horses when largely
consumed
• bloating
• estrogenic effect
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STYLOSANTHES
(Stylosanthes guianensis)
• are herbaceaous or semi-woody perennial plants
with a sprawling or upright growth habit
• the color of the flower can be yellow and orange to
red or purple
• It is usually grown as a cover crop, which is cut
every 2 to 3 months. It effectively suppresses
weeds and is a good feed supplement for most
animals, including chickens, pigs and fish
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DESMODIUM
( Desmodium spp.)
• are herbaceaous or semi-woody perennial plants
with a sprawling or upright growth habit
• the color of the flower can be yellow and orange to
red or purple
• also known as tick clover or tick trefoil
• It is usually grown as a cover crop, which is cut
every 2 to 3 months. It effectively suppresses
weeds and is a good feed supplement for most
animals, including chickens, pigs and fish
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• oxalate content
• bitterness and
palatability
• potential toxicity
• allergenic reactions
• rich in protein, vitamins
and minerals
• improved digestion
• parasite control
• nitrogen fixation
• soil conservation
• drought tolerance
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HYACINTH BEAN
(Lablab purpureus)
• is a twining vine with purplish stems and can be
grown as an annual vine in the home garden for
the ornamental flowers and bean pods.
• it has a high protein content and is grown as a
nutritious food crop for human consumption as
well as animal fodder
• The flower sprays resemble sweet peas, range
from purple to pink to white in color, and are
slightly fragrant.
• The pods can grow up to 14 cm long, may be
straight or curved, and are a glossy purple or
green. Seeds are oblong, and can be white,
reddish-brown, or black.
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• anti-nutritional factor
• might contain
cyanogenic glycosides
• digestive upset
• allergies and sensitivities
• limited availability
• good source of energy
• contains significant
amount of protein
• digestibility
• nitrogen fixation
• palatable when young
and tender
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IPIL-IPIL
( Leucaena leucocephala)
• The legume provides an excellent source
of high-protein cattle fodder
• the fodder contains mimosine, a toxic
amino acid. Horses and donkeys which
are fed it lose their hair.
• Probably introduced by the Spanish
conquistadores who carried leucaena
feed and seed on their galleons to the
Philippines to feed their stock.
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• cotains toxic compound
like mimosine
• anti-nutritional factors
• digestive disorder
• high protein content
ranging from 20% to
30%
• improve weight gain to
meat producing animal
• increase milk production
• source of vitamins and
minerals
• drought tolerance
• cost free
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AZOLLA
( Mosquito fern)
• leaves are tiny, lacy-looking, and closely
overlapping. The leaves can be green or rusty
red. American waterfern is a small, floating plant
with green or rusty-red leaves.
• The most remarkable characteristic of azolla is
its symbiotic relationship with the nitrogen-fixing
blue-green alga (cyanobacterium) Anabaena
azollae.
• It can be given directly or mixed with
concentrates to cattle, poultry, sheep, goats,
pigs and rabbits
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• may cause bloating or
diarrhea to swine
• not applicable to dry
area
• potential contamination
during production of
azola
• high nutritional value
• has a protein content
ranging from 20% to 35%
• easily digestible
• contains carbohydrate and
lipids providing good source
of energy
• environmental benefit
• contains flavonoids and
phenolics
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SOYBEAN
(Glycine max)
• . By the early 1940s, soybeans were
harvested at various stages of growth, and
cured and fed as high protein hay, which
was considered to be similar in nutritional
value to alfalfa
• The best stage to harvest soybeans for
silage is near maturity, before any leaf loss.
At this point, soluble carbohydrates
required for proper ensiling are low.
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• contains trypsin
inhibitors, lectins and
phytates
• allergenic potential
• contains estrogenic
compounds like
phoestrogens that affect
reproductive
performance
• high protein content
• well balanced amino
acid
• source of energy
• rich in essential mineral
• contain bio-active
compound such as
isoflavones
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MORINGA
(Moringa oleifera)
• is a multipurpose tropical tree.
• It is mainly used for food and has numerous industrial,
medicinal and agricultural uses, including animal
feeding.
• It has been dubbed the "miracle tree" or "tree of life" by
the media
• Moringa leaves are a valuable source of protein for
ruminants but they have a moderate palatability. They
are used in smallholder rabbit farming in several African
countries. Using moringa leaves for feeding poultry, pigs
and fish is feasible but only in limited amounts due to
the presence of fibre and antinutritional factors. Moringa
oil seed cake, the by-product of oil extraction, is not very
palatable to livestock and mainly used as green manure
or a flocculating agent in water purification. Moringa
seeds appear to be toxic to rabbits.
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ADVANTAGES
DISADVANTAGES
• excessive intake may
cause digestive issues
• contains anti-nutritional
factor such as tannins,
phytates, and oxalates
• unpalatability
• thyroid function
• toxicity risk
• high nutritional value
• aids in muscle
development
• enhance milk production
• increased weight gain
• immune system support
• digestive health
• antiparasitic properties
• environmental benefits
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WHAT IS SILAGE?
• silage is a type of preserved forage that is
made by fermentig and storing high-
moisture crops under anaerobic conditions
• it is commonly used as feed for livestock,
providing them with a source of nutrient
especially during periods when frsh forage
is scarce or at lower quality
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MATERIALS NEEDED
FORAGE CROP
-Select the appropriate forage crops based
on local availability and livestock requirements.
HARVESTER OR CHOPPER
-A specialized machine such as a forage
harvester or chopper equipped wit sharp knives is
needed to cut the forage crops into small pieces
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MATERIALS NEEDED
PACKING EQUIPMENT
-It will be used for packing the chopped
forage into the storage structure.It has to
compress the forage tightly.
SILO OR STORAGE STRUCTURE
-it required to store the packed forage.
This can be silo or airtight containers like
silage bags or bales wrapped with plastic
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MATERIALS NEEDED
PLASTIC COVERING
-to exclude oxygen and create anaerobic
conditions. gen barrier films or oxygen-limiting
barriers can also be used to enhance
fermentation and preserve the silage quality
WEIGHTS AND TIRES
-the plastic covering needs to be
secured and weighed down to prevent air
entry. Use heavy weights, such as tires or
sandbags, to hold tic inplace and create an
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MATERIALS NEEDED
THERMOMETER
-to monitor the temperature of the silage
during fermentation. Temperature spikes
can indicate issues such as spoilage or
inefficient fermentation
WATER (if necessary)
- in certain situation where the forage is
low mosture content, you may need to add
water during packing process to achieve the
desired moisture level for proper
fermentation
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MATERIALS NEEDED
PH METER
• is commonly used in silage
production to monitor and
assess the fermentation
and the quality of silage.
• it provides valuable
information about its
presevation, nutritional
value and potential silage.
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1. PREPARING SILAGE MATERIALS AND CHOOSING CROPS
-choose your desired crops for silage that meets the needed nutrient
requirement of your livestock
2. HARVESTING THE CROPS
- silage crops should be harvested at the proper stage of maturity. This is
typically when the crops have reached a good balance between yield and nutrient
content
-the ideal moisture content for ensiling varies depending on the crop. Generally,
forage crops should have a moisture content between 60% and 70%
3. CHOPPING
-after harvesting the silage crops, it needs to be chopped into small pieces to
promote packing and facilitate fermentation
- around 1-3 centimeters in length.
4. PACKING
-the chopped forage needs to be tightly packed into a silo or airtight container to
exclude oxygen. This prevents the growth of anaerobic microorganisms.
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5. SEALING
- it needs to be sealed to maintain the anaerobic conditions.
-different methods can be used for sealing, such as plastic sheetsxygen barrier
films , or a combination of both , to cover the surface of the silage tightly.
-the edges of the cover should be weighted down or secured to prevent air
entry
6. FERMENTATION
-after sealing, fermentation begins as the naturally occuring lactic acid
bacteria converts sugars into lactic acid,lowering the pH and preserving the
forage.
-the process typically takes several weeks, during which the pH drops to
around 4,0 to 4.5
7. FEEDING
-once the silage has undergone sufficient fermentation, it can be fed to
livestock.
-proper management of silage feedout is essential to minimize spoilsge and
maintain feed quality.
