Trial Site: Fairview Research Farm
Research Coordinator: Dr. Akim Omokanye
From: Peace Country Beef & Forage Association 2017 Annual Report
Many annual crops are suitable for inclusion in cocktail mixtures for forage production (grazing, silage or greenfeed) and to improve soil health. Some of the broadleaf cover crops are still relatively new to us in the Peace, and questions have been asked about the forage quality of some of these broadleaf crops in order to determine their suitability for livestock production. This year, we seeded sunflower, phacelia and sugar beet for demonstration purposes and to determine what the forage quality of these crops would be in this area. The crops were seeded at the recommended seeding rates in small plots replicated twice.
Results
Forage Crude Protein (CP)
The 3 broadleaf crops had impressive forage CP, with sunflower having the highest value (19.8% CP). Both phacelia and sugar beet had similar forage CP (about 18% CP). With these forage CP values, the 3 crops had far more protein than is required by both young and mature beef cattle.
Forage Detergent Fibres