Description
Grazing annual forage crops has attained new interest with the increase in use of cover crops. Grazing annual forages grown as cover crops not only allows livestock producers to extend the grazing season but also gives row crop growers a way to recoup the cost of planting cover crops through grazing leases. Species in the Brassicaceae family (turnip, rape, kale, radish, and hybrids) have wide adaptability across the eastern US, excellent forage yield potential, and extremely high nutritional value. Brassicas are sometimes described as “high-moisture concentrates.” Their low effective fiber content drives the common recommendation to grow them with annual grasses in grazed mixtures to provide the fiber needed by livestock, species biodiversity also improves cover crop value. In this review, I will summarize performance of sheep, meat goats, and cattle grazing Brassicas and Brassica mixtures from research across the eastern US, including the impact of Brassica yield and forage quality on animal gain, animal health, carcass characteristics, meat and milk quality.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Grazing Cover Crops in the Eastern US: Performance of Sheep, Goats, and Cattle Grazing Brassica Cover Crops
Grazing annual forage crops has attained new interest with the increase in use of cover crops. Grazing annual forages grown as cover crops not only allows livestock producers to extend the grazing season but also gives row crop growers a way to recoup the cost of planting cover crops through grazing leases. Species in the Brassicaceae family (turnip, rape, kale, radish, and hybrids) have wide adaptability across the eastern US, excellent forage yield potential, and extremely high nutritional value. Brassicas are sometimes described as “high-moisture concentrates.” Their low effective fiber content drives the common recommendation to grow them with annual grasses in grazed mixtures to provide the fiber needed by livestock, species biodiversity also improves cover crop value. In this review, I will summarize performance of sheep, meat goats, and cattle grazing Brassicas and Brassica mixtures from research across the eastern US, including the impact of Brassica yield and forage quality on animal gain, animal health, carcass characteristics, meat and milk quality.
