Description
Forage brassica, genus Brassica, are annual feed crops grown on farming enterprises throughout New Zealand and Australia. These crops provide a source of high-yielding, high-quality feed, which is particularly useful to complement pasture production during periods when pasture growth is reduced. There are six forage brassica species and subspecies of agricultural importance including bulb turnip, swede, kale, forage rape, leafy turnip, and raphanobrassica. All of these, as well as interspecific crosses and individual cultivars, offer a range of characteristics to fit various environmental and livestock production challenges. Consumption of forage brassica crops in ruminant animals may reduce methane emissions compared to traditional feed sources. Furthermore, recent technological developments using seed mutagenesis in breeding new forage brassica provide increased herbicide control of weed species. As with all feed sources, specific management, crop husbandry and animal health considerations apply. Overall, the use of forage brassica enables increased resilience in typical pasture-based farm systems.
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Forage Brassica use in New Zealand and Australia Farming Systems
Forage brassica, genus Brassica, are annual feed crops grown on farming enterprises throughout New Zealand and Australia. These crops provide a source of high-yielding, high-quality feed, which is particularly useful to complement pasture production during periods when pasture growth is reduced. There are six forage brassica species and subspecies of agricultural importance including bulb turnip, swede, kale, forage rape, leafy turnip, and raphanobrassica. All of these, as well as interspecific crosses and individual cultivars, offer a range of characteristics to fit various environmental and livestock production challenges. Consumption of forage brassica crops in ruminant animals may reduce methane emissions compared to traditional feed sources. Furthermore, recent technological developments using seed mutagenesis in breeding new forage brassica provide increased herbicide control of weed species. As with all feed sources, specific management, crop husbandry and animal health considerations apply. Overall, the use of forage brassica enables increased resilience in typical pasture-based farm systems.
