Forage crops for small ruminants

Forage

composed of plant leaves and stems mostly eaten by grazing animals. It can be herbaceous legumes, grasses, shrubs or tree legumes.

Grasses, Legumes

What are the Types of Forage?

Grasses

Serves as main feed for ruminants
Produces more biomass than
legumes

Legumes

Provides better quality feeds
Provides protein, vitamins and
minerals for more improved
performance of animals
Leguminous crop are cheap
source of feeds
It has lesser chance of ingesting
infective larvae as compared to
grazing lower growing vegetation

MPTS multi purpose tree species

Quantity: LOW
Digestibility: HIGH
Protein: HIGH
Other uses: Firewood, Timber, Green Manure, Shade

Legumes

Quantity: MEDIUM
Digestibility: HIGH
Protein: HIGH
Other uses:

Grasses

Quantity: HIGH
Digestibility: MEDIUM
Protein: LOW
Other uses: Thatching (building a
roof w/ dry vegetation) Weaving