On-farm production of protein is limited in most dairy farm operations in arid and semi-arid environments. Cereal-legume intercropping could be a viable option to obtain forage with higher protein content. A two-year experiment was conducted during 2009 and 2010 growing seasons in a loamy soil to determine whether intercropping pattern of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and annual medic (Medica...

Field dry hay needs to be reduced from near 80% moisture to 20% or less to prevent spoilage during storage. Drying hay to safe baling moistures often takes several days. Sources of loss during forage harvest include mechanical losses such as mowing, conditioning, chopping, raking, packaging and handling as well as respiration and leaching. The general relationship between forage moisture concen...

Forage legumes have a relatively high biomass yield and crude protein content, but their grazed and harvested biomass lacks the high-energy carbohydrates required to meet the productivity potential of modern livestock breeds. Because of their low carbohydrate content, forage legume diets are typically supplemented with starch rich cereal grains or maize (Zea mays), leading to the disruption of ...

To determine the effect of forage moisture content on intake and digestion kinetics in sheep, a metabolism trial was conducted using 16 mature wethers (44 kg BW) in a completely randomized design. Forage was harvested at two maturities in early spring from a naturalized pasture composed of temperate grass and legume species. Herbage was harvested at either 8 (early) or 16 cm (late) in height an...

Fenugreek is being developed as a forage legume crop in western Canada, as it has desirable agronomic and forage quality traits. The objective of the present study was to determine if genotype x environment interactions have an impact on seed and forage yield when plants are grown under the short growing season of western Canada. Two studies were conducted: one with up to 83 accessions grown un...

The study integrated perennial forage phases (1−5 years) into annual wheat systems. In the publication it indicates that once a treatment was converted from to spring no longer fertilized. However, we have discovered each time planted starter fertilizer of 11−52−0 (NH4; P2O5) applied at 56 kg ha–1 equating 6.2 N and 29 P ha–1. addition, during seeding legume legume/grass mixture treatments, 11 ...

Alfalfa is one of the most important legume forage crops in the world. In spite of its agronomic and nutritive advantages, alfalfa has some limitations in the usage of pasture forage and hay supplement. High rapid degradation of protein in alfalfa poses a risk of rumen bloat to ruminants which could cause huge economic losses for farmers. Coupled with the relatively high lignin content, which i...

The review summarizes the potential, distribution and origin of Lablab purpureus. Forage legume has potentials for production productivities arable land by suppling nitrogen living organisms in soil those allowed to obtain their own feed symbiotic relationships. Further become fertile next cropping season even at time intercropping yield would be improved than mono-cropping systems. It also sup...

Optimizing the productivity and efficiency of cereal–legume intercropping through exploiting differences in nitrogen (N) acquisition two crops is crucial Mediterranean areas. A two-year field study was conducted Central Italy to determine how N fertilization rate affected forage grain production as well a barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) bean (Vicia faba L. var minor) intercrop. Crops were grown mon...