Benefits of Quality Forage

The old verbiage, “You get what you pay for,” still rings true, even when it comes to the type of forage you choose. As we continue to watch the costs of fertilizer and feed escalate, there has never been a more crucial time to choose a quality forage to work in your favor. During these times, consider options that will provide the highest yields and maximize forage use, both when feeding hay and managing your pastures. Check out these three different forages with high potential under these circumstances: Surpass BMR6 Sorghum Sudangrass, Exceed BMR Pearl Millet, and Charger Brand Teff Grass.

Surpass BMR6 Sorghum Sudangrass

This hybrid of sudangrass meets more than half of the energy needs of cattle. While it does not contain the same levels of protein as alfalfa, it is comparable to alfalfa for weight gain with its reduced levels of lignin. Having the basal metabolic rate (BMR) traits enables higher weight gain per head per day and per acre in beef cattle, and higher milk production compared to conventional types of sudangrass. Here are a few other notables about this high quality forage:

• Adapted best for hay production 
• Responds most favorably to intensive rotational grazing systems
• Has a higher leaf-to-stem ratio resulting in higher feed intake 
• Reduced seeding rates compared to other sudangrass due to better stalk digestibility and a smaller stalk diameter
• Can be used for hay, baleage, silage, greenchop, or directly grazed 
• Has better drying characteristics than other sorghums for hay making because of its finer stems
  

Exceed BMR Pearl Millet

When it comes to millet products, Exceed BMR Pearl Millet delivers a versatile high forage product to beef, dairy, sheep, and goat producers. With its lower lignin content, this forage provides for better digestibility as well as more energy for livestock. Exceed BMR Pearl Millet also…

• Is higher in neutral detergent fiber digestibility (NDFD) values resulting in greater feed intake, and an improved overall animal performance 
• Makes quality hay crop or summer pasture 
• Has excellent seedling vigor, tremendous regrowth, and tillering after a cutting or grazing
• Adapts well to production systems characterized by drought, low soil fertility, and high temperature

Charger Brand Teff Grass

Known for its high-yielding, palatable hay for horses, dairy and beef cattle, teff grass is a low input and easy to grow crop. These characteristics paired with its high disease tolerance make teff grass a great option. Here are the other bonuses of this forage that make it a quality option: 

• Produces quality forage and high yields during the summer growing season
• Makes excellent hay with its fine stems
• Produces protein content ranging from 12-17% depending on growth stage
• Harvests multiple times during the growing season as dry hay, silage or pasture
• Combines high yields and forage quality during a short growing season