Feed Values for Annual Forages in Western Nebraska

Authors

Burton A. Weichenthal, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
David D. Baltensperger, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Kenneth P. Vogel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

1-1-2004

Comments

Published in 2004 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report. Copyright © 2003 The Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska.

Abstract

Forage quality testing was completed on annual forages grown during 1998 and/or 1999. Included were spring cereals, legumes and summer annuals like sorghum and millets. Using a single cut harvest system when the majority of summer annuals had produced seed heads, crude protein (CP) was generally more than 8% and total digestible nutrients (TDN) more than 63% of dry matter. Annual legumes had 12 to 18% CP and more than 63% TDN. Pearl and irrigated foxtail millets had higher crude protein levels than sorghum forages, but nitrate levels were also higher. Some mineral contents varied by location and associated management.