Pasture and Forage Crop SS2 Livestock Farming Lesson Note

What are Pasture and Forage Crops?

In our previous classes, we talked about feeding animals with “concentrates” like maize and soybean. But for animals like cows, goats, and sheep (ruminants), their “daily bread” is actually grass and legumes.

• Pasture: This is a piece of land covered with grass and legumes where animals can walk around and graze (eat) directly.
• Forage Crops: these are specific plants (grasses or legumes) grown purposely to be cut and carried to animals in their pens. This is often called “Cut-and-Carry.”

The Two Main Families of Pasture:

1. Grasses: These provide mainly Energy. Examples include Elephant grass, Guinea grass, and Bahama grass.
2. Legumes: These provide Protein and help make the soil fertile. Examples include Centrosema, Stylo, and Mucuna.

Types of Pasture Systems

Not all pastures look the same. Depending on how they were made, we have two types:

1. Natural Pasture (The Bush)

This is the “free” gift of nature. It consists of grasses and shrubs that grow on their own in the wild.

• Good side: It costs the farmer nothing to plant.
• Bad side: It often contains “stubborn” grasses that are not very nutritious, and it may hide snakes or pests.

2. Established (Artificial) Pasture

This is a “farm for grass.” The farmer clears the land, prepares the soil, and plants specific high-quality seeds.

• Good side: The grass is very rich in nutrients, and there are no weeds.
• Bad side: It is expensive to start because you need to buy seeds and maybe hire a tractor.

How to Cultivate a Good Pasture

If you want your cows to grow big, you must treat your pasture like a real farm. You don’t just throw seeds and walk away.

Steps to Planting:

1. Site Selection: Choose a place with good soil that doesn’t get flooded too easily.
2. Land Preparation: Clear the bush and plow the soil. If the soil is “tired,” add some manure or fertilizer.
3. Selection of Seeds: Mix grasses and legumes together (this is called a Mixed Pasture). The legumes provide protein for the animals and nitrogen for the grass.
4. Planting: You can plant by sowing seeds or by planting “cuttings” (stems) of grasses like Elephant grass.
5. Weeding: During the first few weeks, remove “bad” weeds so they don’t choke the young pasture.

Conserving Pasture (Saving for the Dry Season)

In Nigeria, we have a big problem: in the rainy season, grass is everywhere, but in the dry season, everything turns brown and dies. To keep animals from starving, we must “save” the green grass. This is called Conservation.

Method 1: Hay Making

Hay is grass that has been cut and dried in the sun.

• How to make it: Cut the grass when it is about to flower (that’s when it has the most food). Spread it out in the sun to dry until it is crispy but still green.
• Storage: Tie it into “bales” (bundles) and keep it in a dry shed away from rain.

Conservation Method 2 (Silage)

If Hay is “dried grass,” Silage is “pickled grass.” It is kept wet and fermented in a place without air.

How to make Silage:

1. Chop: Cut fresh green grass into small pieces.
2. Pack: Put the grass into a deep hole (a Silo) or a very thick plastic bag.
3. Compress: Step on it or use a heavy weight to squeeze out all the air. This is the most important part!
4. Seal: Cover it tightly with a waterproof sheet and pile soil on top.
5. Ferment: Leave it for about 3 to 4 weeks. It will “cook” in its own juice and turn slightly yellow with a nice “fruity” smell. Animals love it!

Student Discussion / Homework

1. Why is it better to plant a “Mixed Pasture” (grass + legumes) instead of just grass?
2. If you are a farmer in a very rainy area where the sun doesn’t shine much, would you prefer to make Hay or Silage? Why?
3. Name two grasses and two legumes you have seen around your school.

Farmer’s Note: > Grass is the cheapest food for livestock. If you can master the art of making Silage, your animals will stay fat and healthy even in the middle of a harsh January drought!