Try some fodder crops

If you farm livestock, pasture will always be your foundation. But it’s worth exploring the range of forage crops now available to boost feed quality during times when pasture isn’t performing.

Expanding the Feed Menu

Forage brassicas have long been used as supplementary feed. Today, you can also choose from specially bred cereal crops for fodder, annual legumes to increase protein, and grazing herbs such as chicory and plantain. Other options include legumes like lucerne, birdsfoot trefoil, and sulla, which offer highly digestible feed and a broader nutritional profile.

These crops help plug feed gaps during summer or winter, when pasture growth slows or stops. They’re particularly useful as an insurance crop during dry spells or cold snaps, and they also fit well into pasture renewal or crop rotation plans.

Buying the Right Seed

When buying seed, always choose certified seed. This guarantees the variety you’re buying and ensures high purity. The last thing you want is to sow a paddock full of weeds.

Treated or coated seed can be worthwhile in areas with variable establishment conditions. If you're planning to try newer species like sulla or birdsfoot trefoil, get advice before you sow. These crops can be more demanding to establish and manage than standard pasture species.

Chicory and plantain can be sown with grasses and clovers, but not all mixtures are ideal. Ask your seed supplier for advice specific to your soil and climate.

High Value Feed – With Caution

Many of these crops provide exceptional feed quality, often with digestibility rates over 90 percent. That’s significantly higher than even lush spring pasture, which typically sits around 80 percent.

But high-quality feed comes with a warning. If you turn hungry stock onto a paddock full of fresh brassicas or herbs without any lead-in time, you risk problems like bloat. Introduce them slowly, and always ensure animals have access to fibre to balance the diet.