Cool Season Annual
Forage Brassica are a biennial leafy bush Brassica plant with a small tuber. There are numerous forage brassica hybrids in the market, usually crossed turnips with kale or forage rape. They produce a smaller tuber so the choking hazard is reduced as compared to turnips. Plants are high protein, high relative feed value, and low fibre. Leaves are large and quick to recover from grazing. Shade tolerance is good, as is the salinity tolerance. Regrowth for most is very good, making it ideal for grazing systems. Tops are very palatable and high protein. They are fairly fall frost tolerant so will continue growing until late fall.
Seeds per pound: 170,000 Seeds/sq ft/pound 4.7
Uses:
- Erosion control
- Soil builder
- Nitrogen scavenger
- Weed suppression
- Grazing potential
- Hay potential
Strengths:
- Fast regrowth
- Minimum bulb
- Large leaves
- Good palatability
Concerns:
Being a Brassica, can be a bridge for disease and insect pest for canola.
Grazing:
Excellent. Needs to be blended with grasses and legumes.
Hay:
Good. Need to be blended with grasses to help with dry down.
Mycorrhizal support? No
