Is vetch good for hay?

Is vetch good for hay?

Vetch is grown in many areas of the country and makes a high-quality hay when grown alone or mixed with small grains. It can also be used in grazing, although it is best used in a rotational grazing setup since it doesn’t tolerate being grazed close to the ground very well.

Is vetch hay good for cattle?

Feeding Lucerne, Vetch or Clover hay can be a great protein source addition to your livestock’s diet. They both have a high crude protein (CP) source and low to average sugar content in the form of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC).

Is vetch high in protein?

The grain of Common vetch is a valuable protein source in livestock diets. It contains 280–300 g/kg crude protein, 16–19 g/kg lysine and 14–15 megajoules/kg of energy. It can be used without limit in the diet of ruminants and up to 20–25% (depending on variety; Section 2, Table 1) of the diet of pigs5.

Is vetch safe for horses to eat?

Horses will not consume a toxic plant such as the vetch unless under a specific set of circumstances. Most of this vegetation, like hairy vetch (v. villosa) is poisonous; its bitter taste is only tolerated by the hungriest of horses.

Is vetch hay good for horses?

In drought conditions, it is easy to provide the horse with sufficient energy, protein and other nutrients without satisfying the dry matter component. It is often easier to source good quality hay such as legume hay (lucerne, clover or vetch) which is relatively nutrient dense.

What is vetch hay used for?

Farmers perceive vetches as a reliable, versatile legume for pasture, green manure, hay/silage and grain. Vetches in crop rotations can be used to manage cereal diseases, grass weeds, improve soil fertility and contribute to increased yield and protein content in following crops.

Does vetch make good silage?

Common vetches are an annual pasture/forage/grain legume, extremely palatable at all growth stages, from early green shoots, as dry matter/hay or silage through to seedpods and seeds over summer. It has very high feed values for animals as green plants and dry matter as well as grain.

What is vetch good for?

A poultice of the leaves has been used to treat spider bites, an infusion of the plant has been used as eyewash and an infusion of the tops has been used as a wash in sweat houses. American vetch has also been used as a panacea, an aphrodisiac, and a good luck charm.

What is vetch used for?

What is common vetch good for?

Vetch produces an abundance of vining stems and fine foliage that help protect soils from wind and rain, while improving structure and adding nutrients. Plant vetch as a cover crop or green manure and reap the rewards of healthy, thriving soil. Plant Vetch to: Plant Vetch to Fix Nitrogen in the Soil.

Is vetch toxic to animals?

The toxin in hairy vetch responsible for the symptoms is not known. Animals grazing the green vetch develop a severe granulomatous disease affecting many organs. The seeds of hairy vetch when eaten in quantity by cattle and horses cause nervous signs and death.

Is Millet toxic to horses?

The chemical, glucoside setaria, is found in foxtail and proso millet and is reported to cause illness and even death in horses. Foxtail or German millet also can cause oral mechanical lesions. Pearl millet is considered the most suitable millet species for horse grazing or hay.

What is the protein content of vetch Hay?

The protein content of vetch hay ranges from 12 to 20%, depending on the stage of development of the crop when cut. Vetch is often grown with a small grain for forage; rye is generally used for this purpose in the Upper Midwest. The grain supports the weak stems of the vetch and reduces lodging.

What is the difference between common vetch and hairy vetch?

Common vetch hay shows a progressive decrease of digestibility and degradability as its vegetative structures mature, unlike hairy vetch ( Vicia villosa ), which benefits from a compensatory effect produced by increasing grain proportions as the plant ages. The nutritive value at flowering was higher for Vicia sativa hay than for Vicia villosa hay]

Can you grow vetch Hay in the USA?

Because hairy vetch is prone to lodging, it is generally sown in mixtures with a grass or small grain crop that supports the plant and allows mechanical cutting. Rye is commonly used for that purpose in the USA, though hay made of rye and hairy vetch is tangled and difficult to handle (Undersander et al., 1990).

What is the best hay for horses?

Vetch hay is fast becoming a popular feed for horse and livestock owner due to it’s excellent nutritional value.