Apr 29, 2022 · Is it a good livestock feed? Yes and No. As an annual leguminous vigorous herbaceous plant, vetch has high protein and relatively low fiber and reasonably high yields. It's vigorous growth and N fixing qualities is why it is so valuable as a cover crop, but it can also be grazed or fed as hay.

Vetch is a versatile, high-production, low-input crop. it can be used for grazing, forage, reen or brown manure, grain for livestock and for seed. Vetch is suited to a wide range of rainfall regions and soil types; vetch is more tolerant.

Oct 3, 2001 · Hairy vetch is a winter annual legume that offers a number of potential benefits to row-crop or livestock producers when used as a winter cover crop. Though a good stand of this winter annual legume alone can provide good cover, it also can make a good companion species to ryegrass and, in particular, small grains.

Aug 29, 2020 · Yes, there is a difference between crown vetch, which is used as a soil stabilizer along highways, and common vetch, which you might find in hay.

The common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is an annual scrambling and climbing legume. It has a slender highly branched taproot that can go down to 1-1.5 m deep. Its stems are thin, angled, procumbent and branched, reaching up to 2 m. The leaves are compound with 3-8 pairs of opposite leaflets and 2-3 terminal tendrils that help climbing.

Mar 22, 2021 · Common vetch is best for hay when cut in full bloom. Vetch leaves dry much faster than the stems, so it must be handled rapidly in the field or leaves will be lost to shattering (Goar, 1934).

Jul 14, 2021 · Vetch can be used as a tool to combat herbicide resistant grass weeds and still produce a return with hay, grazing or grain and have an impact on subsequent cereals with increased levels of soil nitrogen.

May 3, 2022 · As an annual leguminous vigorous herbaceous plant, vetch has high protein and relatively low fiber and reasonably high yields. It's vigorous growth and N fixing qualities is why it is so valuable as a cover crop, but it can also be grazed or fed as hay.

The main difference between the two is that the metabolisable energy (ME) of Lucerne hay tends to be slightly higher then Vetch hay. Both Lucerne and Vetch hay tend to have thin stems which leads to a lower fibre content and a lower relative feed value (RFV).

Vetch hay and silage are highly palatable for all ruminants. To achieve the best balance of tonnage and feeding value, hay and silage producers should cut common vetches at the flowering – early podding stage.