Helianthus annuus

Sunflower

Native to Central America but now grown all over the world, mostly for its oilseeds. The leaves are usually used as fodder. Sunflower can also be grown as a fodder plant where the season is too short and cool for maize. If grown for silage, it should be cut when approximately half of the heads are in bloom. The later the plant is cut the less palatable it is.

					As % of dry matter
				DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ca	P	Ref
Fresh aerial part,
7 wks, Israel				10.8	13.0	20.4	14.8	1.9	49.9	1.67	0.37	365
Fresh aerial part,
10 wks, Israel				14.6	10.3	25.3	13.7	2.1	48.6			"
Fresh leaves,
Zimbabwe				21.2	19.4	9.3	18.6	3.3	49.4			227
Mature heads with
15-cm stem, Kenya					14.6	24.1	8.6	7.2	45.5			412
Silage, mid-bloom,
Canada				24.3	14.1	25.6	13.3	5.1	41.9			"
Silage, mature,
Canada				47.7	10.6	21.3	11.1	5.1	51.9			"
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Aerial part, 7 weeks					Sheep		70.0	51.0	68.0	82.0	2.35	365
Aerial part, mature					Sheep		74.3	43.0	90.2	65.5	2.42	412
Silage, mid-bloom					Sheep		52.3	48.5	70.0	66.0	2.04	512