Triticum aestivum

Wheat (forage)

Extensively cultivated as a cereal crop. Frequently utilized for grazing in a manner that does not sacrifice grain production as may be the case if grazing is continued too late in the spring. Wheat planted in the autumn can be grazed within about five weeks and support about ten sheep to the hectare without impairing the wheat as a grain crop. In some instances it is sown principally as a pasture crop. Fodder varieties have been developed. It should be harvested for silage or hay when the grain is in milk stage and when the stems and leaves are quite green.

							As % of dry matter
						DM	CP	CF	Ash	EE	NFE	Ref
Fresh, 16 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						30.0	18.1	15.5	7.6	3.7	55.1	489
Fresh, 19 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						31.1	12.3	15.5	7.1	3.2	61.9	"
Fresh, 20 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						34.2	10.8	15.1	6.3	1.9	65.9	"
Fresh, 21 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						35.0	10.4	15.6	6.2	1.8	66.0	"
Fresh, 22 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						35.0	8.5	18.7	6.5	2.1	64.2	"
Fresh, 23 wks after sowing,
S. Africa						34.0	8.6	20.1	6.1	2.6	62.6	"
Fresh, vegetative, India							23.3	21.5	11.6	3.5	40.1	378
Fresh, milk stage, India							11.8	31.9	12.9	2.0	41.4	"
Fresh, dough stage, India							6.4	26.3	9.7	1.4	56.2	"
Straw, Iraq						92.0	3.1	45.4	10.2	1.1	40.2	181
Hay, India							5.1	35.1	7.2	1.3	51.3	436
Silage of straw, India							3.5	39.4	14.6	0.5	42.0	"
							Digestibility (%)
					Animal		CP	CF	EE	NFE	ME	Ref
Fresh, 16 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		78.2	79.5	61.5	88.7	3.00	489
Fresh, 19 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		69.2	80.4	59.2	90.0	2.98	"
Fresh, 20 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		64.1	76.0	40.6	88.6	2.89	"
Fresh, 21 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		58.8	73.5	47.0	88.1	2.85	"
Fresh, 22 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		56.3	77.6	30.2	86.0	2.78	"
Fresh, 23 weeks after
sowing					Sheep		58.8	73.4	46.9	85.9	2.79	"
Straw					Sheep		0.5	61.3	33.6	18.8	1.30	181
Silage of straw					Cattle		25.0	65.0	24.0	52.0	1.76	436