7 Best Tree of Grass for Goats

Grass-based Livestock Farming: – Even though our country is a member of the World Trade Organization, if we do not adopt grass-based livestock farming, the production cost of our livestock products will increase significantly. In addition, we may struggle to compete with our neighbors and other countries, which may lead to the displacement of our profession.

Not only that, there is no alternative to grass farming because grass is also rich in minerals and vitamins, reduces infertility, has a positive effect on animal health, reduces soil erosion, protects the environment, and helps mitigate climate change. In goat farming, physical growth is also slower than in goats and chickens, so if we rely on feed, the chances of profitable and commercial agriculture are very low.

Grass is of great importance in goat farming. Once the decision is made to raise goats, the construction of the goat shelter and grass cultivation should be taken forward together. We should never forget the fact that commercial goat farming can only be successful if grass cultivation is successful.

Here, we will focus mainly on grasses that are cultivated and cut and fed to goats in a shelter rather than grazing. In this section, various types of grasses, annual, winter, and perennial grasses, will be discussed.

Important tree grasses and their cultivation

Grasses with strong stems that grow from the branches of trees rather than from the ground or surface of the earth are called grasses. From the plains to the Himalayas, our country has many types of grasses, both indigenous and some imported from abroad.

Not all types of grasses are found everywhere, and even if they are, they are not equally productive. Some grasses require a warm climate, while others require a cool climate. Similarly, some grasses are able to produce even in dry and drought conditions, while others require a lot of rainfall. This applies to both indigenous and advanced types of grasses.

It has been mentioned in various articles that 70 species of grasses are found locally in our country. Other grasses are yet to be studied. The grasses found in our country include Litsea monopetala, Ficus palmata Forssk, Diploknema butyracea, Chinaberry, Grewia optiva, Terminalia elliptica, mulberry trees, Populus ciliata, and Quercus semecarpifolia, etc.

But not all these grasses are equally nutritious. Some of them are more nutritious, and some are less nutritious. Some contain toxic elements, while some may have fewer or no elements. But there is a great need for research on all these grasses.

Now we will discuss the cultivation of the main grasses among these.

1. Morus spp Grass for Goats

Morus spp is a grass that is very popular with the wild boar. Although it is a grass, it is also of special importance because it contains a significant amount of protein. This grass should be cut in the months of December-January, and it is appropriate to transplant the seedlings kept in the nursery in May-June.

There are different types of Morus spp, including local, white, and black. White and non-fruiting Morus spp are more popular among farmers. When making Morus spp cuttings, take a finger-sized 20 cm thick branch cutting in January. If it has any leaves, remove them. If the leaves are not removed, it also drains the water content of the stem and reduces the chances of germination.

When cutting the stem, the part that will be buried in the ground should be cut straight off the top. The purpose of this is to reduce the evaporation of water from the part that is exposed to the air or the outside and to increase the surface area of ​​the part that will be buried in the ground, so that it can absorb as much water and nutrients as possible and spread roots.

This grass is very digestible compared to other grasses. It also produces an average of 60 kg per plant per year. This grass can also be propagated from its roots, but seed production is negligible. If seeds are to be made, after the fruit ripens in April-May, the seeds should be separated from the pulp by dissolving them in water. This grass can also be grown in the Terai, mid-hills, and high hilly areas up to 2200 meters. No toxic substances have been found in this grass. However, farmers have experienced that sometimes animals experience bloating when fed only this grass.

Some blogs state that Morus spp contains up to 18 percent protein. However, on average, it contains around 13 percent protein. When planting its seedlings, it is best to plant them at a distance of 1 meter from plant to plant and 2 meters from one row to another.

2. ( River tamarind ) Lucaena leucocephala Grass for Goats

There are 2/3 subspecies of this species of Tree grass, which is famous all over the world. This grass, which spreads in hot climates, can be successfully planted, especially in the mid-hills, inner Madhesh, and Terai regions.

Species that can be planted in cold places (Leucaena trichandra, diversifolia) have also been developed, so they can be planted in high hilly areas. However, this grass cannot thrive in places that are very cold, frosty, very acidic, or have no drainage.

Lucaena leucocephala is also very nutritious and digestible. There are many ways to plant it. It can also be planted in dry land, but the soil must have good drainage. In terms of nutrition, it contains about 30 percent protein.

This grass can be considered the grass with the highest protein content in the world. Apart from that, 12 percent mineral elements are also found in it, and an amino acid called mimosine is also found, which acts as a toxic substance if consumed in excess.

How to grow Lucaena leucocephala grass

It can be sown directly from seeds. But before sowing the seeds, the seeds must be soaked in hot water. Seeds will take a long time to germinate. After soaking the seeds, they should be soaked in hot water for 3 minutes and then soaked in cold water for 24 hours. If it is the first time to sow in a particular land, the seeds should be sown only after soaking them with organic fertilizer. But if there is no organic fertilizer, it can be sown mixed with the soil previously sown with grass.

In our country, there is a bad practice of growing Lucaena leucocephala as a large tree. If you let it grow like this, its grass will be less, and only wood will be more. Therefore, without letting it grow taller than four hands or 1 person, you can plant the plants in rows at a distance of one hand. Its roots go deep, remain green all year round, tolerate dry weather, and are very digestible, that is, animals eat and digest them sweetly.

Naturally, its popularity has increased. However, since this grass contains a type of poison called mimosine (an amino acid), the necessary precautions must be taken. If a sheep is poisoned by its poison, it will fall, while if an animal, large or small, feeds on very young grass, it can be poisoned and even die. When feeding with this grass, it should not be filled only with this grass, but should be limited to 30 percent of the animal’s diet.

If you make rows one meter apart and move them 40 centimeters apart, you can get more yield from it. When you plant it on the outer perimeter of the farm, it also acts as a fence. When planting at a short distance, 5000 plants can be planted per hectare. Seeds are required at the rate of 7 to 8 kilograms per hectare. From this, an average of 30 to 50 tons of hay can be produced per hectare.

3. Flemingia macrophylla Grass for Goats

Although it is less nutritious than grasses such as epil and Morus spp, it has more leaves than stems, it is a box crop, only 2 to 3 meters high, and can grow even in dry and poor soils, so it is suitable for goat farmers to plant it, taking into account the nature of their land. In addition, it is also used as a green manure, to control weeds, and to fertilize the soil in fruit orchards.

Its special feature is that it can germinate very quickly in dry land, in waterlogged land, and even in unirrigated land. It can be cultivated in a lot of types of soil. Geographically, it can be planted in the lowlands and mid-mountains up to 12,000 meters. Its seeds are smooth, black, and fleshy. Its seeds can be stored after drying and maintaining appropriate humidity (10 percent), and it is wise to sow or germinate its seeds by scarifying them as much as possible (by rubbing or soaking them in hot water for 2-3 minutes and then immediately in cold water to soften the outer skin).

Otherwise, only a few seedlings can germinate from many seeds. This grass, which contains about 17 percent protein, has a slightly high tannin content, so animals do eat it as it is considered very tasty.

When planting, it is sufficient to maintain a distance of one meter between rows and one meter between plants. Once established, it can be harvested in 3-4 months.

4. Bauhinia purpurea Grass for Goats

Its seeds are collected in March-April. To protect the newly sprouted plants from fungal diseases, the seeds should be soaked in cold water for 24 hours before sowing (changing the water occasionally). It is also sown in May-June. It can be planted at a distance of two meters, and the seedlings are pruned once a year around November-December. Since it is a deciduous tree, it can also be propagated through seeds, seedlings, and cuttings.

The Bauhinia purpurea tree has a unique feature. Although it is a cell, it does not fix much nitrogen. It also cannot be pruned for 4 to 5 years after planting. 100 kg of green grass can be harvested per plant per year, while the seedlings can be pruned only once around Mangsir-Push. This grass contains about 21 percent protein and 10 percent minerals. It should be planted by making a hole at least one hand deep.

5. Bauhinia variegata Grass for Goats

Since seeds propagate it, its seeds should be collected in April. Like the seeds of the tang, soaking them in cold water before sowing can protect them from fungal diseases during germination. Since it is a deciduous tree, it can also be propagated by seeds, seedlings, and cuttings. Since it contains a type of poison called hydrocyanic acid, if fed in large quantities, blood may appear in the urine of animals. Other things are like the Bauhinia purpurea.

6. Grewia optiva Grass for Goats

It can be planted in the mid-hills and the Terai. However, this species is more popular in the Far West region. Bhimal seeds are collected from November to February and are more likely to germinate only if sown immediately or in very fresh conditions. Otherwise, like Badhar, its germination capacity is lost.

Its fruit is also sweet. Its bark can be used as fiber, as it is used as baking powder in cell roti and as a candle, so it can also be considered a multipurpose tree. It contains about 19 percent protein, but its hay production is less than other hays.

7. Chamaecytisus palmensis Grass for Goats

It is also known as a tree, Alfalfa. This grass is a type of grass that can be successfully grown in the cool climate of mid-hilly regions. It prefers acidic soil but can also tolerate alkaline soil up to pH 8. Also, only well-drained soil is suitable for it.

It is best to plant this grass in the field when the seedlings grown from seeds and nurseries are half a meter tall. When planted in this way, 500 plants can be planted per hectare if the rows are 5 meters apart and the plants are 25 meters apart. However, when planted very densely, 10,000 plants can be planted per hectare.

It is imported because it does not contain toxins like epilepsy, contains about 22 percent protein, is highly digestible (71 percent digestible), is evergreen in nature, and is not very tall (5 to 7 meters tall), grows quickly, and is frost-resistant. In addition, this grass is drought-resistant, grows quickly, and is less susceptible to diseases and pests, so it seems that this grass will soon become popular.

It can be harvested in the first year of planting. 40 to 60 metric tons of fresh green grass or 10 to 20 metric tons of dry matter can be obtained per hectare of land per year. However, it should be allowed to establish itself for the first 2-3 years. Like epilepsy, its leaves can also be dried and used as feed.