Rye grass

Rye grass

1. Rye grass Kingdom: Plantae Order: Poales Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Pooideae Genus: Lolium Scientific name L.perenne

2. Characteristics Ryegrass can produce high quality forage. Can both grow and mature quickly. From the blade (flat) stage to the stem (round) stage it decreases in nutritional quality. Grows best at temperatures ranging from 15°C to 20°C.

3. Characteristics pH ranging from 5.6 to 6.5 .  Requires 20-30% less water per unit of dry matter than wheat. Rye forage can be used to make silage and haylage .

4. Production Rye possibly originated in south-western Asia. Now usually cultivated in areas with cold winters and warm, dry summers. In the tropics, it is only found at high elevations. Rye grows well under 600 to 1000 mm annual rainfall. Relatively drought-resistant: it can tolerate dry conditions.

5. Nutritional Value Crude protein and fibre contents are highly variable. Crude protein varies from 22% to 6%. NDF varies from 47% to 70%. Much lower crude protein (3%) and higher NDF (84%) contents are reported in straws.

6. Ether extract on average is 4.8%. Crude fiber on average is 28.8%. Ash content on average is 10.7%. Energy on average 17.8MJ/kg DM.

7. Storage and Preservation (Ryegrass haylage ) Haylage is a method of ensiling forage for later use. Dry hay < 20% moisture. Haylage 40 to 60% moisture. Silage ≥ 65% moisture.

8. major goal of haylage production  is to provides both  good   yield  and  quality. Ryegrass haylage is on average 60 to 65% TDN. 12 to 16% CP. Ryegrass haylage can successfully be used to store a higher moisture feed source for use in a winter feeding program.

9. Anti-Nutritional Factors Trypsin inhibitor Ergot (ergot alkaloid involves vasoconstriction and/or hypoprolactinaemia )( Including poor weight gain, reduced fertility, hyperthermia, convulsions, gangrene of the extremities, and death). Fatal neurotoxic disease occurs in livestock of any age