Forage

WHAT IS FORAGE?

Forage is feed for livestock, including cattle, sheep and horses. It includes grasses, legumes and other crops such as cereals and corn harvested as pasture, hay, silage or green-feed.

WHERE IS FORAGE PRODUCED IN BC?

Forage is grown in every part of BC. While the production per hectare is generally greatest in southern areas, high-quality, low-cost feed can be produced from Prince George north where land prices are lower. Most forage is grown and fed on the same farm.

HOW MUCH FORAGE DO WE PRODUCE?

On average, BC annually produces about 2 million tonnes of tame hay equivalent cut for hay and silage. Tame hay includes alfalfa, alfalfa mixtures, other legumes and grasses.

HOW IS FORAGE PRODUCED?

Annual crops such as cereals, peas or corn are sown in early spring and harvested from July to September mostly as silage. Perennial crops of grasses and legumes are sown alone or with a companion crop and harvested for 4 to 8 years. One cut per year, plus some fall pasture, is harvested in northern areas; two cuts are common in the Cariboo; three cuts under irrigation at Kamloops; and four to five cuts are harvested per year in coastal areas. The mineral soils of BC are often deficient in nutrients essential for crop growth, so soil testing and nutrient application are essential to optimize production. Livestock manures are used for this purpose wherever possible.

WHAT DOES FORAGE LOOK LIKE WHEN IT IS USED?

Forage is grown for pasture, harvested as green-feed, stored as hay or silage, or processed for domestic or export markets. Stored feed can be harvested as hay (less than 15% moisture) in small square bales (22 to 45kg); large square bales (900kg); small (350kg) or large (635kg) round bales; and in loose stacks (approximately 2700kg). Silage (40 to 75% moisture) can be chopped and stored in upright or horizontal silos, packed in plastic bags, or baled unchopped and stored in long plastic tubes or individually wrapped. Processed BC forage is sold as bagged small-bale haylage for the coastal horse market or as alfalfa processed in pellets or small cubes for the export market.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE FORAGE LEAVES THE FARM?

About 75% of forage produced in BC is utilized on the farm. Another 20% is shipped within the province. Several trucking firms are in the business of transporting forage to livestock producers in the province. Some forage is shipped out-of-province to supply the Alaska dairy market, the Yukon horse market and the Pacific Rim processed forage market.

WHAT CHALLENGES DOES THE FORAGE PRODUCER FACE?

Forage producers are looking for ways to overcome the problem of wet weather at harvest. Faster hay drying techniques using a macerator are being developed. A macerator finely chops the forage and lays it in a swath. Because the cut material is in small pieces, drying time can be reduced considerably. Producers are also developing cheaper silage storage techniques. Like most other agricultural producers, they are seeking ways to reduce their cost of production.

WHO'S INVOLVED IN PRODUCING FORAGE?

• All livestock producers
• Commercial forage producers
• Forage seed producer
• Truckers/transporters
• Suppliers of fertilizer, seed farm machinery and irrigation equipment
• Forage processors

Interesting Fact About Forage:

More hectares of forage are grown in BC than any other cultivated crop. While traditionally forage has been grown as feed for livestock, it is also used as feed for game animals such as fallow deer and exotic birds such as emu and ostrich.

Contacts and other resources:

 

BC Forage Council

BCMAL - Forage Information

Canadian Dehydrators Association

Canadian Hay Association

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