Whether short and fast-growing (summer-autumn) or long (summer-spring), so-called "forage" intercrops can be used for livestock production. Their reasoning takes into account the herd's feed requirements. Planted early, forage intercrops are compatible with the Nitrates Directive (autumn soil cover), while providing additional feed in several possible forms: grazing, green feed, silage or mowing (dry or wrapped).
This supplement can be autumnal (2 to 6 t DM/ha depending on species and development conditions) and/or spring (before destruction for spring sowing).
The range of species available to breeders, whether pure or mixed, is vast. The right choice will depend on the type of farming, animal needs, vegetation period, region and soil and climate conditions. Forage species commonly used in intercropping: forage rape (crucifers) / millet, oats, Italian ryegrass, moha, rye, sorghum, triticale (grasses) / faba bean, forage pea, Alexandria and red clover, common vetch (legumes).
The mixtures are based on grasses:
- Moha + Alexandria clover
- Brazilian oats + common vetch
- Italian ryegrass + forage rape
- Italian ryegrass + Alexandria clover
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Themost productive choices
The yield potential of intercropping cover crops depends on as many parameters as that of any cash crop. On average, however, triticale, clover and common vetch have a lower yield potential (1 to 3 t DM/ha) than the rest of the panel (2 to 4 t DM/ha). On the other hand, cover crops sown in August have high nutritive values when harvested before flowering or heading. By their very nature, certain species such as red clover, common winter vetch, rapeseed and Italian ryegrass have high nutritional values.
Moreover, a harvesting objective does not lead to the same choices as a grazing objective. For the latter, forage rapeseed and moha (not very suitable for silage) or a mixture of Italian ryegrass + forage rapeseed are preferred. Pure millet and Italian ryegrass are also options to consider.
For export crops (green feed, silage or mowing), the following intercrops are best suited: Italian ryegrass, millet, faba bean and field pea.
Finally, some varieties have the advantage of flexibility, as they are compatible with all three types of valorization. These include oats, rye, sorghum, triticale, clover, vetch and the mixtures moha + Alexandria clover, common vetch + Brazilian oats and Italian ryegrass + Alexandria clover.
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