Forage brome helps raise yields

摘要

Forage brome is already grown widely in France and is attracting UK interest with its yield potential and high protein content. Angela Rhodes finds out more about this alternative forage crop. Increased interest in home grown sources of protein has put the spotlight on a number of novel crops including forage brome. The crop is widely grown on French dairy units and appears to have a lot of potential with its ability to outyield and outstay Italian ryegrass swards and its superior feed value typically analysing at 17-25 percent crude protein and over 11.0MJ/kg DM ME. Associations with the invasive arable weed sterile brome have tended to put farmers off growing brome grass but the availability of new varieties and better agronomic information havetempted some to try the crop.