1. Forage Crops Production and Grassland Management
Czech University of Life Sciences Prague
Department of Forage Crops and Grassland Management

2. Introduction Importance of forage crops:
feed production for animal nutrition
(25 % of land)
environmental function of forage swards
(erosion, diversity,…)

3. Legume species Basic legumes: lucerne (Medicago sativa L.)
red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)
Other legumes:
crimson/white/ alsike clover, bird‘s foot trefoil
Importance of legumes:
production of rich-protein forage
nitrogen fixation, positive balance of carbon

4. Grass species Basic genus of grasses: Lolium (e.g. L. perenne)
Festuca (e.g. F. pratensis)
Phleum (e.g. P. pratensis)
Dactylis (e.g. D. glomerata)
Other grass genus:
Poa, Alopecurus, Trisetum…
Importance of grasses:
production of quality forage
retention of water, anti-erosion function

5. Maize (Zea mays L.) Characteristic:
one of the most important annual grasses
hybrid form of variety
GMO
susceptible to erosion
Importance of maize:
production of rich-starch forage
economic benefit due to high yield and quality

6. Forage quality
Components of cell wall: celulose, hemicelulose, protein, fenol compounds

7. Harvest Term of harvest is a compromise among: yield quality
sward persistence
(perennial crops)

8. NFC the rest of WSC, starch protein, NPN, amonia, amine,..
Changes in forage during silage process
Dry matter loss
NFC
WSC, starch
NDF CP
protein, NPN
fat
ash
Fermentation acids
NFC the rest of WSC, starch
NDF CP
protein, NPN, amonia, amine,..
fat
ash
Energy loss
NFE
fiber
Changes of nitrogen forms

9. Agro-botanical compounds
What is a permanent grassland ?
association of plants, animals,…
Agro-botanical compounds
grasses
legumes
other species

10. Relationships in permanent grassland
Yield and quality
Environmental function of grassland
Sward management
(cut x pasture,
frequency)
Variable characteristics of locality
(humidity, nutrients in soil,..)
Stable characteristics of locality
(altitude, soil,…)
Botanical
composition
Botanical composition is a function of locality