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Small Grain/Peas Mixture for Forage
There has been a lot of interest this spring in adding peas with oats for hay. Adding peas at 60 lbs/A to oats can; increase the protein content 3-4%, and increase the relative feed value to 10 to 15 points, over oats alone. Other mixtures with peas could include triticale or barley.
Listed below are production considerations for small grain/pea mixtures for forage.
VARIETIES:
Oats:
Late maturing variety best suited for forage production. Otana, Dumont, Valley, Magnum
Barley:
Smooth awned variety should be considered. Horseford is a hooded awn variety suited for
forage production.
Triticale:
Late maturing variety best suited for forage. Varieties: Frank, Wapiti
Peas:
Small seeded variety best suited for forage mixtures. Varieties: Trapper, others
SEEDING RATE:
Oats: 35-40 lbs/A
Barley: 40-50 lbs/A
Triticale: 50-60 lbs/A
Peas: 60-90 lbs/A; Higher peas rates (90 lbs/A) suggested for dairy and silage.
PLANTING DATE:
April - Early May
Forage yield will drastically decrease as planting date is delayed into May.
HARVEST DATE:
Cut When: Oats are in the milk to soft dough stage,
Barley is in early heading to milk stage,
Triticale is in the early heading stage.
FORAGE QUALITY:
Excellent
Crude Protein: 12-16%; 3 to 4% higher than the small grains alone.
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