Key Points:

• Palatable Forage: Teff grass is highly palatable and readily consumed by livestock.
• Nutrient-Rich: Offers a balanced profile of protein, fiber, and minerals.
• Low-Sugar Content: Ideal for animals sensitive to high sugar levels, like horses.
• Rapid Growth: Establishes quickly and can be harvested multiple times in a season.
• Drought Tolerant: Thrives in warm and dry conditions, ensuring reliable forage production.

Why It Is Best for Livestock:

1. Balanced Nutrition: Provides an excellent balance of fiber, protein, and essential minerals, supporting healthy growth and production.
2. Digestibility: Highly digestible forage, improving feed efficiency and nutrient absorption.
3. Versatility: Can be used as hay, grazing, or silage, offering multiple feeding options.
4. Low-Sugar Forage: Its low sugar content makes it particularly beneficial for horses and other animals needing controlled sugar intake.
5. Easy Cultivation: Rapid establishment and regrowth, along with its adaptability to different climates, make it a reliable forage option.

Detailed Nutritional Facts:

• Crude Protein: Approximately 12-16%
• Crude Fiber: Approximately 28-32%
• Digestible Energy: Moderate to high
• Calcium: 0.4-0.6%
• Phosphorus: 0.2-0.4%
• Non-Structural Carbohydrates (NSC): Low, typically under 10%

Usage and Benefits:

• Grazing: Teff grass is ideal for rotational grazing, providing soft, palatable forage that animals readily consume.
• Hay Production: Fine stems and leafy structure make it excellent for high-quality hay, especially for horses.
• Silage: Can be used for silage, maintaining nutrient levels over time.
• Supports Weight Management: Its low sugar content is ideal for animals needing weight control, especially horses.
• Improved Digestive Health: The balanced fiber content supports healthy digestion and reduces the risk of colic in horses.

Which Animals Can Feed on Teff Grass:

• Horses: Particularly suitable for horses due to its low sugar content and high digestibility.
• Cattle: Provides balanced nutrition for both beef and dairy cattle.
• Sheep: Ideal for sheep, contributing to growth and wool production.
• Goats: Beneficial for overall health and productivity in goats.
• Alpacas and Llamas: Offers essential nutrients and fiber for their diet.
• Rabbits and Guinea Pigs: Can be fed in smaller amounts as part of a varied diet.

Teff grass is a versatile and nutrient-dense forage that provides multiple feeding options for livestock while supporting optimal health, production, and weight management. Its palatability and adaptability to various climates make it an essential addition to livestock feeding programs.