Goat's rue grass fodder: description and seeding rate, application for goats

From official, trusted sources about goat's rue, grass for fodder crops, and its use by humans, you can find out that this is a plant of the genus Galega, which is divided into several species. In Russia, medicinal and oriental most often grow. Also found in the steppes, along rivers or streams in Ukraine, Moldova. Next, we will consider in detail the beneficial properties of the plant, its use in medicine.

Description and medicinal properties

Goat's Rue is a perennial plant that grows to a height of 50-80 centimeters. The root is weak, rod type.The stems are straight, the leaves look typical of legumes, they are pinnate. During the growing season, the plant is dotted with many light blue or pale purple inflorescences that make up small brushes. The fruits are small, up to 4 centimeters in size. They look like beans.

Grows naturally in Europe (south, central, east), Italy (west and south). Often used as pet food. The flowering period falls on July-August, fruit ripening - in August-September. Since flowering is extended over time, and the inflorescences themselves look nice, goat's rue can be used in garden decor. The name of the plant contains its purpose: the word form "Galega" is formed from "gala" - milk and "agein" - that which leads to the stimulation of lactation.

Even in antiquity, a decoction of goat's rue was used by breastfeeding young mothers to increase the flow of milk. The use of the leaves of the plant gave the same effect.

Currently, goat's rue has been used in folk medicine as a proven diaphoretic, diuretic and lactation enhancer. It is believed that eating parts of the plant improves the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, eliminates stagnation, constipation in the intestines.

Modern doctors prescribe galega for diabetes mellitus as a hypoglycemic drug, mainly in the form of an alcohol tincture. In agriculture, it is used as a feed to stimulate the increase in milk yield in goats and cows, to increase the weight of pigs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Of course, the interest in the plant is justified by its obvious advantages, the possibility of using it in various areas of the household, as a medicine, including for livestock feed. Goat's Rue benefits include:

Winter hardiness, general unpretentiousness. The plant is drought tolerant, although sensitive to watering. It can grow on poor soils, loams. Does not require additional care, fertilizing.
High yield. On average, up to 30-60 (maximum - 128) centners of green mass are harvested from 1 hectare. Seed yield is up to 5 centners per hectare.
Nutrition. Contains up to 42% protein, up to 30% fiber, up to 27% protein. In small quantities (traces in hay, up to 0.2% in seeds) alkaloids are present in goat's rue.
Possibility of long-term cultivation. It is believed that goat's rue is able to grow in one place up to 20 years! It is a ready-made pasture, a source of highly nutritious forage for animals for a long period of time, which makes it more profitable to grow than other crops.
Value for beekeepers. Goat's rue is a well-known honey plant, and early. From 1 hectare you can get up to 100 kilograms of the finished product.

But along with the advantages, there are also disadvantages. The plant is photophilous, can react to this factor.The declared frost resistance in fact is most often expressed in susceptibility to late frosts, damage to the leaves. From soils, slightly acidic, not waterlogged, with a good balance of organic matter are most suitable.

With all the minuses of the goat's rue, there are still many more pluses, which justifies planting it in the garden, on the pasture.

Growing Technology

Many agricultural technicians, livestock breeders and hobbyists emphasize the ease of cultivating goat's rue. The only problem is that before sowing the seeds, they need to be scarified. Each seed has a fairly hard shell. To speed up the process of germination, it must be artificially destroyed. At home, with small volumes of planting a plant for hay, for medicinal purposes, the seeds are rubbed with sandpaper. On an industrial scale, special machines are used for this (it is allowed to use a concrete mixer).

The best time for sowing is early spring. Any specific measures of care, soil preparation are not required. With regard to soils, it is customary to assert that goat's rue will grow steadily everywhere. But fertile, with good permeability and slightly acidic still work better. It is also recommended to plant galega where winter crops grew before.

It should be noted that seeds after scarification require immediate sowing. Otherwise, they quickly lose their properties. Under average conditions, goat's rue usually grows without any problems for 2 years.

Sowing rate for goat's rue per 1 ha

As a result of scientific work, it was possible to establish the optimal number of goat's rue seeds for planting a plant. It is 2-3 million fully prepared, with guaranteed germination, seed per 1 hectare. At the same time, row spacings of up to 60 centimeters are observed.It is recommended on an industrial scale to combine planting with subsequent sowing (late July-early August) of boneless brome.

How to give to goats

Green mass of grass is an excellent source for creating feed that is used in the cultivation of cattle, horses, pigs, goats. During the budding period of goat's rue, herbal flour, pressed briquettes are prepared from it. When flowering occurs, the plant goes to harvest hay, bookmark in silos.

Goats willingly eat the stems, the mass of the plant, just pick or chop goat's rue into small pieces. Studies show that dry food is digested up to 80%, these are incredible figures. The combination with other types of feed requires preliminary clarification from specialists. Do not forget that legumes, beets lead to bloating, flatulence in animals.