Lists of Forage Grasses and Legumes for Animals

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List of Forage Grasses for Animals
List of Forage Legumes for Animals

In the article I wrote on how to efficiently feed ruminants at a lower cost, I suggested the establishment of pastures. I further explained that it is necessary to consider the type, class and nutritive characteristics of the grasses and legumes to cultivate on the intended pastureland for the feeding of Cattle, Goats, Sheep, Rabbits, Oxen, Buffalo and even Horses. Below are the recommended forage grasses and legumes that a farmer can cultivate and would thrive well in the tropics and savannahs with good nutrients.

recommended forage grasses and legumes for animals — Cattle grazing in a field

Please note that grasses are basically rich in fiber while legumes are majorly rich in proteins and very rich in nitrogen. Also, you need the combination of the two on your established pastureland.

List of Forage Grasses for Animals

Botanical Name	Common Name	Native Region
Andropogon gayanus	Gamba grass	Tropical Africa
A. tectorum	Southern gamba	Tropical Africa
Axonopus compressus	Carpet grass	Tropical and subtropical America
Axonopus scoparius	Imperial grass	Central and South America
Brachiaria decumbens	Signal grass	Tropical Africa
Brachiaria mutica	Para grass	Tropical Africa and South America
B. brizantha	Palisade grass	Tropical Africa
B. ruziziensis	Rugi, congo grass	Tropical Africa
Cenchrus ciliaris	Buffel grass	Afica, India, Indonesia
Chloris gayana	Rhodes grass	Africa
Cynodon dactylon	Bermuda grass	Tropics and subtropics
Cynodo nlemfuensis	Giant star grass	Tropical Africa
Digitaria decumbens	Pangola grass	South Africa
Hyparrhenia rufa	Jaragua grass	Tropical Africa
Melinis minutiflora	Molasses	Tropical Africa
Panicum maximum	Guinea grass	Tropical and subtropical Africa
Panicum coloratum	Klein grass	East Africa
Panicum antidotale	Blue panic	South East Asia
Pennisetum purpureum	Elephant grass	Tropical Africa
Panicum pedicellatum	Kyasuwa grass	Tropical Africa and India
Panicum clamdestinum	Kikuyu grass	East-Central Africa
Saccharum officinarum	Sugar cane	India
Setaria anceps	Setaria	Africa
Imperata cylindrica	Spear	Guatemala
Tripsacum laxum	Guatemala grass
Eleucine indica	Stubborn grass
Eragrostis tremula	Weeping love
Aristida stipondes	Wutsiyar jaki
Sporobolus pyramidalis	Drop seed
Cymbopogon citratus	Lemon grass

List of Forage Legumes for Animals

Botanical Name	Common Name	Native Region
Cajanus cajan	Pigeon pea	Africa, Asia
Calopogonium mucunoides	Calopo	South America
Centrosema pubescens	Centro	South America
Desmodium intortum	Green leaf	Tropical Africa
Desmodium uncinatum	Silver leaf	Tropical Africa
Gliricidia sepium	Gliricidia	Central Africa
Lablab purpureus	Hyacinth bear	Africa, Asia
Leucaena leucocephala	Lucaena, lead tree	Tropical America
Neonotania wightii	Gycine	Africa
Pueraria phaseoloides	Kudzu	Eastern Asia
Stylosanthes guyanensis	Stylo	Tropical America
Stylosanthes humilis	Townsville	South America
Medicago sativa	Alfalfa	Central Asia
Mimosa pudica	Mimosa
Alysicarpus viginalis	Buffalo leaf