6 Best Cover Crops to Use as Livestock Feed That Old Farmers Swear By

Looking to maximize your farm’s efficiency? Cover crops aren’t just soil superheroes—they can also serve as nutritious livestock feed, giving you double the benefits from a single planting decision.

Smart farmers know that the right cover crops can reduce feed costs while improving soil health and providing high-quality nutrition for cattle, sheep, goats, and other livestock. When chosen strategically, these dual-purpose plants create a sustainable cycle that benefits both your animals and your land.

This guide will walk you through the six best cover crops that pull double duty as excellent livestock feed, helping you make informed choices for your specific agricultural needs and climate conditions.

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1. Winter Rye: The Cold-Hardy Livestock Favorite

Winter rye stands out as the most cold-tolerant cereal grain cover crop, making it ideal for northern regions with harsh winters. This versatile crop thrives where other forages fail, providing reliable feed during critical winter months.

Nutritional Benefits of Winter Rye for Livestock

Winter rye offers 10-12% crude protein content when grazed at vegetative stages, supporting weight maintenance in cattle and sheep. Its fiber content promotes healthy rumen function while providing essential minerals like manganese and selenium. Livestock readily consume rye’s tender growth, making it highly palatable when managed properly.

Planting and Managing Winter Rye as a Dual-Purpose Crop

Plant winter rye in early fall (6-8 weeks before first frost) at 60-120 pounds per acre for optimal establishment. For grazing, wait until plants reach 8-12 inches before introducing livestock, and remove animals when stubble height reaches 3-4 inches. Implement rotational grazing systems to maximize regrowth potential while protecting soil structure during wet conditions.

2. Crimson Clover: High-Protein Forage for Ruminants

Crimson clover stands out as an exceptional legume cover crop that delivers impressive benefits for both soil health and livestock nutrition. This vibrant, red-flowered annual legume typically contains 15-18% crude protein when harvested at the right stage, making it a premium forage option for cattle, sheep, and goats.

Maximizing Nitrogen Fixation While Feeding Your Herd

Crimson clover can fix 70-150 pounds of nitrogen per acre when allowed to grow to full maturity. To balance soil benefits with livestock nutrition, graze animals when plants reach 8-10 inches tall, leaving at least 3-4 inches of stubble. This partial grazing approach ensures continued nitrogen fixation while providing nutritious forage that significantly reduces supplemental feed costs during spring months.

Optimal Grazing Strategies for Crimson Clover

For maximum forage quality, introduce livestock to crimson clover fields when plants reach early bloom stage. Implement rotational grazing with 3-4 week recovery periods to prevent overgrazing and promote regrowth. Mix crimson clover with cereal rye or annual ryegrass to extend the grazing season and balance the protein content, reducing bloat risk while improving overall forage utilization and digestibility for your ruminant livestock.

3. Annual Ryegrass: Versatile Feed for Multiple Livestock Species

Annual ryegrass stands out as one of the most adaptable cover crops for livestock feed, offering exceptional nutritional value across multiple animal species. With 10-15% crude protein content and high digestibility rates of 65-75%, it provides balanced nutrition that supports weight gain in cattle, sheep, goats, and even poultry systems.

Quick Establishment and Extended Grazing Season

Annual ryegrass establishes rapidly, typically ready for light grazing just 45-60 days after planting. Its cold tolerance extends the grazing season into early winter in many regions, with growth resuming earlier in spring than most other forages. This extended productivity creates a valuable “shoulder season” feed source when other options are limited.

Companion Planting with Annual Ryegrass

Annual ryegrass performs exceptionally well when paired with legumes like crimson clover or winter peas. These combinations increase overall protein content by 3-5% while improving soil benefits. The ryegrass provides structural support for climbing legumes, creating a balanced forage that maximizes both yield and nutritional diversity for your livestock.

4. Hairy Vetch: Nutrient-Dense Option for Cattle and Sheep

Hairy vetch stands out as an exceptional legume cover crop that delivers outstanding nutritional benefits for livestock while improving your soil health. This versatile cover crop thrives in various climate conditions and pairs well with cereal grains like rye for balanced livestock nutrition.

Protein Content and Digestibility Factors

Hairy vetch boasts an impressive 20-25% crude protein content, significantly higher than many traditional forage options. Its protein digestibility reaches 75-80%, making it highly efficient for ruminant nutrition. The fiber structure breaks down readily in cattle and sheep rumens, promoting optimal feed conversion and reducing waste. These nutritional characteristics support both maintenance needs and production goals in your livestock operation.

Managing Hairy Vetch for Maximum Feed Value

Plant hairy vetch in early fall, allowing 6-8 weeks of growth before first frost for optimal establishment. Graze when plants reach 12-14 inches tall to balance nutrition and regrowth potential. Implement rotational grazing with 3-4 week recovery periods to maximize biomass production and prevent overgrazing. For hay production, harvest at early flowering stage when protein levels peak but before stems become excessively woody and less digestible.

5. Forage Brassicas: Turnips and Radishes for High-Energy Feed

Forage brassicas offer exceptional nutritional value with digestibility rates of 85-95%, making them powerful late-season feed options for livestock. Turnips and daikon radishes stand out for their ability to produce both leafy tops and nutrient-dense bulbs or taproots, delivering a complete feed package for grazing animals when other forages decline.

Late-Season Grazing Opportunities with Brassicas

Brassicas excel as fall and early winter grazing options when planted in late summer. Turnips mature in just 60-80 days, producing up to 6 tons of dry matter per acre with crude protein levels of 12-20%. Radishes establish quickly, breaking up soil compaction while providing palatable forage that extends your grazing season by 30-45 days after frost when traditional pastures go dormant.

Preventing Digestive Issues When Feeding Brassicas

Introduce livestock to brassicas gradually over 7-10 days to prevent bloat and digestive upset. Always limit brassica consumption to 50-70% of total diet, providing dry hay or stockpiled pasture alongside these high-energy forages. Supply sulfur-containing minerals to prevent hemolytic anemia, particularly in sheep and goats, and avoid grazing pregnant animals on brassicas during critical development periods.

6. Oats: Reliable and Adaptable Feed Source

Oats stand out as one of the most versatile cover crops for livestock feed, offering exceptional palatability and nutritional value across various farm systems. With crude protein levels ranging from 12-15% and digestibility rates of 60-70%, oats provide balanced nutrition that supports weight gain and milk production in ruminants.

Balancing Soil Benefits with Livestock Nutrition

Oats deliver dual advantages as both soil improver and livestock feed. They capture 30-50 pounds of nitrogen per acre, preventing nutrient leaching while producing 2-3 tons of biomass per acre. Their extensive root system improves soil structure and reduces compaction, making them ideal for rotation before high-value crops while providing nutritious forage for your animals.

Harvesting Methods for Optimal Oat Forage Quality

For maximum nutritional value, harvest oats at boot to early heading stage when protein levels peak. Grazing can begin when plants reach 8-10 inches tall, typically 40-60 days after planting. Implement strip grazing with electric fencing to increase utilization rates by 30-40% compared to continuous grazing. For stored feed, cut for hay or silage at milk stage to balance yield and digestibility.

Conclusion: Selecting the Right Cover Crops for Your Livestock Operation

Cover crops offer a powerful dual-purpose solution for your farm by enhancing soil health while providing nutritious livestock feed. Each option—from cold-hardy cereal rye to drought-resistant sorghum-sudangrass—presents unique advantages for different farming operations and climate conditions.

By selecting cover crops that align with your specific needs you’ll reduce feed costs create sustainable grazing cycles and improve your soil’s long-term productivity. The benefits extend beyond immediate livestock nutrition to long-term farm resilience.

Remember that successful implementation depends on proper timing management and understanding your local growing conditions. You’ll find the greatest success by starting with one or two varieties that best match your climate livestock needs and overall farm goals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top cover crops for livestock feed?

The top six cover crops for livestock feed are Cereal Rye, Winter Wheat, Annual Ryegrass, Crimson Clover, Forage Brassicas, and Sorghum-Sudangrass. Each offers unique benefits in terms of nutrition, growing seasons, and soil improvement properties. Winter Rye, Hairy Vetch, and Oats are also excellent options that provide high protein content and digestibility while improving soil health.

How does Annual Ryegrass benefit both livestock and soil?

Annual Ryegrass provides 10-15% crude protein with 65-75% digestibility rates, making it highly nutritious for livestock. It establishes quickly (ready for grazing in 45-60 days) and extends the grazing season into early winter. For soil health, it develops extensive root systems that improve soil structure and prevent erosion. When paired with legumes like crimson clover, it creates an even more nutritious feed while enhancing soil benefits.

What makes Crimson Clover special as a cover crop?

Crimson Clover serves dual purposes exceptionally well. It provides nutritious forage with 15-18% crude protein while fixing 70-150 pounds of nitrogen per acre in the soil. This legume is highly palatable to livestock and enhances mixed pastures. For best results, graze animals when plants reach 8-10 inches tall and implement rotational grazing to maximize quality and promote regrowth.

How should Forage Brassicas be managed for livestock?

Forage Brassicas (particularly turnips and daikon radishes) offer exceptional nutritional value with 85-95% digestibility rates during fall and early winter. They produce both leafy tops and nutrient-dense bulbs. Introduce livestock to brassicas gradually to prevent digestive issues, and limit consumption to 50-70% of their total diet. These crops are ideal when other forages decline and also break up soil compaction.

When is the best time to plant Winter Rye?

Plant Winter Rye in early fall for optimal results. As the most cold-tolerant cereal grain cover crop, it’s particularly suitable for northern regions with harsh winters. It offers 10-12% crude protein when grazed at vegetative stages. For maximum benefits, implement proper grazing techniques like rotational grazing and avoid overgrazing to allow regrowth and maintain its soil improvement properties.

How nutritious is Hairy Vetch for livestock?

Hairy Vetch is exceptionally nutritious, containing 20-25% protein with 75-80% digestibility, making it highly efficient for ruminant nutrition. Plant in early fall and graze when plants reach 12-14 inches tall. For hay production, harvest at early flowering stage for optimal protein levels. Implement rotational grazing to maximize biomass production. Beyond livestock benefits, it’s an excellent nitrogen fixer for soil health.

What are the advantages of using Oats as a cover crop?

Oats provide 12-15% crude protein with 60-70% digestibility rates, offering exceptional palatability for livestock. They capture nitrogen, produce significant biomass, and improve soil structure. For optimal forage quality, harvest at boot to early heading stage. Begin grazing when plants reach 8-10 inches tall and implement strip grazing to enhance utilization. Oats work well in diverse climate conditions and establish quickly.

How do cover crops reduce farming costs?

Cover crops reduce farming costs by decreasing the need for purchased feed, synthetic fertilizers, and soil amendments. They provide nutritious forage during traditional feed gap periods, extending the grazing season. As they improve soil health, they enhance water retention, reduce erosion, and add organic matter, leading to better crop yields. Many cover crops also fix nitrogen naturally, cutting fertilizer expenses while creating more resilient farming systems.