July 6, 2001

Volunteer Canola a Good Forage, Specialist Says

Volunteer canola growing in fields that were too wet to plant this spring may yield an unexpected crop of forage, a North Dakota State University livestock specialist says.

"We’ve received several inquiries about harvesting volunteer canola for forage, and information we’ve received from Canada indicates that canola can be a very good feed source," says Karl Hoppe, extension livestock specialist at the NDSU Carrington Research Extension Center.

Hoppe says proper cutting, curing and baling are essential to harvesting a quality crop. Peak dry matter hay production is achieved when canola is cut at the early pod stage. "Fortunately, canola continues to flower and set pods throughout the season, so there is some flexibility in when to cut," he says.

That’s important because several days of good curing weather are necessary. "Canola takes a more time to dry down because of its thicker stem. You have to make sure the stems are dry or you may wind up with moldy or wet spots in the hay. If you think it’s dry enough to bale, you probably need to wait one more day," Hoppe says.

Unfortunately, canola’s large leaves are prone to shattering once they’ve dried. Ideally, dry canola hay should be baled with dew on it to help prevent leaf loss. Producers should check with their crop insurance consultant to make certain harvesting the canola does not impact their prevented planting coverage.

In terms of feeding, Hoppe says canola is a good source of protein. A recent sample from canola hay harvested in North Dakota had more than 16 percent moisture and a relative feed value of 106.92 on a dry matter basis. If canola hay is made into silage, its feed value should rival alfalfa hay.

The hay is also very palatable, but cattle may take a few days to adapt to its flavor. "It’s probably a good idea to limit the ration to 10 to 15 percent canola hay during those first few days," Hoppe says.

The only concern with feeding canola is the potential for nitrate poisoning. "Canola doesn’t accumulate nitrate like some of our other forage crops, but the potential is there, especially if the plants are under stress from drought, heat, flooding or cold weather," Hoppe says. "The $5 to $10 cost of having a sample tested is probably good insurance."

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Source: Karl Hoppe, (701) 652-2951, khoppe@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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