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Kenya Seed Company is currently the sole producer of grass seed and has excelled in the production of different varieties of pasture seed, of which a big proportion is annually used locally while the surplus is exported to countries around the world.
- Rhodes Grass (Click for More Information)
- Forage Sorghum (Click for More Information)
- Leguminous Grasses (Click for More Information)
1. RHODES GRASSS (chloris gayana)
- Rhodes grass is the most important pasture grass in Kenya due to its ease in establishment and management.
- Optimum pasture management practices ensure consistent high milk production all year round.
BOMA RHODES
- Was selected from an older variety called Masaba Rhodes.
- An improved variety with softer and excellent herbage.
- Is slow growing and therefore suited for lower stocking rates.
- Tends to give bottom tillers and is drought tolerant.
- Forms a thick grass matt and is very popular in the medium altitudes.
ELMBA RHODES
- Originated from Uganda and is an improved selection from Mbarara Rhodes.
- Is a fast growing variety with excellent soft herbage and strong seedling vigour.
- Is situated for a wide range of climatic conditions, though it does best in light and sandy soils.
COLOURED GUINEA (Panicum colorutum)
- Is a tufted perennial.
- During the early seedling stage, it tends to have wide curly leaves with slightly wrinkled edges.
- Has good herbage quality.
- Can withstand sever water logging.
- Can persist in black cotton soils.
- Thrives well in a wide range of rainfall regimes and remains green into the dry weather
NANDI SETARIA (Setaria sphacelata)
- It’s a tufted perennial suitable for the high altitude high rainfall areas.
- Good for dairy animals.
CONGO SIGNAL (Brachiaria ruziziensis)
- Is a short leafed perennial which forms a thick mat of leaves not more than 20-40cm high .The thicker cover supports high stocking rates.
- Does well in warm, wet climates. It requires high fertility and moisture regimes and high phosphate and nitrogen levels.
- Is persistent and competes with natural grasses.
- Can be utilized as lawn grass and for erosion control measure.
2. FORAGE SORGHUMS
- Forage sorghums are mainly use for grazing but can also be ensiled.
- These sorghums when used for silage have an advantage over maize in that they produce a large bulk of high quality hay which with good husbandry can be cut several times in a season.
Sudan Grass
- Is a quick growing annual with a small stem and thin leaves.
- Is very palatable with relatively low production potential.
- It is useful as cheap short term weather feed.
Columbus Grass
- Is a slow growing biennial crop with broader leaves, which under good husbandry practices can be cut for two consecutive years without reduction in palatability.
Velvet Sorghum
- Is a large, broad –leafed plant which is slower growing but more persistent than Columbus grass.
- It is a less productive than other sorghums but will produce large quantities of dry matter over a long period.
3. LEGUMINOUS GRASSES
Desmodium
- Is a perennial grass that thrives well in all altitudes 0-3000.
- Rich in crude protein and calcium
- Yields up to 400 bales of hay per acre.
- Helps to fix nitrogen in soil and suppresses growth of Striga weed when inter cropped with maize.
Lucerne
- Grows best in altitude of 1000-3000m
- Yields upto 250 bales of hay acre.
- Matures within 3-4 months.
- Rich in crude protein and calcium
- Increases milk production and is ideal for fattening steers
- Does well in fairly dry atmosphere and grows rapidly in warm months
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Pasture