Super Napier Pakchong
Super Napier Pakchong 1
Overview
Super Napier Pakchong 1 is a high-yielding and nutrient-rich fodder variety ideal for various livestock, including Dorper sheep, Galla goats, dairy goats, and dairy cows. Known for its impressive crude protein content of 16–18%, it is a top choice for farmers aiming to optimize milk production and overall livestock health.
We sell Super Napier Pakchong 1 Splits at Kes 15 for a mature two nodes cutting.
Nutritional Benefits
- Crude Protein Content: Super Napier Pakchong 1 stands out with a crude protein (CP) content of 16–18%. Lab tests conducted in February 2021 confirmed a CP of 17.2%.
- Silage Quality: This variety is highly suitable for silage, thanks to its high water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) content of 18%, eliminating the need for additives.
Agronomic Benefits
- Yield: Super Napier Pakchong 1 produces up to 200 tonnes per acre per year, earning it the title “King of Napiers.”
- Harvesting Schedule: The first harvest can be done 75–90 days after planting, with subsequent harvests every 45–60 days. It offers 7–8 cuttings per year, each yielding 50–60 tonnes depending on soil conditions.
- Growth and Longevity: This variety is hairless, smooth, and propagates through cuttings. Once established, it can ratoon (regrow) for up to 8 years, ensuring long-term productivity.
Cultivation Methods : Tumbukiza
- Dig holes 2 feet deep, 2 feet wide, and 2 feet apart.
- Mix one bucket of well-decomposed manure with soil in each hole.
- Plant two cuttings per hole, placing one node below the soil and one above at a 45-degree angle.
- Space holes 3 feet apart within rows and 3 feet between rows
Environmental Adaptability
- Drought Tolerance: Super Napier Pakchong 1 is drought-tolerant, making it invaluable during severe droughts. It can grow up to 1.7 meters in 60 days even under dry conditions
- Soil Compatibility: This grass performs well in various soil types, including loamy, sandy, and clay soils.
- Climate Resilience: Adaptable to nearly all climatic conditions in Kenya, it withstands low moisture levels and varying temperatures.
Economic Advantages
• Cost Efficiency: The high protein content (16-18%) reduces the need for supplementary feed, saving farmers money. • Livestock Rearing: An acre of Super Napier Pakchong 1 can support 13-15 dairy cows, significantly enhancing farm productivity.
Growth Rate
Super Napier is known for its rapid growth, ensuring multiple harvests per year.
Hairless Stems and Leaves
This feature makes it more palatable and easier for livestock to consume.
Numerous Shoots
High shoot production contributes to its high yield.
Super napier and Climate Change
Super napier plays a key role in sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere hence reducing the impact of climate change and green house gases emissions and with its dense rooting structure, it holds loose soils together hence preventing soil erosion from run away water and strong winds, lastly, this grass is hardy and tolerates drought to a great extent and my appeal is for all farmers who have access to land to plant for their animals and also for taking care of our environment.
Storage and Conservation
- Optimal Harvest Stage: Super Napier Pakchong 1 attains its optimal nutritional value, with a crude protein content of 16-18% and dry matter (DM) of about 25%, when it reaches a height of 1.5-1.8 meters. It is recommended to harvest at this stage.
- Feeding Options: It can be fed to cattle as fresh feed when chopped together with dry grasses or ensiled (made into silage) for later use.
- Silage Making Process:
- Wilt the grass for 2-3 days to reduce moisture levels.
- Chop the wilted grass and compact it tightly in a silo, bunker, or approved polythene bags.
- Ensure all air is expelled to create superior silage.
- Use of Additives: While making silage, you can use molasses, microbes, or inoculants at recommended ratios. However, if these are unavailable, don’t worry. Super Napier Pakchong 1 has a high energy level of about 9 MJ/kg and sufficient water-soluble carbohydrates to enhance natural fermentation.