Anjan grass (Cenchrus ciliaris)

Local names: Buffel grass, African foxtail

Anjan  grass is  a  most  important  perennial grass with a marked tussocky habit of growth.  It is leafy prostrate and rhizomatous grass of  the tropics  up to an altitude of 1500 meters. It shows best growth in monsoon. It can withstand drought and is an excellent grazing grass for hot dry areas in tropics and sub-tropics. It is a good soil binder and hence used as a cover crop on bunds for soil and water conservation. Depending on rainfall, the yield varies greatly and in arid tract with less than 300 mm rainfall, a well established pasture produces 90-110 tonnes/ha green matter.

Nutritive value

Anjan grass is relished by all classes of livestock. It is an excellent type maintenance quality fodder and can support milk yield without  concentrate up to a limited extent. It contains 11% crude protein at young stage with suitable ratio of calcium and phosphorus. Neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre content is 72.0 and 38.0%, respectively. It provides vary good hay since it retains its nutritive value even when ripe fully.