Cobra
It is is a high yielding and nutritious Brachiaria hybrid variety. It is a suitable forage grass for large and small ruminants for increased beef and milk production. Produced an average of 34 t/ha of dry forage biomass on an annual basis (three harvests) under bimodal season rainfed conditions at multiple sites in Kenya. The perennial forage grass is leafy, vigorous, medium height (80-100 cm), drought tolerant and well adapted to low fertility and acidic soils in the tropics and subtropics.
| Characteristic/ management | Remarks |
| Growth habit | It produces high quantities of forage biomass. It has an upright/erect growth habit and grows in well-defined tussocks/bunches that together with its ability to regenerate fast after harvesting makes it especially suitable for cut and carry systems |
| Seed requirement and placement | Seed rate: 5-7.5 kg/ha (spaced out planting) and 10-12 kg/ha (broadcast planting or zero tillage); Seed placement: plant seed at 1-1.5 cm depth and cover lightly with soil |
| Soil fertility requirement | Intermediate to high. Will also do well in low fertility soils |
| Adaptation to acidic soils | Good |
| Tolerance to drought and high temperatures in the field | Good |
| Shade tolerance | Less tolerant to shading |
| Maturity period | 10-12 weeks (days to first harvest/cut after germination); 5-7 weeks (days to subsequent cuts). |
| Utilization options | Can be directly grazed on or cut and carried to livestock for fresh feeding. Can be preserved in the form of hay or silage. Makes high quality hay and silage. |
| Palatability | High |
| Digestibility | Has high digestibility (69%) |
| Protein content | Up to 17% |
| Utilization management | 25 cm (minimum height for animals to exit paddock under direct grazing); 5 cm stubble height (for cut and carry systems). |
| Utilization frequency | 25-30 days (rotational grazing); 35-42 days (cut and carry). Best alternative to achieving high green and dry matter production in intensive cut-and-carry grass systems |
| Persistence in the field | Has high persistence. Has high regeneration capacity and fast regrowth rate. |