Organic
Introduction
Practical Dairy Solutions has been actively involved with the use of Mixed High Protein Forages. Their inclusion in diets have resulted in more options being available to the livestock producer to maximise protein potential.
For many years mixed forages have been used to good effect but often inconsistent results from high volumes of low dry matter, low quality forage would increase the need to use expensive purchased concentrates. The need for a more stable and efficient means of conserving forage brought about the increase in Wholecrop Silage where the objective is produce a higher quality forage. The subsequent results when a high quality forage is harvested at 35%DM and above is that the forage will become more important in ration formulation. New forage protein mixes benefit from this development.
Practical Dairy Solution (PDS) has a range of organic mixed forages available Combine or wholecrop Lupins, Beans, Peas and Triticale
Organic Food Industry Growth
The organic industry has become a profitable and fastest growing retail sector in Europe and the U.S over the last decade. Sales across Europe have doubled since 1998, consumers in Italy, Spain, Germany, U.K and France spent a total of €8 billion on organic food in 2003. In the U.S, the market for organic foods and beverages has been reported to be growing at 20% each year1. Nevertheless, the organic sector is still a niche in the total food sector. The organic market share in Denmark is estimated at almost 3% of the total food sales, probably the highest in the world. It is followed by Switzerland and Austria with 2% and 1.8% respectively. The fastest growing food sector within the U.K is the organic food industry with sales worth a staggering £1.6 billion
Organic Milk Production- the U.K market
Following a phenomenal sales increase over the last year, with consumer demand for organic milk growing at approximately 25% per year. The market has now reached a level where Organic Milk Suppliers Company who supply a number of large retailers and organic dairy companies with enough organic milk for their requirements cannot now meet current consumer demand. In the short term, the only way is to temporarily import a small quantity of organic milk to supplement home supplies, not expected to exceed 5% of the total milk supplied. Converting non organic producers to meet consumer demand will be important as during the last twelve months premiums approaching 10price per litre are being realised for organic milk. The decision to convert to organic will be assisted by the potential for profitability, between April 2002 and April 2005 the gross margin performance of organic herds in the U.K has been lower for organic herds compared to conventional dairy herds. In 2006 milk prices between 26-28 pence per litre has allowed organic herd gross margins to out perform conventional dairy units. A study by the University of Wales has shown that a premium of 5 pence per litre is required to match conventional dairy units.
Nutrition
The aim in organic livestock feeding is to primarily use home produced feeds. In the case of ruminants this means rations must be prominently forage of which 60% must be home produced. With restrictions on a wide range of products the organic farmer needs to balance bought in products with home grown crops. Using a sound rotation is the building block of any organic farm and planning and upgrading the rotation as time goes on is essential. A well planned rotation will minimise problems and encourage insects and reduce disease incidence. To grow within this crop rotation a large % of the ruminant animals requirements for protein, energy and fibre resulting in a considerable reduction in the very expensive mass produced bulk feeds and transport costs that are on offer to Organic Producers. The forthcoming changes in Organic Legislation will lead to Organic Ruminant Diets being 100% by the end of 2007.
Alternatives to Imported Protein - See the Benefits of Lupins as a mixed Forage
Current Research
Current interest in Lupins has lead to DEFRA funding a 5 year study at IGER. The project is looking to get enough data on the structure of yellow and blue lupins to get better crops with more consistent yields, earlier maturing varieties and a greater tolerance to acidic soils. In the U.K spring lupins have not been widely used but there is great potential to increase efficiency of use in nitrogen and phosphorus on many farm systems along with many environmental benefits. The grain yields achieved so far is encouraging 2-3t/ha and an ME between 11-14Mj/kg DM.
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