Benefits of Wholecrop Triticale and Lupins
Practical Dairy Solutions has seen substantial benefits in using mixed high protein wholecrops in dairy rations that include:
Encouraging a cow to eat large amounts of feed is the key to productive and efficient milk production. Select feeds to ensure maximum intake. All the nutrients the cow requires for milk production (except water) are in the dry material of the feed. High dry matter intake (DMI) results in high nutrient intake and high milk yield. Forage quality also has a marked effect on dry matter intake. The fibre profile in mixed high protein wholecrops promotes excellent rumen health and a natural and efficient digestion in the rumen.
The improvements to milk quality gained from using predominately high protein and high fibre forage in a winter diet for Holstein Friesian cows is that BF and Protein% peaked at 4.7% and 3.5%
Improved Condition & Fertility
The use of high protein and fibre forages have seen the overall body condition of animals improve due to dry matter intakes that are frequently above 4% of animal bodyweight. These improvements are due to the quality of the fibre and resultant saliva produced. An enormous advantage to animal milk production is then gained through the cow not losing as much weight in early lactation which subsequently has a positive effect on fertility. The improvement in body condition and fertility can be attributed to the pH of the rumen being stable and the nutrients in the diet being fully utilised.
High protein mixed Legume forage (triticale and lupin) has vastly increased fibre content compared to grasses due to their higher % of lignin which allows the rumen to create a mat of fibre. This promotes ideal conditions in the rumen for the microbes to digest feed as efficiently as possible. It also avoids the pitfalls of many dairy rations which contain low fibre levels and cause rumen acidosis, indigestion, poor feed intakes and poor utilisation and as a result poor body condition and fertility.
The main improvements to the soil structure through the use of lupins/lupins-triticale:
- Provide sufficient crop nutrients and minimise their losses
- Replenish Nitrogen
- Reduce weeds, pests and disease levels
- A cereal following lupins is higher yielding and has lower disease levels
- Soil structure is further improved through lupins having an extensive deep root system
One of the main benefits in dairy/arable farms is that a planned manure management program including slurry and FYM plays a significant role in improving soil fertility and hence reducing purchased fertilizer costs.
The use of lupins and wholecrop mixes in a rotation on organic farms is their ability to fix their own nitrogen while improving soil structure. Improvements in following cereal yields can be large.
The increased rumen health can be attributed to Lupins providing the rumen with lower levels of starch and higher levels of digestible fibre. Improvements in animal cudding and saliva production can be attributed to the creation of a healthy rumen. The animals are under less stress due to the more natural condition of the rumen compared to traditional grass silage/ concentrate systems.
Increased utilisation of digestible proteins
By achieving more efficient use of proteins than most diets where at best 25-30% of the protein that is fed to the animal is put into milk. The rest, up to three-quarters or more of the feed protein, ends up on the field in faeces and urine. Using home grown high protein forages will have added benefits in animal health and production where the protein is used mainly in the small intestine due to the higher % of digestible undegradeable protein (DUP) thus reducing the protein wastage seen with most diets.
The use of high protein forages that's; essentially by-pass protein allows a reduction in concentrate costs. Making better and more efficient use of home grown digestible protein is more desirable to the dairy farmer by reducing the need for expensive bought in protein which is essentially the same digestible undegradeable protein (DUP) found in the high protein mixed forage that can be grown on the farm.
Lowering of overall crude protein levels
In diets Maximizing dry matter intake permits feeding higher-forage, lower-concentrate rations which produce the same level of milk production. This results in lower purchased feed costs per unit of milk produced and a lower overall crude protein content in the ration. No reduction in milk yield has been seen when the overall crude protein levels in the rations have been reduced.