source: Farm and Food Report
When it comes to greenhouse gases, not all forages are created equal.
In their quest for solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as methane, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food and its partners are encouraging producers to plant alternative forage crops, according to Rangeland and Forage Agrologist Lorne Klein.
"Sainfoin and cicer milkvetch, like alfalfa, are legumes, but they have become more attractive forages because cattle produce less methane when they graze them than when they graze alfalfa. These plants have compounds in them called tannins which have a direct impact on methane production during digestion."
At the moment, there are ten demonstration sites around the province where producers are seeding both of the legumes. Each seeded field is approximately of 40 acres. Different mixtures including sainfoin and cicer milkvetch seed are mixed with alfalfa and grasses.
"The side benefit for producers is that these two alternative legumes are non-bloating, which is a major problem with grazing alfalfa," explains Klein. "Bloating can be deadly in some cases. Therefore the motivation in mixing alfalfa with non-bloating legumes is also one of herd health."
It is useful to know that these two non-boating forages don't produce as much tonnage per acre as alfalfa, which is known for its desirable production characteristics. Alfalfa is the best nitrogen fixing forage legume around. However, managing bloat in beef cattle is a constant challenge.
"We want to demonstrate these legumes to producers and encourage them to use cicer milkvetch," says Klein. "This is a long-lived crop that remains green throughout the growing season. Stems are hollow and relatively tender even when mature, making it palatable for grazing animals."
Sainfoin is early growing and more suited to early spring grazing. Whereas cicer is later growing and more suited to summer and late fall grazing.
"To use these plants, producers need to see what they look like, how they survive and persist through time. Milkvetch and Sainfoin are currently underutilized. We would like to see them used more frequently because it makes sense for producers and it makes sense for the environment," concludes Klein.
Rangeland and Forage Agrologist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 848-2382
When it comes to greenhouse gases, not all forages are created equal.
In their quest for solutions to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions such as methane, Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food and its partners are encouraging producers to plant alternative forage crops, according to Rangeland and Forage Agrologist Lorne Klein.
"Sainfoin and cicer milkvetch, like alfalfa, are legumes, but they have become more attractive forages because cattle produce less methane when they graze them than when they graze alfalfa. These plants have compounds in them called tannins which have a direct impact on methane production during digestion."
At the moment, there are ten demonstration sites around the province where producers are seeding both of the legumes. Each seeded field is approximately of 40 acres. Different mixtures including sainfoin and cicer milkvetch seed are mixed with alfalfa and grasses.
"The side benefit for producers is that these two alternative legumes are non-bloating, which is a major problem with grazing alfalfa," explains Klein. "Bloating can be deadly in some cases. Therefore the motivation in mixing alfalfa with non-bloating legumes is also one of herd health."
It is useful to know that these two non-boating forages don't produce as much tonnage per acre as alfalfa, which is known for its desirable production characteristics. Alfalfa is the best nitrogen fixing forage legume around. However, managing bloat in beef cattle is a constant challenge.
"We want to demonstrate these legumes to producers and encourage them to use cicer milkvetch," says Klein. "This is a long-lived crop that remains green throughout the growing season. Stems are hollow and relatively tender even when mature, making it palatable for grazing animals."
Sainfoin is early growing and more suited to early spring grazing. Whereas cicer is later growing and more suited to summer and late fall grazing.
"To use these plants, producers need to see what they look like, how they survive and persist through time. Milkvetch and Sainfoin are currently underutilized. We would like to see them used more frequently because it makes sense for producers and it makes sense for the environment," concludes Klein.
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Lorne KleinRangeland and Forage Agrologist
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
(306) 848-2382
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