Sistemi agroforestali con alberi da foraggio per bovini e caprini, Paesi Bassi
Descrizione del sistema
Numerosi produttori di latte bovino e caprino della regione di Duinboeren fanno parte del Farms’ Network for Fodder Trees and Multifunctional Land Use (2012-2014). Per questo progetto quattro siti di prova con alberi da foraggio sono stati piantati in quattro aziende agricole. Nell'ambito del progetto originale capre e mucche erano libere di foraggiare alberi come il salice (Salix spp).
Meeting iniziale con gli stakeholders
Quattro agricoltori che ricorrono al foraggio proveniente da specie arboree sono stati intervistati l’11 settembre 2014. Dal loro punto di vista, gli aspetti positivi maggiormente rilevanti sono legati al miglioramento delle condizioni di vita degli animali. Viceversa, quelli negativi sono dovuti al controllo della vegetazione spontanea vicino ai giovani[nbsp] alberi (il salice è la specie più usata). Le aree di ricerca più interessanti sono legate alla protezioni degli alberi, alla selezione delle specie arboree usate come foraggio e alla disposizione spaziale delle componenti arboree per ottimizzare la gestione del sistema agroforestale. Per maggiori informazioni, contattare Boki Luske B.Luske@louisbolk.nl del Louis Bolk Institute, Paesi bassi.
Download the initial stakeholder report
Download the initial research and development protocol
Download the system description
A system description report providing an update on the research with ruminants and fodder trees was produced in November 2015.
Lessons learnt
In August 2017, Boki Luske and colleagues at the Louis Bolk Institute summarised the lessons learnt from their research on using tree fodder with dairy cattle in the Netherlands. The research focused on measuring several functional aspects of willow (Salix viminalis) and alder (Alnus glutinosa) trees in a case study. The intake of leaves and twigs by dairy cows was estimated by a browsing experiment on an organic dairy farm. In this particular trial the cows preferred willow leaves to alder leaves. Willow cultivars which have a wide spreading habit were able to provide a “fodder hedgerow” with many growing points within the reach of the cows. Wide growing willow trees enable three dimensional grazing.
Additionally, the nutritional value of the leaves was determined from leaf samples and from a literature study. In general, the willow and alder leaves were found to have higher protein, macro- and micro-element levels than grass. The intake rate of willow was only 0.6 and 0.4% of the required dry matter intake for dry and lactating cows respectively. However the intake of, for instance, sodium (Na), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe) was 2-9% of the daily requirements.
The willow and alder trees also play a functional role in relation to soil fertility and initial measurements were taken of soil organic matter, nitrogen and phosphorus below the trees compared to the grass. Significantly higher earthworm numbers and earthworm biomass were found in the soil under the alder trees than under the willow trees.
Download the innovation leaflet
44_Fodder_trees_for_micronutrient_supply_in_grass_based_dairy_systems.pdf