NUTRITION ▶▶▶
the stems of crops resulting from sole cropping when these tissues are exposed to rumen microbes.
- The lignified ring-like structure in alfalfa stems is the main factor that reduces their degradability. More tissues may be degraded and complete utilisation is probably im- proved when alfalfa and grasses are degraded simultane- ously.
Milk production from intercrops It has been reported by researchers that feeding pea-wheat intercrop silage instead of grass silage reduced the concen- trate requirement for dairy cows by 60% without adversely affecting milk yields or quality (Table 1). This is why pea- wheat intercrops may be a viable cost-saving option for dairy farmers. The study also demonstrated the importance of us- ing a short rather than a long-straw pea variety in the inter- crop. The use of shorter-straw pea minimises shading of the companion crop. This, in turn, allows a greater capacity of the latter to restore its nutrients through photosynthesis and hence improves its contribution to the crop mixture, with a resulting improvement in milk production.
Points to consider Often components in intercrop communities may compete with each other for environmental resources. Dominance may
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Table 1 – Milk production of dairy cows fed pea- wheat intercropsilage differing in pea variety or grass silage with two levels ofconcentrates.
Grass silage with 8 kg/d concentrates
DM intake (kg/d) Milk yield (kg/d) 4% FCM (kg/d) Milk fat (g/kg)
Milk protein (g/kg) Milk lactose (g/kg)
17.5 24.5 24.1 40.2 32.4 47.1
Grass silage with 4 kg/d concentrates
15.4 20.1 20.4 41.5 31.1 46.1
Intercrop silage (tall pea-wheat) with 4 kg/d concentrates 17.2 20.8 22.3 42.3 31.5 46.7
occur with either crop, depending on the species, plant height, the interaction between resources under different cropping situations, and the specific nutrient/water require- ments at different stages of development. Minimising com- petition between intercrops should be the main objective in the management of such systems. Proper cultivar selection, appropriate spatial arrangement, and adequate water supply all help alleviate competition effects and enable the maxi- mum benefits of intercrops as feed sources for livestock to be achieved.
References are available from the author upon request. ▶ ALL ABOUT FEED | Volume 28, No. 6, 2020 Intercrop silage
(short pea-wheat) with 4 kg/d concentrates 19.3 24.0 26.5 43.5 31.7 46.9
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