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Collaborative project: Optimized conservation of grasses and forage legumes for an improved protein supply of dairy cows. Subproject 1 (OptiKons)

Project


Project code: 2818300116
Contract period: 01.12.2017 - 31.01.2021
Budget: 219,879 Euro
Purpose of research: Applied research
Keywords: cattle, animal nutrition, animal feed, grassland, resource protection, resource efficiency, lucerne, milk, grasses

The project Optikons had the overall objective to improve protein and energy supply to ruminants through targeted treatments of grass and legume forages before and during ensiling. Two distinctly different approaches were followed and compared to reduce, in particular, protein and amino acid degradation, namely moderate or intensive wilting after harvest and addition of hydrolysable tannins at ensiling. The silages were extensively characterized using chemical analyses and feed choice and feeding trials on small ruminants. The results exemplify that choice of forage species, degree of wilting and addition of hydrolysable tannins all have an impact on resource use efficiency of preserved grassland biomass by means of reducing protein and amino acid degradation during preservation starting at the time of harvest.

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