Lucerne is one of the most important hay crops in South Africa, but differences in quality can have a marked effect on livestock performance and profitability, especially in the dairy industry. Annelie Coleman asked agricultural economist Walter van Niekerk and lucerne specialist Dr Gerrie Scholtz about the benefits of the National Lucerne Trust’s lucerne grading system.
Lucerne hay is used in all livestock production, but is a particularly valuable resource in the dairy cattle industry. However, the quality of the feed is directly related to nutritional value.
For this reason, the National Lucerne Trust’s new lucerne hay quality index (NLQI) has become an indispensable tool for ascertaining the quality of lucerne, according to Walter van Niekerk, an agricultural economist at the University of the Free State.
STEADY IMPROVEMENT
Also known as alfalfa, lucerne (Medicago sativa) is a perennial flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae. It was one of the earliest crops cultivated specifically for animal feed, and was grown for that purpose by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
By the time it was introduced into Germany in the 1500s, hybridisation had already occurred, resulting in, among others, M. falcate, an animal fodder crop tolerant to cold, drought and resistant to disease. More hybrid species followed, including the French or Mediterranean-type, Provence, which is of great importance in South Africa.
Today, lucerne growers have a wide variety of cultivars to choose from, and base their selection on factors such as dormancy or activity rating, crown height, fit for purpose (hay production or grazing), disease resistance, insect pest resistance, and forage yield. Plant breeding efforts use scientific methodology and technology to develop improved varieties.
Lucerne hay is commonly included in the diets of lactating dairy cows as it is a rich source of protein and energy. It ferments quickly and has a wide mineral profile while providing the fibre required for rumen health and butterfat synthesis in milk.
“Adding lucerne hay to dairy cow diets improves the digestibility of the total diet, resulting in increased dry material intake and subsequent higher milk production,” explains Van Niekerk.
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