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FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri

Alkaline Grain Technology: increased Norwegian ingredients in cattle diets and effects on milk production, animal health and GHG emission

Alternative title: Alkalisk teknologi: Økte norske ingredienser i storfe dietter og effekter på melkeproduksjon, dyrehelse og klimagassutslipp

Awarded: NOK 7.5 mill.

Population growth and climate change highlight the need to promote sustainable production and food security in agricultural policies. Norway has a Nordic climate with less than 3% of the total land area cultivated. This contributes to high levels of imported protein ingredients (~90%) in feeds for production animals. This raises environmental and sustainability issues. Therefore, there is a growing interest for local feed resources to substitute imported protein ingredients. However, such efforts are challenged by the high starch and low protein levels in grains with increased incidence of metabolic disorders, especially in dairy cows. The latter compromises feed use efficiency and, animal health and welfare. With AlkaNor - an alkaline treatment of cereal grains- we are currently investigating: 1) if the share of imported protein ingredients in dairy cow diets can be reduced without affecting animal performance and health using locally produced grains; 2) if this can reduce greenhouse gas emission from dairy cow production, and 3) the economic implications of this intervention. We are addressing the above questions by doing in vitro, in sacco, and in vivo experiments using alkaline grain (Cereal grain treatment methodology). The alkaline grain contains urea and different enzymes where the added urea, in the presence of enzymes and under closed conditions, converts into ammonia. The latter is utilized by rumen microbes for microbial protein synthesis increasing the protein value of cereals in ruminant diet. Furthermore, the alkaline grain has a pH of about 8.5 ? 9.0 and this would allow increased inclusion level of cereal grains in dairy cow diets without adverse effect on rumen functioning. In AlkaNor project, the in vitro and in sacco experiments are largely completed as preliminary works leading into animal experiments. The results are promising and being drafted for publication now. Based on the indications from these studies, we are planning two detailed animal experiments (to be completed in 2022) with high yielding early-lactation Norwegian red dairy cows on milk production, milk quality, animal health, nutrient use efficiency and methane emission. These experiments are expected to produce substantial data to help in our efforts to reduce the environmental footprint of the livestock production and improve food/feed self-sufficiency. Furthermore, assessment of dairy cow health and economic analysis on resource use will make it possible to evaluate whether the method is feasible in the current production environment. Lastly, any magnitude of positive outcome here will help in our efforts for strategic allocation of feed resources, both local and imported, based on critical demand.

Population growth, climate changes and diminishing natural resources highlight the need to promote food security in agricultural policies. Norway has a Nordic climate with less than 3% of the total land area cultivated. This limitation contributes to high levels of imported feed ingredients used in concentrate feeds for production animals in Norway, with especially high figure for protein ingredients (~90%). This is in stark contrast to the agricultural policy in Norway promoting food self-sufficiency. Furthermore, the Norwegian livestock population is in a unique position with regard to animal health, and there is an increased risk of introducing new diseases to the country through import of feed ingredients. Therefore, there is a growing need to search for local feed resources. However, the efforts to increase the proportion of local ingredients in concentrate feeds is challenged by the high starch and low protein levels in grains. This increases the incidence of gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders; particularly the risk of subacute rumen acidosis (SARA) which, among others, compromises feed use efficiency, animal health and welfare with high economic impact. New technologies and treatment methods can increase the share of Norwegian feed ingredients in rations to production animals. This project will investigate the effects of using the alkalization technology on locally produced grain fed to dairy cows by assessing the effects on physiological and production parameters, and monitor environmental effects through quantification of greenhouse gas emission and nitrogen excretion. In addition, the project will look into animal health parameters by using new methods (-omics), and try to identify proxies (biomarkers) as non-invasive tools to detect animals with SARA. Economic analysis on the feasibility of the proposed alkaline treatment in relation to soy-based diets will also be evaluated.

Funding scheme:

FFL-JA-Forskningsmidlene for jordbruk og matindustri