Description
On temporary grasslands, a multi-species seed mixtures with herbs is sown. Meadow herbs in the sward are included in the mixture for improvement of the quality of obtained feed, finally affecting the better milk quality, which is processed directly on the farm. The quality of raw milk is of high importance in the production of dairy farm products, especially long-term ripened cheese. Meadow herbs in the herbage have also a positive effect on animal health and welfare.
Reason for the innovation
The idea of introducing herbs to grassland sward with the aim to produce high-quality food was taken from the literature and practice of other organic farms in Poland and Europe. The main problem during the implementation of innovation was the lack of herbal seed mixtures for grassland establishment on the domestic market, especially for the production of feed for dairy cattle. The solution were the available herbal seed mixtures for horse pastures renovation. They were used as supplement for grass-legume seed mixtures by grassland establishment. Valuable herbage from grassland used in dairy cows feeding al-lows to obtain a milk with a significantly reduced content of unfavorable micro-organisms from the Clostridium group and others in relation to milk based on maize silage. Such milk is desirable for long-term ripened cheese production.
Farm description
Environment
- Soil types: Sandy, Clay
- Climate: Warm-summer humid continental
- Altitude: 80 m a.s.l.
- Slope: 0%
Grassland management
- All of the grasslands are exclusively mowed.
- The sward is conserved by haylage making.
Structure
- Annual Work Unit: 4
- Agricultural Area: 20 ha UAA
- Main forage area: 20 ha
- Arable land area: 8 ha
- Permanent grassland area: 12 ha
- Temporary grassland area: 4 ha
- Other forage area (alfalfa): 4 ha
- Average stocking rates:
- agriculture area 0.7 LU/ha
- main forage area 0.7 LU/ha
- grassland area 0.9 LU/ha
Animal performance
- Dairy cows: 11
- Total livestock units: 14.7 LU
- Milk production per head: 7500 (l/year)
Why it is working
Innovation allows the farm to improve the health and welfare of animals and to obtain high-quality milk necessary for its processing on the farm in order to obtain final high-quality dairy products (e.g. long-term ripened cheese) for the direct marketing.
