Tree hay

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Tree hay (sometimes also referred to as leaf fodder, leaf hay or tree fodder) is a source of animal fodder produced by harvesting the leaves and twigs of a variety of perennials, and in particular trees. It specifically refers to the practice of feeding the material to livestock directly after collection or more commonly after storing and sometimes drying the tree hay for a certain period of time. It hence does not include the browsing of trees and fodder hedges by livestock directly.

Contents

It is a traditional practice that was once widespread, but has been largely forgotten as grass hay became the dominant practice in modern agriculture. However, recently the interest in this ancient practice, and tree fodder more generally, have started to revive. It relates to Agroforestry and Sustainable Farming in general through shared goals of solving climate and biodiversity challenges. In part because trees and hedges are increasingly recognised as valuable elements beneficial for biodiversity and landscape. Additionally, a growing body of scientific research indicates that tree leaves can potentially serve as an additional source of relevant nutrients for livestock.

History

Producing tree hay was once a common and widespread practice across Europe. Trees were often an essential source of seasonal livestock fodder for many agrarian communities. For some it was structurally part of the fodder stock in winter. In other regions trees were more of a backup source in case of failing grass hay production, for example due to extreme summer weather. Either way, trees were essential for the resilience of traditional agrarian communities.. [1] [2]

Tree hay was most commonly harvested in the summer, possibly dried and stored until the hay was fed to the livestock in the winter. Cutting and drying methods varied per region, but a common practice was the bundling of 60 to 200 cm long twigs held together with twisted twigs of willow or hazel. [2]

The tree species that were harvested depended on the local conditions and culture as well as the type of livestock that was held and their preferences for certain species. [1] In Europe's moderate climate zones Elm and Ash seem to have been popular as fodder sources. But in harsh winters or after bad growing seasons even species like Ivy and Holly are known to have been cut as fodder. [2]

Nutritional value

Trees are part of the natural diet of sheep (20%), goats (60%), horses (15%) and cattle (10%). [3] However, the nutritional value of trees can be very variable and is influenced by many different factors. Every species contains different nutrients in different amounts and the nutrients will also vary depending on soil type and season. Analysing tree fodder on site can be important to give insight to the nutritional value of a specific situation. [4] However, the seasonal variations don't seem significant enough as to when the fodder should be fed. [5]

Generally, the in-vitro organic matter digestibility of tree leaves in comparison to grass is relatively low. But crude protein and mineral levels of some species are relatively high, which makes tree fodder a valuable complementary source of nutrients [6]

Dried tree leaves contain higher mineral levels compared to fresh leaves. Making tree hay a valuable source of minerals outside of the growing season. Tree fodder as a source of magnesium, selenium, zinc and copper in particular is interesting, as these minerals are significantly higher in some trees compared to grass. [7] [6]

Secondary compounds

In addition to macro and micro nutrients, many tree fodder contain a number of secondary compounds that have medicinal properties. The most common secondary compounds are tannins. Tannins have a positive effect on the digestion of protein in ruminants and have shown to reduce intestinal parasites. [8] [6]

Comparison to alfalfa

White mulberry

Alfalfa is considered one of the most nutrient dense fodders for livestock. [9] But when compared to for example white mulberry (Morus alba) leaves, we see that the mulberry is superior to alfalfa in most nutritional values. Mulberry contains on average less protein than alfalfa, but the difference is less than 1% (fresh and dried). Mulberry still contains 19% protein on average, ranging from 11% to 25% . Moreover, Mulberry contains less crude fiber making it more palatable and animals can ingest more of it before they are full.

Mulberry contains less amino acids, but in better ratios, improving the overall digestibility. Mulberry also has better absorption of nutrition for animals. Because of this, animals may need to eat less, which can reduce the farmers' costs.

Mulberry contains more secondary compounds, tannins in particular. When mulberry leaves are dried the tannin levels increase significantly. Alfalfa contains mostly saponins and flavonoids and does not contain any tannins. Mulberry leaves are rich in flavonoids. This increases biodiversity of the gut bacteria, causing more efficient digestion of nutrients and fiber and reduces methane emissions. The flavonoids in mulberry are also antioxidant, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory. [10]

Different systems in use today

In modern practices tree hay is considered to be a complementary fodder source for livestock to diversify and balance their diets. As nutritional values vary depending on species, local conditions and season a farm specific approach is always necessary in combination with monitoring livestock performance in response to changes in diet. [4] [11]

The simplest method to feed tree leaves may still be to allow livestock to directly browse trees or hedges. This does, however, require careful management. The production of tree hay is also labor-intensive, although there are possibilities to further mechanize this practice.

It is possible to harvest from existing trees or hedges or alternatively planting trees for the purpose of harvesting tree hay. Trees in a pasture or hedges along field boundaries are a possibility as well as more plantation like planting of trees that are optimized for mechanical coppicing. Depending on the chosen system different cutting methods might be needed. Mechanization options are available for coppicing, pollarding or pruning trees.

In recent experiments trees where cut and harvest material was bundled and stored freshly or green mixing several species. Many of these bundles still had green leaves after 1 or 2 seasons in storage with still some green leaves after 24 months. [2] Processing tree hay from leaves and young twigs can be done in the same way as conventional grass hay, including silaging and baling. Also, chipping the material has been found to be a possibility to process and store tree hay. [12]

Advantages over annual crops

Because of the deeper root systems and their mycorrhizal fungal associations, under certain conditions trees can access more nutrients and moisture than for example annual crops. Hence trees can function as a buffer or backup fodder source in case of disappointing yields of grass hay or other livestock fodder, e.g. in extreme circumstances [7] [2] [11] or to deal with the usual pasture growth dynamics.

Because of this, but also because of species specific characteristics, tree hay may contain specific nutrients, such as minerals, that may provide in certain health needs of livestock in addition to regular fodder. Tree hay could therefore contribute to a more varied diet and enable livestock with the opportunity to self-medicate. [7] [2]

The practice of producing tree hay, or tree fodder more broadly speaking, has hence the potential to once again become an integral part of the agricultural enterprise enhancing its resilience. As a consequence trees and hedges can reclaim a central place on the farm and in the landscape together with all the benefits of trees for landscape, biodiversity and nature. Trees and hedges are for instance beneficial to soil quality as they do not require tilling like annual crops, which for example causes the soil to store less carbon in the long term .

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Crop rotation</span> Agricultural practice of changing crops

Crop rotation is the practice of growing a series of different types of crops in the same area across a sequence of growing seasons. This practice reduces the reliance of crops on one set of nutrients, pest and weed pressure, along with the probability of developing resistant pests and weeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hay</span> Dried grass, legumes or other herbaceous plants used as animal fodder

Hay is grass, legumes, or other herbaceous plants that have been cut and dried to be stored for use as animal fodder, either for large grazing animals raised as livestock, such as cattle, horses, goats, and sheep, or for smaller domesticated animals such as rabbits and guinea pigs. Pigs can eat hay, but do not digest it as efficiently as herbivores do.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to agriculture:

<i>Onobrychis viciifolia</i> Plant species in the pea family

Onobrychis viciifolia, also known as O. sativa or common sainfoin was an important forage legume in temperate regions until the 1950s. During the Green Revolution it was replaced by high yielding alfalfa and clover species. Due to its anthelmintic properties, common sainfoin is a natural alternative to drugs to control nematode parasitism in the guts of small ruminants. This is the main reason why O. viciifolia returned to the scientific agenda in recent years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pasture</span> Land used for grazing

Pasture is land used for grazing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forage</span> Plant material eaten by grazing livestock

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Legume</span> Plant in the family Fabaceae

Legumes are plants in the family Fabaceae, or the fruit or seeds of such plants. When used as a dry grain for human consumption, the seeds are also called pulses. Legumes are grown agriculturally, primarily for human consumption, but also as livestock forage and silage, and as soil-enhancing green manure. Well-known legumes include beans, chickpeas, peanuts, lentils, lupins, mesquite, carob, tamarind, alfalfa, and clover. Legumes produce a botanically unique type of fruit – a simple dry fruit that develops from a simple carpel and usually dehisces on two sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fodder</span> Agricultural foodstuff used to feed domesticated animals

Fodder, also called provender, is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock, such as cattle, rabbits, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. "Fodder" refers particularly to food given to the animals, rather than that which they forage for themselves. Fodder includes hay, straw, silage, compressed and pelleted feeds, oils and mixed rations, and sprouted grains and legumes. Most animal feed is from plants, but some manufacturers add ingredients to processed feeds that are of animal origin.

<i>Morinda citrifolia</i> Species of plant

Morinda citrifolia is a fruit-bearing tree in the coffee family, Rubiaceae, native to Southeast Asia and Australasia, which was spread across the Pacific by Polynesian sailors. The species is now cultivated throughout the tropics and widely naturalised. There are over 100 names for this fruit across different regions, including great morinda, Indian mulberry, noni, beach mulberry, vomit fruit, awl tree, and rotten cheese fruit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agroforestry</span> Land use management system

Agroforestry is a land use management system that integrates trees with crops or pasture. It combines agricultural and forestry technologies. As a polyculture system, an agroforestry system can produce timber and wood products, fruits, nuts, other edible plant products, edible mushrooms, medicinal plants, ornamental plants, animals and animal products, and other products from both domesticated and wild species.

<i>Morus rubra</i> Species of tree

Morus rubra, commonly known as the red mulberry, is a species of mulberry native to eastern and central North America. It is found from Ontario, Minnesota, and Vermont south to southern Florida, and west as far as southeastern South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and central Texas. There have been reports of isolated populations in New Mexico, Idaho, and British Columbia.

<i>Hippophae rhamnoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Hippophae rhamnoides, also known as sea-buckthorn, sandthorn, sallowthorn or seaberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Elaeagnaceae, native to the cold-temperate regions of Europe and Asia. It is a spiny deciduous shrub. The plant is used in the food and cosmetics industries, in traditional medicine, as animal fodder, in horticulture, and for ecological purposes.

<i>Conocarpus lancifolius</i> Species of flowering plant

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Equine nutrition</span> Feeding of domesticated equines such as horses, ponies, mules, and donkeys.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Animal feed</span> Food for various animals

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<i>Chloris gayana</i> Species of grass

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<i>Thysanolaena</i> Genus of grasses

Thysanolaena is a monotypic genus of the grass family, in the tribe Thysanolaeneae. Its only recognized species is Thysanolaena latifolia, native to Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Guinea, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. It is also naturalized in Mauritius, Seychelles, Gambia, Tanzania, Hawaii, California, the West Indies and Brazil. Tiger grass, Nepalese broom grass, broom grass, broom stick are common names for this plant, in Nepali amliso and jharu in Assamese. The flowers of this plant are used as cleaning tool or broom, which is known askuchcho in Nepali and jhadu in Hindi.

<i>Erythrina edulis</i> Species of tree

Erythrina edulis (basul) is a nitrogen fixing tree that is native to the Andean region from western Venezuela to southern Bolivia. Nowadays it is known in Venezuela as "frijol mompás", in Bolivia, Peru and Northwest Argentina as "psonay", "pajuro", "sachaporoto del basul" or "poroto del sacha", in Colombia as "chachafruto", "balú", "baluy" or "sachaporoto" and in Ecuador as "guato". Although it is widely known, it is not commonly cultivated. Future research is needed, especially in agroforestry. Basul is a legume and so it produces protein-rich beans covered in pods which can be used for human or animal nutrition. The leaves and branches can be used as fodder. Besides the agricultural aspects, Erythrina edulis can also be used as a fence plant.

This glossary of agriculture is a list of definitions of terms and concepts used in agriculture, its sub-disciplines, and related fields, including horticulture, animal husbandry, agribusiness, and agricultural policy. For other glossaries relevant to agricultural science, see Glossary of biology, Glossary of ecology, Glossary of environmental science, and Glossary of botanical terms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chestnut orchard</span> Open stand of grafted chestnut (selva castanile) trees for fruit production

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References

  1. 1 2 Hartel, Tibor; Craioveanu, Cristina; Réti, Kinga-Olga (2016). "Tree Hay as Source of Economic Resilience in Traditional Social-ecological Systems from Transylvania" (PDF). The Museum of the Romanian Peasant Anthropology Journal. 21: 53–64 – via EBSCO.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Green, T. "Forgotten Food - Tree HAy" (PDF). 3rd European Agroforestry Conference - Montpellier.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  3. ↑ Mayle, Brenda A. (1999). Domestic stock grazing to enhance woodland biodiversity. Great Britain. Forestry Commission. Edinburgh: Forestry Commission. ISBN   0-85538-504-9. OCLC   43070833.
  4. 1 2 Luske, B; Van Eekeren, N (2018). "NUTRITIONAL POTENTIAL OF FODDER TREES: THE IMPORTANCE OF TREE SPECIES, SOIL TYPE AND SEASONAL VARIATION" (PDF) (Conference). 4th European Agroforestry Conference Agroforestry as Sustainable Land Use.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  5. ↑ Gabriel, Steve (31 December 2021). "Quantifying Nutritional Value and Best Practices for Woody Fodder Management in Ruminant Grazing Systems". Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Projects.
  6. 1 2 3 Luske, Boki; Van Eekeren, Nick (2014). Rahmann, G; Aksoy, U (eds.). "Renewed interest for silvopastoral systems in Europe – an inventory of the feeding value of fodder trees" (PDF). orgprints.org (Conference). Proceedings of the 4th ISOFAR Scientific Conference. ‘Building Organic Bridges’, at the Organic World Congress.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  7. 1 2 3 Smith, J; Westaway, S; Whistance, L (2018). "TREE FODDER IN UK LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS: OPPORTUNITIES AND BARRIERS" (PDF) (Conference). 4th European Agroforestry Conference, Agroforestry as Sustainable Land Use.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  8. ↑ Min, B.R.; Hart, S.P. (1 February 2003). "Tannins for suppression of internal parasites". Journal of Animal Science. 81 (14): E102–E109. doi:10.2527/2003.8114_suppl_2E102x (inactive 1 November 2024).{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of November 2024 (link)
  9. ↑ California Alfalfa and Forage Association (2004). "Commodity Fact Sheet Alfalfa" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Hassan, Faiz-ul; Arshad, Muhammad Adeel; Li, Mengwei; Rehman, Muhammad Saif-ur; Loor, Juan J.; Huang, Jiaxiang (November 2020). "Potential of Mulberry Leaf Biomass and Its Flavonoids to Improve Production and Health in Ruminants: Mechanistic Insights and Prospects". Animals. 10 (11): 2076. doi: 10.3390/ani10112076 . ISSN   2076-2615. PMC   7695318 . PMID   33182363.
  11. 1 2 Gabriel, Steve (2016). "Tree Fodder is building resilience (and carbon) on our farm". Silvopasture. Retrieved 14 April 2023.
  12. ↑ Hanson, Shana (22 January 2020). "TREE LEAF FODDER FOR LIVESTOCK: TRANSITIONING FARM WOODLOTS TO 'AIR MEADOW' FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE".
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