Practice Abstract 1 - Faba-bean & grass-clover cultivation and utilization in Denmark within dairy cow farms

Faba-bean & grass-clover cultivation and utilization in Denmark within dairy cow farms

Danish dairy farmers (organic farms) are cultivating both faba-beans and grass-clover for fodder proteins and crop rotation purposes. Dairy farmers are keen to use grass-clover and faba-beans as animal fodder, as it is organic, cultivated domestically and has a high protein content. Grass-clover and faba-beans are cultivated on the dairy farms or/and purchased from other crop farmers, and the latter also from fodder companies. Danish dairy farmers seem increasingly interested in providing their own protein fodder instead of relying on import of soya-beans from e.g. South America with questionable environmental impacts, as far as cultivation practices, quality and transportation. To increase domestic cultivation and utilization of faba-bean among dairy farmers in Denmark, we suggest to establish stronger co-operation between farmers to e.g. share storage facility for faba-beans, as larger storage space is needed, not being required for the small batches of soya-beans being delivered relatively often by fodder companies. Also, sharing of farm equipment like toasters, increasing the amino content of the faba-bean - and thus the nutrient value - are recommended, as well as faba-bean dryers. Buying and selling faba-beans among Danish farmers, as well as sharing storage facility and equipment, will facilitate a further expansion of the cultivation and utilization of protein legumes in Denmark.