SucraSEED
Encyclopedia
SucraSEED is a mix of High Sugar Grass seeds. This blend is designed to increase dairy milk yield and livestock growth while reducing environmental pollution. The seed mixtures produce a progressive variety of forage
grass that is already in wide use in Europe
and New Zealand
with profitable results.
Plant Breeders at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research recognized the benefits of increasing the levels of water soluble carbohydrates (wsc) and spent many years identifying plant material that featured elevated levels of wsc. The fruit of their labors is now available in the United States.
Since its development 20 years ago by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), High Sugar Grass (HSG) has been shown to provide a number of benefits (study)(study) to dairy
, beef
and lamb
producers. Multiple trial studies have demonstrated measurable increases in livestock
performance, including milk yield in dairy cows (up to 6 percent more milk
for the grazing
season), increased live weight gains in lambs and beef
cattle
(up to 20 percent) and higher dry-matter intakes (up to 4.41 lbs/head per day).
These very high levels of water-soluble carbohydrate
s (WSC) present in the specially bred grass can increase the digestibility and utilization of plant material. The increased sugars, by providing extra energy to microbes in the animals’ rumen
, allow the animals to digest more of the protein
that they take in. As a result, more grass protein is converted to milk and meat, and less is excreted as unused nitrogen
into the land.
and New Zealand
, for example, reported a reduction in nitrogen pollution
by as much as 24 percent. SucraSEED offers an additional advantage in the context of future farming practices, as well: the grasses were developed through traditional breeding methods, and therefore are not genetically modified organisms (GMO). This is of considerable market value since, according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC), consumers are increasingly reluctant to buy meat and milk from animals grazed on GMO grasses.
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
grass that is already in wide use in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with profitable results.
Plant Breeders at the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research recognized the benefits of increasing the levels of water soluble carbohydrates (wsc) and spent many years identifying plant material that featured elevated levels of wsc. The fruit of their labors is now available in the United States.
Since its development 20 years ago by the Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER), High Sugar Grass (HSG) has been shown to provide a number of benefits (study)(study) to dairy
Dairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
, beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
and lamb
Domestic sheep
Sheep are quadrupedal, ruminant mammals typically kept as livestock. Like all ruminants, sheep are members of the order Artiodactyla, the even-toed ungulates. Although the name "sheep" applies to many species in the genus Ovis, in everyday usage it almost always refers to Ovis aries...
producers. Multiple trial studies have demonstrated measurable increases in livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
performance, including milk yield in dairy cows (up to 6 percent more milk
Milk
Milk is a white liquid produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals before they are able to digest other types of food. Early-lactation milk contains colostrum, which carries the mother's antibodies to the baby and can reduce the risk of many...
for the grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
season), increased live weight gains in lambs and beef
Beef
Beef is the culinary name for meat from bovines, especially domestic cattle. Beef can be harvested from cows, bulls, heifers or steers. It is one of the principal meats used in the cuisine of the Middle East , Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Europe and the United States, and is also important in...
cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
(up to 20 percent) and higher dry-matter intakes (up to 4.41 lbs/head per day).
These very high levels of water-soluble carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
s (WSC) present in the specially bred grass can increase the digestibility and utilization of plant material. The increased sugars, by providing extra energy to microbes in the animals’ rumen
Rumen
The rumen, also known as a paunch, forms the larger part of the reticulorumen, which is the first chamber in the alimentary canal of ruminant animals. It serves as the primary site for microbial fermentation of ingested feed...
, allow the animals to digest more of the protein
Protein
Proteins are biochemical compounds consisting of one or more polypeptides typically folded into a globular or fibrous form, facilitating a biological function. A polypeptide is a single linear polymer chain of amino acids bonded together by peptide bonds between the carboxyl and amino groups of...
that they take in. As a result, more grass protein is converted to milk and meat, and less is excreted as unused nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
into the land.
Environmental benefits
The decrease in waste nitrogen is a significant environmental benefit. HSG studies in EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, for example, reported a reduction in nitrogen pollution
Pollution
Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into a natural environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem i.e. physical systems or living organisms. Pollution can take the form of chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat or light...
by as much as 24 percent. SucraSEED offers an additional advantage in the context of future farming practices, as well: the grasses were developed through traditional breeding methods, and therefore are not genetically modified organisms (GMO). This is of considerable market value since, according to the International Food Information Council (IFIC), consumers are increasingly reluctant to buy meat and milk from animals grazed on GMO grasses.
Articles
- Feeding dairy cattle to reduce excess nitrogen output - Ontario – Ministry of Agriculture
- Sugar levels in forage grasses - Oregon State University
- High Sugar Grass varieties for milk production from dairy cows - IGER study
- Dairy farming and the environment - Virginia Tech
- Environmental issues facing dairy farmers - Virginia Tech
- High Sugar Grass offers many benefits for cattle grazing - Western Livestock Journal
- Survey results of forage nutrient management on Minnesota dairy farms - University of Minnesota
- Sheep production from Higher Sugar Grass - IGER study
- Sucrose metabolism of perennial ryegrass in relation to cold acclimation- Hokkaido University, Sapporo Japan
See also
- University of Wales, AberystwythUniversity of Wales, AberystwythAberystwyth University is a university located in Aberystwyth, Wales. Aberystwyth was a founding Member Institution of the former federal University of Wales. As of late 2006, the university had over 12,000 students spread across seventeen academic departments.The university was founded in 1872 as...
- Good Agricultural PracticesGood Agricultural PracticesThe term Good Agricultural Practices can refer to any collection of specific methods, which when applied to agriculture, produces results that are in harmony with the values of the proponents of those practices...
- seed companySeed companySeed companies produce and sell seeds for flowers, fruit and vegetables to theamateur gardener. The production of seed is a multi billion dollar business, which usesgrowing facilities and growing locations world wide. While most seed is produced by large...
External links
- SucraSEED website
- Institute of Grassland and Environmental Research (IGER) website