Nettle cultivation for feeding poultry (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract)

{Tool} Nettle cultivation for feeding poultry (OK-Net Ecofeed Practice Abstract). [Brennnesselanbau zur Fütterung von Hühnern.] Creator(s): Schmelzer, Elias and Lindner, Christopher. Issuing Organisation(s): Bioland Beratung. Practice Abstract OK-Net Ecofeed. (2021)

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Summary in the original language of the document

The on-farm cultivation of nettles for feeding purposes could be an element in feeding monogastric animals. The health-promoting effect of nettles should not be underestimated. Purchased seeds had a poor germination. Propagation from cuttings (stolons) is more effective. Cultivate with 50 cm between and 30 cm between plants (see figure 1). The stinging nettle has a high nitrogen demand so application of fertiliser is recommended before planting and after the first cut. The crop should not be harvested too late, in order to achieve the highest leaf proportion (see figure 2). Any influence of fertiliser application could not be determined. Clearly visible is the influence of the soil temperature. Later cuts provided significantly better methionine yields. Analysis of the pure leaf mass yielded good methionine values up to 4.52 g/kg DM88 (see table 1). However, the ratio of methionine to lysine, at 0.32, is too low. Compared to small-grained legumes, nettle cultivation is very costly and the additional methionine yields are too low when considering the extra cost.

Summary translation

Der Brennnesselanbau zu Fütterungszwecken auf dem eigenen Betrieb könnte ein Baustein zur Fütterung von Moogastriern darstellen. Die gesundheitsfördernde Wirkung der Brennnessel ist dabei nicht zu unterschätzen.
• Zugekauftes Saatgut läuft in der Direktsaat schlecht auf, da die Brennnessel ein Kalt- und Lichtkeimer ist. Im Versuch klappte der Anbau über die vegetative Vermehrungsform (Stolonen) besser.
• Der Anbau erfolgt in 50 cm Reihen mit 30 cm Pflanzenabstand (siehe Abbildung 1).
• Die Stickstoffzeigerpflanze Brennnessel hat einen sehr hoher Stickstoffbedarf, empfohlen wird eine Düngung vor dem Pflanzen und nach dem ersten Schnitt.
• Der Bestand sollte nicht zu lange stehen, um einen möglichst hohen Blattanteil und damit Methioningehalt zu ernten (siehe Abbildung 2).
• Ein Einfluss der Düngung auf den Methioningehalt wurde nicht festgestellt. Großen Einfluss hat der Erntezeitpunkt. Spätere Schnitte liefern bessere Methioninerträge, dank höherer Bodentemperatur.
• Analysen der reinen Blattmasse liefern Methioniongehalte bis 4,52 g/KG (TM88). Das Verhältnis von Lysin zu Methionin mit 0,32 ist dabei zu gering für ein Methioninkonzentrat (siehe Tabelle 1).
• Im Vergleich zu kleinkörnigen Leguminosen lohnt der Anbau kaum. Der Mehrertrag an Methionin ist zu gering.

EPrint Type:	Practice tool
What problem does the tool address?:	Feeding poultry with regional and fully organic compo-nents, in line with animal needs, is still very difficult to achieve in many parts of Europe. The supply of sulphur-containing amino acids (e.g., methionine) is especially challenging.
What solution does the tool offer?:	In the search for protein-rich feed components, the culti-vation of nettles was investigated. Stinging nettles were traditionally fed to pigs and poultry, partly because of its high protein content. The cultivation of stinging nettles was tested in an exper-iment on two trial plots. The sowing was done by pur-chased seeds (no-till) and by vegetative propagation (sto-lons). During growing, different fertiliser applications were tested. Consisting of chicken manure and sulphur (Kieserite 25 % MgO, 50 % SO3) in autumn and spring to provide information on the influence of sulphur applica-tions on methionine concentration.
Country:	Germany
Type of Practice Tool:	Practice abstracts
Keywords:	feeding, poultry, amino acids
Agrovoc keywords:	Language Value URI English feeding http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_2838 English poultry http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_6145 English amino acids http://aims.fao.org/aos/agrovoc/c_342
Subjects:	Animal husbandry > Feeding and growth Animal husbandry > Production systems > Poultry
Research affiliation:	European Union > Horizon 2020 > OK-Net EcoFeed European Union > Horizon 2020 > OK-Net EcoFeed > OK-Net Ecofeed Tools Germany > Bioland European Union > Organic Farm Knowledge
Related Links:	https://organic-farmknowledge.org/de/tool/39136, https://www.bioland.de, https://twitter.com/farm_knowledge/status/1376799179352211459, https://www.facebook.com/organicfarmknowledge/posts/223898449522797
Project ID:	ofk
Deposited By:	Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, FiBL
ID Code:	39136
Deposited On:	05 Mar 2021 14:56
Last Modified:	02 May 2024 10:32
Document Language:	English, German/Deutsch
Status:	Published

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