Currently, Dutch dairy farms usually feed their cattle with a combination of spring/summer grazing and imported maize silage and/or concentrates. Incorporating fodder trees can be a good alternative option for supplementing cows with macro and micro elements. At the same time it helps to reduce dependency on external feed inputs and to sequester carbon on the farm.

Advantages

• Incorporation of trees provides animals with shade during spring and summer grazing. Animal welfare is a significant factor in shaping consumers ‘choice of livestock products, so this brings benefits, both for the animal and possibly to the income of the farmer.

• Willow and alder trees are valuable additional sources of nutrition: Their leaves have a mineral content higher than grass. (Willow leaves are particularly high in selenium and zinc.)

• A five year old willow tree, planted in twin rows, produces ~ 1,5-3 kg of fresh shoots annually

• Over and above carbon sequestration those trees also enhance nutrient cycling, soil drainage and soil stabilisation. Four years after planting there is an increase in soil organic matter of 0,5 % under willow and 0,3% under alder tree rows (measured during the project). Also the earthworm biomass increased by 52 % under alder tree rows.

• The management of the trees is limited to annual coppice performed immediately before the growing season. The newly grown vegetation is browsed naturally by the cows.

To keep in mind:

• Cows should not be allowed to browse from trees until approximately two years after planting. (To prevent inadvertently damage to young trees´ growth.)

• Coppicing helps trees to recover from diseases or pest infestation. Natural enemies like ladybirds, parasitic wasps and lacewings help to keep pest populations low.