Alforex Seeds (an affiliate of Dow AgroSciences) brings two alfalfa varieties to the commercial market, Hi-Gest 360 and Hi-Gest 660, available on a limited basis for the 2015 planting season (patent pending). These varieties are not glyphosate-tolerant.
In a media event, Alforex Seeds General Manager Ron Cornish stated lower lignin alfalfa has been under development through conventional plant breeding over the past eight years, with an estimated research and development cost of $500,000. Because of the conventional plant breeding process used, the Hi-Gest varieties require no USDA registration or approval and qualifies for organic use.
In a separate media event, Forage Genetics International stated they will market their low-lignin variety as HarvXtra, which anticipates commercial availability for the 2016 planting season, pending deregulation from the USDA. HarvXtra will be sold in a trait stack with Genuity Roundup Ready alfalfa. The HarvXtra variety was developed in partnership with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in conjunction with Monsanto.
What lower lignin brings to alfalfa digestibility
Lignin is an organic compound that binds cellulose fibers, thus hardening and strengthening cell walls. Lignin production accelerates as plants mature, giving structural support to the plant.
This process that allows the plant to stand (and not lodge) also reduces digestibility of the plant in the rumen. Therefore, a portion of the nutrients within alfalfa remains unavailable for the production of beef and milk. As lignin decreases, more nutrients become available for milk and meat production.
Cornish reported the Alforex Seeds lower-lignin varieties have a 7 to 10 percent reduction in lignin, depending on variety, harvest maturity and management practices. In simulation ration models using MILK 2013, 1 percent unit increases in forage digestibility increased relative forage quality by 2 to 3 percent, increasing milk per ton fed by 21 pounds and increasing milk per acre by 167 pounds.
Regarding increased digestibility, Dan Undersander, research and extension agronomist with the University of Wisconsin says, “I think the idea of a low-lignin alfalfa is very exciting. It is a 7 to 10 percent reduction in lignin, as was reported. The main thing that I think we need to be a little cautious about is this is all based on laboratory tests, and we need to do some feeding trials and get some animal data before we can say for sure that it’s palatable, that it really has a significant influence, and know how to use it in animal rations. It should be a good product, but we need animal data. We’re going to be planting some fields this spring with some hay and haylage and hopefully doing some feeding trials later. Again, I think it has potential to be a very good product; we just need to wait to see what the animals tell us.”
Mike Hutjens, extension dairy specialist with the University of Illinois, says, “Lower-lignin alfalfa may be a ‘BMR’ look-alike. While it is not a true BMR, it can have the same impact of BMR corn silage and sorghums – higher dry matter intake potential and more energy per unit of dry matter due to greater digestibility. Both characteristics are important for high-producing cows.”
What lower lignin brings to harvest flexibility
Perhaps one of the greatest advantages of lower-lignin alfalfa varieties is the increased harvest flexibility. In North America, many growers use a 28-day cutting schedule (near 10 percent bloom) to produce three, four or five cuts of alfalfa during a growing season.
That regimen gives little room for weather events, such as rainstorms or humid drying conditions. Therefore, for the grower, alfalfa yield (longer cutting window) and quality (shorter cutting window) have always been at odds.
With reduced lignin content, the harvest window can be extended to approximately 35 days, which is the point of maturity where lignin content would equal that of conventional varieties normally cut at 28 days. The yield would also be greater at a 35-day schedule.
If, however, a grower maintained a 28-day cutting schedule, the forage quality and digestibility of lower lignin varieties would increase. Lower-lignin alfalfa varieties cut on a 28-day schedule would have more value, but whether that premium would be recognized in the market remains to be seen.
Glenn Shewmaker, extension forage specialist with the University of Idaho, who attended the media event, said, “I think (low-lignin alfalfa) is a positive both for the hay producer and for the person who utilizes the hay – the dairyman and beef. It allows producers the flexibility of a longer harvest window. The yield-quality tradeoff has always been a balancing act, and you try to get the highest yield possible with the quality the customer wants. So this allows growers to still maintain that quality, or even improve it, and have the flexibility of a longer harvest window but also fewer cuttings, which is important because every time you cross that field it’s a cost … It’s going to help maintain alfalfa as an important part of the ration, maintaining that long-term market for alfalfa.”
Shewmaker referenced the rain damage to the 2014 Idaho hay crop at a conservative estimate of $87 million due to heavy rainfall in August. He acknowledged that while a longer harvest window would not prevent rain damage every time, it would at least give the grower flexibility to manage the harvest with greater chance of success.
Common grower concerns
Initial questions from alfalfa growers when discussing lower lignin commonly revolve around standability and lodging. Cornish said the standability was carefully monitored during development so that lignin was not reduced to a level that would adversely affect this trait.
A second common concern is stand persistence. Cornish said winter dormancies of Hi-Gest varieties will be similar to that of conventional fall dormancies, and overall stand life may be enhanced if managed under a cut system using the extended harvest window, which puts less stress on the plants and allows the roots to recharge.
Projected seed cost
Cornish reported Hi-Gest 360 (fall dormancy 3) will have a 34 percent coating of Apron XL and Stamina fungicide, along with Nitragin Gold inoculant. Hi-Gest 660 (fall dormancy 6) has a 34 percent coating of Apron XL fungicide and Nitragin Gold inoculant. The suggested retail price for both varieties will be $290 per 50-pound bag. There are no additional tech fees associated with these products.
Suggested retail pricing for HarvXtra was not announced. FG
References omitted due to space but are available upon request. Click here to email an editor.
PHOTO
Photo by Lynn Jaynes.
Read a related article, "First low lignin alfalfa on the market debuts at World Dairy Expo."
