Vale do Leandro Agro Pecuária, a family-run dairy farm in Maia, Portugal, is seeking sustainable and protein-rich alternatives to improve its winter forage system. The farm currently relies on a cereal-based silage mix, complemented with imported soy to meet the herd’s nutritional requirements. However, challenges such as low protein content in silage, high herbicide use, soil acidity, and rising seed costs are driving the need for more resilient, locally adapted solutions.
Pilot Study 10 explores the potential of legume-based forage mixtures—planted during the winter season—to improve protein content, reduce weed pressure, and enhance soil quality. By comparing pure cereal, legume-cereal mixes, and legume monocultures, the study aims to develop a more self-sufficient and ecosystem-friendly forage system.
Specific objectives include:
Evaluate how legume-based systems can enhance soil health and ecosystem services on dairy farms.
— Compare yield, protein content, weed infestation, and soil quality between:
- The current cereal-based forage system,
- Mixed cereal-legume plots,
- Pure legume plots.
— Assess the performance of the summer crop following each winter rotation system.
— Investigate whether legume inclusion can reduce the need for herbicides and imported protein sources, particularly soy.