Two of the three major alfalfa seed companies will have low- or reduced-lignin varieties commercially available in 2015 and likely 2016, according to announcements at World Dairy Expo last week.
Alforex Seeds will have a limited supply of its Hi-Gest low-lignin varieties available next spring. The varieties were developed through conventional plant-breeding methods.
Its Hi-Gest 360 is a fall dormancy 3 variety with a 1.5 winter survival rating. Hi-Gest 660 is a fall dormancy 6 alfalfa adapted across the semi-dormant areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The varieties will retail at around $290/bag, according to company officials.
Forage Genetics International (FGI) presented what it calls the industry’s “first quality-enhancing trait,” using transgenic technology. Called HarvXtra alfalfa, it will be sold as a stacked trait with Genuity Roundup Ready alfalfa. The technology probably won’t be commercially available until 2016, company officials say. It’s currently under review by USDA and must receive deregulation approval.
HarvXtra alfalfa was developed by FGI through a strategic partnership with The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in conjunction with Monsanto.
The low-lignin varieties from Alforex are said to contain 7-10% less lignin than conventional alfalfas. Lignin is a cell-wall component needed by plants to hold them up. Scientists have been working to lower the amount in alfalfa to increase its digestibility without causing lodging. According to Alforex, dairy producers can expect a milk increase of up to 2.5 lbs/cow/day after feeding the low-lignin varieties.
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