LV13343B

LV13343B - Seed mixture

Info

Publication number: LV13343B
Application number: LVP-05-27A
Authority: LV
Inventors: Jari Peltonen; Kari Jokinen
Original assignee: Kemira Growhow Oyj
Priority date: 2004-03-05
Filing date: 2005-03-04
Publication date: 2006-02-20
Also published as: GB2411563A; EE00519U1; LT5301B; GB0504558D0; LT2005014A; FIU20040104U0; FI6333U1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a seed mixture ready for use. The said seed mixture comprises substantially a) naked oats (Avena sativa ssp. Nuda L.) and b) one or more other grain species whose grown habits are adaptable to mixed crop cultivation with naked oats.

Description

1 LV 13343

SEED MIXTURE

The present invention relates to a commercial seed mixture that is ready for use and adapted for grovving mixed grain for feed.

Ovving both to their high energy value and their favourable fatty acid composition, naked oats have proVed an excellent energy source for a variety of purposes There is a myriad of preparations utilising naked oats on the marķēt, starting from energy drinks to breakfast cereal mixtures and feeds in particular. A number of cultivars having mutually different crop and growth properties are commercially available. Naked oats have proved to be well suited also for Nordic conditions and acidic soils. They might require e.g. a somewhat higher seed rāte compared to covered oats and their initial grovvth may be slightly different, however, vvith these properties known, they can be optimally adapted to each purpose of use.

Hovvever, naked oats are more susceptible to damage compared to covered oats. The unprotected seed surface and the germ as such are particularly exposed to scratches and impacts caused during the various vvorking and treating steps, especially under humid conditions. Damaged seeds are susceptible to pathogens and any infections possibly spreading during threshing and storage. One could facilitate this situation by mixing naked oats vvith another seed species, given the usually slovver hamnful microbial spreading in mixtures of species thanks to the specific buffer action of such mixtures both during grovvth and storage.

The cultivation of grain crops has been combined vvith that of other cultivated plants, forming “mixed crop cultivation”. Mixed crop cultivation utilises the natūrai interaction of the plant species. Mixed crop cultivation denotes generally that tvvo or more plant species are cultivated in the immediate vicinity of each other in the same field during the grovving season, vvith the purpose to exploit the interaction of the plants. Mixed crop cultivation has the advantage of optimal utilisation of the grovving conditions such as light, vvater and soil nutrients, frequently resulting in a yield of the mixture higher than that of the total yield of pure cultivation 2 (= productivity gain). The use of a mixture also yields higher cultivation security in production. This is based on the different mutually competitive properties of plants with respect to various growth factors. Appropriately selected plants are capable of protecting each other against external interferende, such as vermin, diseases or 5 weed. In an advantage'ous situation, mixed crop cultivation will irriprove the nutrient composition or balance of the soil vvitfrk view to the follovving grovvth season. — ν'1**1

The advantages and the potential of mixed crop^cultivation and those of grain 10 species and cultivar mixtures in particular have bēln described in detail i.a. in the doctoral thesis JOKINEN, K. 1991, Competition and yield advantage in barley-barley and barley-oats mixtures. J. AgricdSči.’Tinl. 63:255-285.

Thus, for instance, US patent specification 4,084,522 describes mixed crop of 15 soybean and wheat, the mixed plants being harvested simultaneously when the wheat has matured, even if the heights of the plant species are not fully equal.

Grain is used in current meat poultry feed either as a replacement of complete feed or combined with concentrated fodd'er. In this case, the grain has the primary 20 task of generating energy in the feed mixture. Wheat is most frequently used, hovvever, mixed grains are also used, e.g. wheat - barley, de-hulled oats - wheat, barley - de-hulled oats - wheat. In industrial fodder, the de-hulled oats are usually conventional covered oats that are de-hulled in a separate work step. Naked oats and de-hulled covered oats have an energy value higher than that of other grains. 25 In addition, the fatty acid composition of oats is beneficial for the health of poultry. Oats are also a little richer in the main amino acids, such as lycine, methionin and cystine, compared to barley and vvheat. Their amino acids also have better digestibility than ordinary oats. Owing to th’ese properties, naked oats are well suited for use as a mixture with other grains in feed. GB patent specification 2312605 describes a feed mixture of dairy cattle, vvhich contains naked oats and a product containing vegetable oil for control of the fat content of the mixture. 30 3 LV 13343

Although the advantages of naked oats and mixed crop cultivation as a human food and an animal feed have been acknovvledged, no ready-made seed mixture has been commercially available for cultivators.

Farmers may, of course, mix seed mixtures they obtain from their own seeds, yet in such cases, the absence of quality Information about the seed mixture, e.g. the number of seed-propagated plant diseases, the proportion of damaged seeds and poor germinative capacity may considerably affect the characteristics and the exact energy content of the crop harvested as a result of optimally planned grovvth of a seed mixture.

The present invention enables the cultivator to use a previous!y classified commercial seed mixture having the correct desired grovving properties, such as germinative capacity and energy content and being substantially free from seed-propagated diseases. In addition, the cultivator avoids the labour expenditures incurred by preparing an optimal composition and the composition is homogenous in respect of their components.

Regarding the characteristic features of the invention, we refer to the claims.

The product of the invention is a commercial seed mixture that contains naked oats and is ready for use, and vvhich has pre-selected desired nutritive properties and vvhich yields a crop suitable for use particularly in feeds.

In this invention, naked oats imply oats with naked grains (Avena sativa ssp. Nuda L.) or oats having at least substantially naked grains. In some cases, the glumes have not been completely removed from the oat grain.

The seed mixture of the invention is characterised by containing substantially at least naked oats and another grain species.

The seed mixture of the invention or its components have also been previously examined and preferably classified as certified seeds e.g. under the International Seed Testing Association’s Standard and they meet the minimum criteria of commercial seeds and any requirements of additional seed treatment, such as 4 pesticide, coating or other similar treatments performed separately for each component of the mixture or in combination.

It is characteristic of a seed mixture that the feed grown from the seed has an 5 energy content and a composition that are known or can be predicted exactly before harvesting. Selection of species and cultivars that have compatible grovvth habits, especially grovvth and harvesting characteristics, has regulated the grovvth properties of the grains in advance. 10 The optimal ratio of the seed mixture to other grains is based on calculated or measured energy contents. The energy value obtained in the crop yielded by the seed mixture of the invention is higher than that of vvheat, for instance, and together with vvheat it is about 13 MJ/kg, i.e. about 10% higher than that of pure vvheat. 15

Table 1 exemplifies the energy values of conventional feed grains or feed peas used for pigs or poultry.

Table 1.

Pigs Poultry Energy value (Ry/kg ds) Energy value (ME MJ/kg ds) Barley 1.13 11.1 Oats 1.04 11.0 Naked oats 1.39 14.4 VVheat 1.23 12.7 Rye vvheat 1.18 12.1 Feed peas 1.16 11.1

Table 2 gives an example of the energy contents of feed grains grovvn with a seed mixture of the invention, and as a reference, the values of grain - pea compositions obtained separately by mixing. The mixed crop-cultivated feed 25 (grains - peas) is used in the feed of pigs and covvs, in vvhich it principally enhances the protein value of the mixture. 5 LV 13343

Table 2. 20:80 40:60 60:40 80:20 energy value (ry) energy value (ry) energy value (ry) energy value (ry) Barley - naked oats 1.34 1.29 1.23 1.18 Oats - naked oats 1.32 1.25 1.18 1.11 Wheat - naked oats 1.36 1.33 1.29 1.26 Peas - naked oats 1.34 1.30 1.25 1.21 Peas - oats 1.06 1.09 1.11 1.14 Peas - barley 1.14 1.14 1.15 1.15 Peas - wheat 1.22 1.20 1.19 1.17

Table 3 exemplifies the energy values obtained accordingly with the seed mixture 5 of the invention for poultry feeds.

Table 3. 20:80 40:60 60:40 80:20 energy value ME MJ/kq ds energy value ME MJ/kq ds energy value ME MJ/kg ds energy value ME MJ/kg ds Barley - naked oats 13.7 13.1 12.4 11.8 Oats - naked oats 13.7 13.0 12.4 11.7 VVheat- naked oats 14.1 13.7 13.4 13.0 10 In accordance with the invention, naked oats can be combined with at least one grain species having compatible growth habits with naked oats to form a seed mixture. Oats (covered oats), barley, wheat and rye wheat are preferred examples of compatible grains. 15 Each composition is characterised by an optimal mixing ratio dependent of the grain species used. In the examination of the energy content of the mixed grains obtained with the seed mixture of the invention, the proportion of naked oats should be at least 50% by vveight of the mixture of oats/naked oats, at least 45% by vveight of the mixture of barely/naked oats, at least 20% of the mixture of 20 vvheat/naked oats and at least 30% of the mixture rye vvheat/naked oats. 6

In the mixture naked oats - vvheat, the grain amounts are preferably in the range 20-30% by vveight and 80-70% by weight, more advantageously the seed mixture ratio is 20:80. In the mixture naked oats - barley, the grain amounts are preferably in the range 45-95% by weight and 5-55% by weight, most advantageously the 5 seed mixture ratio is 50:50, in the mixture naked oats - oats the grain amounts are preferably in the range 50-95% by vveight and 5-50% by vveight, most advantageously the seed mixture ratio is 55:45, and in the mixture naked oats -rye vvheat, the grain amounts are preferably in the range 30-40% by vveight and 60-70% by vveight, most advantageously the seed mixture ratio is 30:70. 10

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, vvheat and naked oats are used in a ratio of 20:80 in poultry feed. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses a seed mixture containing vvheat 15 and barley in addition to naked oats. The seed mixture ratios of the grains in a seed mixture intended as poultry feed are in the range 20-30:40-60:20-30 of naked oats:wheat:barley, preferably in the ratio 25:50:25 in the feed.

The components of the commercial seed mixture ready for use in accordance with 20 the invention, i.e. the grain cultivars, are commercially available seed batches cultivated under control and examined in a laboratory. Commercial seeds are characterised by having specified acceptable minimum quality limits regarding variētai purity, freedom from disease and germinative capacity. 25 A commercial seed variety is preferably a certified variety meeting the ĪSTA classification (Seed Science and Technology, International Rules for Seed Testing, ĪSTA Secretariate, Reckenholzstrasse 191, Zūrich, Svvitzerland).

The seed mixture of the invention may contain e.g. a mixture of naked oats - oat 30 vārieties Mozart - Salo. In the mixture composition the vārieties naked oats -spring vvheat may be e.g. Samuel, Salomo and/or Sandokan - Piccolo. The vārieties of the mixed composition naked oats - barley may be e.g. Salomon, Mozart and/or Lisbeth - Prestige. In addition, the seed mixture may contain e.g. different vārieties of naked oats together vvith mixtures of other grain species. 35 7 LV 13343

The seed mixture of the invention has the advantage of al!owing a portion of either industrial complete feed or concentrations to be replaced directly, thus reducing feed expenditures. It has the additional advantage of allovving naked oats and wheat to be used as vvhole grains without additional treatments. The use of vvhole 5 grains improves the animals’ health in enhancing the activity of the digestive tract, among other things.

The seed mixture of the invention can be produced by mixing commercial seeds in the ratios indicated above before they are sold to the end user, the product mixture 10 being sold to the user in the form of a package ready for use. Optionally, the mixture can be prepared e.g. just before its application, such as seeding, by mixing it from commercial seeds in the ratios indicated above.

The product of the invention is perfectly suitable for animal feeds. A feed with the 15 necessary energy composition is advantageously produced directly for the use at the farm proper. Poultry and pigs are particularly suitable objects because of the high digestibility and high proportion of usable energy of naked oats. Hovvever, for pigs, an oat proportion above 50% is not recommended, and using naked oats, the proportion is certainly lower because of the poorer lard quality caused by oat fat. 20 On the other hand, oat fats have a beneficial effect on the RH composition of the meat. In addition, feed produced with the seed mixture is suitable e.g. in the diet of racehorses, sleigh dogs and fur animals.

In addition, the use of the seed mixture containing naked oats in accordance with 25 the invention achieves the same benefits as the use of naked oats in general.

When the seed mixture of the invention is used e.g. for producing pig feed, any mycotoxine concentration caused i.a. by Fusarium ssp. fungi in the hulls is reduced as the glumes come off by themselves during threshing. Mycotoxines 30 have been stated to cause i.a. decreased gestation in pigs.

The use of the seed mixture also achieves the growth and productivity gains specific for mixed culture, vvhich are based on such grovvth factors as more efficient utilisation of water, light and nutrients compared to the grovvth of one 35 single grain species. In addition, plant diseases caused by i.a. Fusarium ssp. fungi have been stated to spread more slowly in mixed grovvth. 8

Since the seed mixture of the invention has been prepared from examined certified seeds, one can ensure that the feed crop yielded from these fulfils the energy value target when examined per kilogram of feed. In addition, a certified seed 5 mixture guarantees regular grovvth at the very beginning of the grovvth season, i.e. a good initial development compared to a mixture prepared from the cultivator’s ovvn seeds. Consequent!y, compared to farm-saved seeds, the vveed risk is lower and the grovvth factors will be efficiently utilised. In other vvords, this results in higher cultivation security and smaller risks. 9 LV 13343

Claims 1. A seed mixture ready for use, characterised in that it comprises substantially certified seeds of a. naked oats (Avena sativa ssp. Nuda L.) and b. one or more other grain species vvhose grovvth habits are adaptable to mixed crop cultivation with naked oats. 2. A seed mixture as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the other grain species is oats, barley, wheat or rye wheat, preferably barley and wheat. 3. A seed mixture as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the mixture ratio of naked oats to the other grain species/varieties has been optimised with respect to the purpose of use and the energy content. 4. A seed mixture as defined in claim 1, characterised in that the proportion of naked oats in the mixture is in the range 5-95% by vveight, preferably in the range 20-70% by weight. 5. A seed mixture as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the mixture ratios of naked oats to vvheat in the mixture are in the range 20-30% by vveight and 70-80% by vveight. 6. A seed mixture as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the mixture ratios of naked oats to barley in the mixture are in the range 45-95% by vveight and 5-55% by vveight. 7. A seed mixture as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the mixture ratios of naked oats to oats in the mixture are in the range 50 - 95% by vveight and 5-50% by vveight. 8. A seed mixture as defined in claim 4, characterised in that the mixture ratios of naked oats to rye vvheat in the mixture are in the range 30 - 40% by vveight and 60-70% by vveight. 9. A seed mixture as defined in claim 1, characterised in being intended for use in the cultivation of feed for pigs, poultry, dairy cows and beef cattle.

Claims

1. A seed mixture ready for use, characterized in that it contains the following 5 essentially certified seeds: (a) bare oats (Avena sativa ssp. Nuda L.) and (b) one or more other cereal species whose growth forms are: are easily adaptable to mixed crops with naked oats. 10

2. A seed mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the other cereal species are oats, barley, wheat or triticale (hybrid of rye and wheat), mainly barley and wheat.

3. A seed mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the ratio of naked oats 15 to other cereal species / subspecies in the mixture is optimized according to the purpose of use and energy content.

4. A seed mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that the proportion of naked oats in the mixture is in the range of 5 to 95% by weight, preferably in the range of 20 to 70% by weight. 20

5. A seed mixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the ratio of naked oat and wheat in the mixture is 20-30% by weight and 70-80% by weight. 25

6. A seed mixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the ratio of naked oat and barley in the mixture is in the range of 45-95% by weight and 5-55% by weight.

7. A seed mixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the ratio of naked oats 30 to oat is in the range of 50-95% by weight and 5-50% by weight.

8. A seed mixture according to claim 4, characterized in that the ratio of naked oat and triticale in the mixture is in the range of 30-40% by weight and 60-70% by weight. 35

9. A seed mixture according to claim 1, characterized in that it is intended for the production of fodder for pigs, poultry, dairy cows and meat cattle.