The aim of this PhD project is to study the management of the forage system of dairy farms with a view to improving or maintaining the herd’s self-sufficiency in feed in the context of a changing climate. In terms of production in Northern Italy, climate-related challenges primarily affect spring sowing and harvesting of forage crops. For this reason, the project will address a range of topics, from the production of forage and other livestock feeds to their qualitative profiling for livestock use and application in the barn. The main categories of feedstuffs covered will be: forage, with a focus on alfalfa and permanent meadows; feed raw materials, in particular grain legumes as alternative protein sources to oilseed meals. The project will also address climate change resilience through the study of plant biodiversity, without ignoring the role of forage systems as active carbon sinks in mitigating climate change.
In the first year, activities will focus primarily on a review of the literature and the creation of a bibliographic database. Further activities will involve attending specialist courses and seminars in order to acquire the knowledge required for the course of study. The topics will cover the study of the adaptation of species and varieties of forage legumes for the production of monoculture permanent grassland and/or mixed cropping systems in the current climate of Northern Italy. At the same time, a process of monitoring the biodiversity and resilience of permanent grasslands within the Parmigiano Reggiano production area will be undertaken, with reference to yield per unit area in terms of dry matter, protein and energy, and nutritional composition for the purposes of precision feeding of dairy cows.