Feeding monogastrics with grass proteins (new protein resource)

Last update: 2 June 2023

• Action: Use of proteins from bio-refined grass and clovers.
• Animal category: Monogastrics.
• Technique: Incorporation in feed formulation of proteins derived from grass bio-refining as an alternative to imported soybean meal.
• Mode of action: Harvested grass, clovers and alfalfa are bio-refined into different fractions; protein concentrate, fibres, fructo-oligosaccharides and nutrient-rich ‘whey’.
• Mode of implementation: The protein concentrate is suitable to monogastric animals too, allowing for European grass production to fulfil protein requirements for pigs and poultry in addition to ruminants.
• Requirements/limitations: More research & development is needed to unlock further potential, both in terms of plant breeding aspects of the best suitable varieties for bio-refining purposes as well as the bio-refining process itself to extract the highest level of proteins from the biomass.
• Economic consequences: Grass protein is not widely available on the feed market now, with current output not yet competitive vis-à-vis soybean meal imports.
• Other considerations: Wide-spread implementation of grass bio-refining (and other plant material) could help to reduce the EU protein deficit and boost the local bio-economy.
• References:
  • Ravindran et al. (2021). Production of Green Biorefinery Protein Concentrate Derived from Perennial Ryegrass as an Alternative Feed for Pigs. Clean Technol. 2021, 3(3), 656-669. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol3030039
  • Kamp et al. (2019). Modelling matter and energy flows of local, refined grass-clover protein feed as alternative to imported soy meal. Ecological Modelling Volume 410, 15 October 2019, 108738. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2019.108738
• Other techniques: Other alternative circular protein sources like microbial biomass, insects, plankton, etc.