‘Lucerne is an ideal source of effective fibre with a high protein content’
Crop is increasingly suited to the Dutch climate
At Ten Vorsel Estate in Bladel, the Geenen family keeps 130 dairy cows and operates a care farm. The day-to-day management of the herd is entrusted to farm manager Raoul Frenken. Thanks to the farm’s large land area (85 hectares) and its estate status, the business follows a cropping plan in which lucerne plays a special role.
The driveway lined with beech trees immediately reveals the unique landscape surrounding the farm. To the right of the avenue lies a raised field, while to the left the pasture slopes down towards the River Aa. “This elevated 4-hectare field is highly suitable for growing lucerne,” says Raoul. Lucerne does not thrive on low-lying, wet soils, where root development can be restricted. “Light sandy soils and clay soils are ideal for the crop. Its roots can penetrate deep into the ground to access water and nutrients.”
This year marks the fourth consecutive year of lucerne on the raised field. Thanks to the exceptional weather conditions, 2026 has been an excellent growing year. Lucerne thrives in warm, dry conditions. “We’ve already taken four good cuts, and the fifth will be harvested in October,” says Raoul. Successful cultivation starts with the right establishment strategy. Adequate liming is essential. “A pH of around 6 is ideal. It promotes strong early development and encourages the roots to grow deeply from the outset.”
Sowing with crimson clover
August and early September are the ideal periods for sowing because soil temperatures remain high. Spring sowing is also possible, provided the soil temperature exceeds 10°C. To reduce weed pressure after establishment, Raoul originally sowed crimson clover alongside the lucerne. This annual clover establishes rapidly and suppresses weed growth. After the first cut, only about 20% of the clover remains, and by the following year it has disappeared completely.
Fertilising lucerne is straightforward. In February, the farm manager applies 10 tonnes of farmyard manure per hectare to provide phosphate. In March, he spreads a potassium fertiliser derived from a by-product of citric acid production. In addition to potassium, it contains high levels of magnesium and sulphur, both important for protein formation. Around the third cut, he applies 100 kg of Muriate of Potash (Kali 60) per hectare. “As a legume, lucerne doesn’t require nitrogen fertiliser, but it has a huge appetite for potassium. Applying potassium several times throughout the season delivers the highest yields.”
September is a rest month
Lucerne can be cut every month from May through to October. However, Raoul deliberately skips September. “The crop needs time to replenish energy reserves in the roots to ensure good winter dormancy and strong regrowth in spring.” The fifth and final harvest of the year takes place in October. “With lucerne, you have to think differently compared with grass. If you manage it properly, it’s a wonderful crop.” Thinking differently also means avoiding cutting too low. “I mow at a height of 10 centimetres. That prevents damage to the young shoots at the base of the stems and allows sufficient regrowth for another harvest four weeks later.”
With lucerne, you have to think differently compared with grass. If you manage it properly, it’s a wonderful crop.
Raoul Frenken - Ten Vorsel Estate
Lucerne is highly sensitive to trampling and mechanical damage. For that reason, conditioning the crop during mowing is strongly discouraged. Raoul does not use the conditioner, although he does pass the crop over it so that it is spread widely across the field and can be raked the following day. “I rake at a relatively high forward speed and low rotor speed to minimise crop damage and keep the protein-rich leaves attached to the stems.”
Grass headlands
Because Raoul uses lucerne as a high-protein source of structural fibre rather than as a forage crop comparable to silage, the harvested material is baled into large square bales. “I only feed between 0.5 and 1 kilogram of lucerne dry matter per cow per day. That isn’t much, so baling is ideal.” He does recommend extra wrapping. “The stems can occasionally pierce the plastic film, and you want to avoid that.” To produce the ideal feed, he asks the contractor to use all knives in the baler so that the lucerne stems are chopped to a maximum length of 7 centimetres.
The farm manager describes lucerne as a minimalist crop. “Leave it alone as much as possible,” he advises. “Minimise traffic on the field, stay off with slurry injectors, and design your field layout intelligently.” For this reason, he has established the headlands of the lucerne field with grass. “Tractors can turn here without damaging the crop.” He cuts the grass either together with the lucerne or when mowing adjacent grass fields. “I simply do whatever fits best at the time.”
18.2% crude protein, NDF 385
According to Raoul, the greatest strengths of lucerne are its drought tolerance, feed value and palatability. This year’s crop contains 18.2% crude protein and has an NDF value of 385, making it a protein-rich source of effective fibre. The fact that cows find lucerne highly palatable is something he experiences every day: “If they stop eating lucerne, call the vet because something is wrong.” Alongside lucerne, the ration consists of grass and grass silage, maize and winter barley. The barley serves as a replacement for purchased concentrates and is also ideal within a crop rotation as a break crop. “After harvesting barley in July, you can still take two cuts of grass afterwards.”
When asked which dairy farmers should consider lucerne, Raoul is clear: “Lucerne is particularly interesting for farmers who produce forage in an arable farming system or who cooperate with arable farmers to grow rotational or break crops. It is also an excellent crop for more extensive livestock producers who want to reduce straw purchases while still growing large amounts of their own protein.”
Alfa Comfort
With Alfa Comfort, Barenbrug offers a blend of two lucerne types: a Flemish type with strong spring production and a Mediterranean type that is more drought tolerant and performs particularly well during summer. This combination delivers more consistent growth throughout the season and is well suited to the warmer, drier summers that are becoming increasingly common. For successful establishment, lucerne can be combined with 5 kg of ProtaFix, an annual clover mixture that largely disappears after the first cut. Combining it with 10 kg of NutriFibre improves ground cover and sugar content, thereby enhancing ensilability.