Reed for feed – harvesting reed for ecosystem restoration, feed for livestock and recycling of nutrients

Reed is an essential habitat for fish and birds in Swedish lakes and coastal areas, but due to eutrophication and reduced grazing, reed belts have spread over large homogeneous areas and outcompete other vegetation.

In this project we will study whether reed harvesting can improve the condition of coastal fish, seabirds and macrophytes. The harvested reed will be taken care of and made into silage for horses and cows.

Nutrient analyses show that reed is nutritious but of low energy content, and could therefore work well as a "functional feed" for livestock with a low energy demand. In this way, nutrients from the sea and lake are also recycled back to animal husbandry and cropping systems.

Specifically, we will study:How reed harvesting and fragmentation affect wildlife and vegetation in lakes and seasScreen the quality of reed from different areas and occasions to assess suitability for feed productionInvestigate usefulness and utilisation of reed silage by horse and cows as feedsThrough LCA analyse potential volumes and nutrient retention from commercial feed production from reed harvest.This project takes a systems perspective on how new applications of reed utilization can improve the environments in the sea and lakes, recycling of nutrients for reduced eutrophication, and a feed that can reduce both the environmental impact and disorders of our animal husbandry in a sustainable animal production.