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Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:20 May 2020, 13:34
by Steve 1972
stechad wrote:
19 May 2020, 21:19
This Lupin is called Dieta white Lupin and hardly looks like the normal Lupin we see, the flowers are more open and it produces large pods, much bigger than the normal lupin. It is being grown to completion to harvest the pods, this is a winter feed for the dairy cows which produce a very high butterfat milk....much fattier and creamier than Gold Top milk.
Here is a link to the supplier pdf
http://www.soya-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/AvonMix.pdf
Interesting stuff Ste..hopefully the white Lupins are of some use to the honey bees.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:20 May 2020, 15:29
by stechad
Steve 1972 wrote:
20 May 2020, 13:34
stechad wrote:
19 May 2020, 21:19
This Lupin is called Dieta white Lupin and hardly looks like the normal Lupin we see, the flowers are more open and it produces large pods, much bigger than the normal lupin. It is being grown to completion to harvest the pods, this is a winter feed for the dairy cows which produce a very high butterfat milk....much fattier and creamier than Gold Top milk.
Here is a link to the supplier pdf
http://www.soya-uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/AvonMix.pdf
Interesting stuff Ste..hopefully the white Lupins are of some use to the honey bees.
Hopefully!
It seems it is quite new to this country as a higher protein replacement for soya, Also used for human consumption too. Yuk Veggie Lupin burgers....... Sorry any vegies out there.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:29 May 2020, 15:20
by stechad
First hive set up today on the new farm apiary, just the one for now to make sure they are happy having the hives their.
They have around 6 weeks to get going and build up ready for the lupin to flower, going to put an empty super of comb on just as they start flowering so that I can see how it goes and then there will be the heather later on.
Image
The supers on top are over the crown board and feeder.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:30 May 2020, 15:13
by Murox
It will be good to hear how it works out for you. Do you already have some drawn comb or are you having to use foundation from the outset ? Just wondering about forage available right now, takes a lot of bees and energy to draw foundation.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:30 May 2020, 19:23
by stechad
There seems to be still plenty around there just now, they were off down the valley towards a reservoir theres loads of hawthorne out there, I'm also feeding syrup, unfortunately foundation.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:30 May 2020, 21:28
by Murox
If you are feeding syrup anyway now - will you give them loads and get as much wax drawn as you can - you could spin it off separately, save it and feed it back for winter stores after you take any honey ?

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:31 May 2020, 09:04
by Steve 1972
stechad wrote:
30 May 2020, 19:23
There seems to be still plenty around there just now, they were off down the valley towards a reservoir theres loads of hawthorne out there, I'm also feeding syrup, unfortunately foundation.
I have used the OSR this year to my advantage..even though the bees have still filled just about all my drawn supers they have also drawn and filled all my new frames and foundation in 14 new supers..hopefully if the weather stays good i am inline for a bumper crop..all we need is a bit of rain now and again.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:01 Jul 2020, 13:00
by stechad
The Lupin has started flowering a couple of days ago and they have collected half a super in a few days even though the hive is not yet up to full strength. Don't know if it is the lupin they are foraging, not had chance to walk the field yet or watch what pollen is being gathered.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:01 Jul 2020, 16:52
by NigelP
Sounds very promising.
I'm not sure what mine have been on recently, except probably hawthorn and recently bramble. But have taken a sample of hiney today to send to the National Honey survey....as always it will be interesting to see what they find in it.

Re: White Lupin (agricultural) Cattle feed crop

PostPosted:01 Jul 2020, 17:00
by Chrisbarlow
Brambles and clover are certainly flowering well at the moment