Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1349956
ALMOND ORCHARD 2025 GOAL fed about 9.5 pounds of almond hulls every day – that's over 36 million pounds a year. Meanwhile, the dairy's heifers and dry cows (cows that are resting between lactation periods) are fed up to 8.5 pounds daily of a higher-fiber mix of hulls and shells. "Our nutritionist is very aggressive on feeding almond hulls," said Frank Cardoza of Tulare-based DairyWorks Consulting, who helps manage the Verwey Dairy. "The number one consideration is cost, and he also likes the sugar and fiber levels. I think we will continue to rely on it as long as the price is good." Cardoza said the benefits go beyond animal nutrition. Because hulls are a byproduct of almond growing, they provide an animal feed that does not require extra fuel, fertilizer, water or acreage to produce. That's important for the Verwey Dairy, which was one of just three dairies in the nation to receive an "Outstanding Dairy Farm Sustainability Award" from the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy in 2019 for its innovative practices to reduce environmental impacts. "We're trying to do what we can to be sustainable and I think sustainability-wise, it's a good product," Cardoza said. He added that quality of the hulls is always an important consideration. He said he recognizes that the quality of hulls can vary, given that they are being harvested from different varieties and at different times. While nutritionists can work around those differences, it is always important that hulls are free of sticks and rocks and delivered at proper moisture levels. Huang said ABC is supporting research into optimizing the value of almond hulls as dairy feed. Recent work by University of California researchers has shown that reducing shells and debris – especially sticks – mixed in with hulls used for dairy feed can significantly increase the feed's quality and value. One particularly significant result was that dairy cows (in a research setting) were able to digest feed up to 60% faster when it was free of non-hull debris. "We know that for now and years into the future, our neighbors in the California dairy industry will continue to be an important market for and consumer of almond hulls," Huang said. "We hope this research will allow us to continue to provide supporting information for practices and standards that ensure hulls delivered to dairies are considered a high-quality and high-value alternative to other feed options." Common-sense steps toward achieving quality One key to helping produce higher-quality feed for dairies is taking common-sense steps to reduce the amount of debris that is mixed in with hulls. Hullers and shellers by the very nature of their business manage the largest volume of almond coproducts, and yet the quality of those coproducts is partially determined by growers, who have a responsibility to manage the harvest process in a way that keeps the hulls and shells clean and free from mixing with dirt clods and rocks. Ultimately, hullers/shellers cannot sell hulls for dairy feed if they receive a low-quality product. "I appreciate when growers take the thought and extra care to make sure they aren't bringing a lot of debris in with their loads," said Dave Phippen of Manteca-based Travaille and Phippen. "Sticks, rocks and other debris can cause a lot of mischief with our equipment, resulting in delays and inefficiencies. It can also greatly impact a grower's bottom line." One major way to ensure higher-quality coproducts is to remove large pieces of trash from orchards before harvest. "We occasionally have to pull out beer and soda cans, fist-sized stones, large chunks of metal, belts from orchard equipment and wooden posts — sometimes as large as 30 to 36 inches," Phippen said. "These really cause us a lot of trouble." Phippen offered a simple piece of advice: "Before harvest, take a pass through your orchard and collect larger debris," he said. "Keep your orchard floor clean — treat it like your own backyard." Stay tuned for updates on ABC-funded research into opportunities for feed options. The Assali family incorporates a greater percentage of hulls into their dairy rations because they recognize hulls as a great substitute for other high-fibrous feeds. Almond Board of California 8