Potential Role of Hybrid Rye in Crop Rotations for Provision of Feed and Bedding in Organic Pig Production: A Simulation Study

This study utilized a modeling approach to explore the long-term effects of integrating hybrid rye into organic crop production on crop yields and water use, and rye’s theoretical impact on feed and bedding self-sufficiency in organic pig production. Crop yield and water use were simulated using DSSAT models for three exploratory scenarios (R1: corn–soybean–silage followed by 3 years of alfalfa; R2: rye replaced the first year of alfalfa; and R3: rye replaced the third year of alfalfa). Potential feed and bedding requirements were estimated based on a recently completed pig feeding trial. The models predicted higher rye yields and water use in R3 than in R2 (p < 0.01), suggesting a theoretical yield benefit when rye follows alfalfa. Based on these simulations, R3 could potentially provide feed and bedding for a 38 pigs·ha−1·rotation cycle−1, compared to a 10 pigs·ha−1·rotation cycle−1 in R2. While these findings represent theoretical scenarios rather than validated field performance, they demonstrate the potential of crop simulations for evaluations of long-term effects of organic crop rotations on yield and water use. The results suggest that integrating hybrid rye after legumes warrants further field-scale validation as a strategy to enhance resource self-sufficiency in organic pig production.