Cover crops as alternative forages for ruminants: nutritive characteristics, in vitro digestibility, methane and ammonia production

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gaëlle Maxin ◽  
Benoît Graulet ◽  
Aline Le Morvan ◽  
Fabienne Picard ◽  
Josiane Portelli ◽  
...  

Context The use of cover crops provides agronomic and environmental benefits in crop–livestock systems. They can also constitute alternative forage resources for ruminants, particularly when climatic conditions limit grass supply. However, information on the nutritive value of these crops remains scarce. Aims The objective of the present study was to assess the fresh forage potential of several plant species (sainfoin, buckwheat, phacelia, berseem clover, crimson clover and vetch) commonly used as cover crops and harvested at two phenological stages, namely, vegetative stage (VS) and flowering stage (FS). Methods Chemical composition and fermentation parameters after in vitro ruminal incubation of the plant species were measured and compared with those of lucerne. Key results Chemical composition and in vitro organic-matter digestibility varied both with species (P < 0.001) and stage (P < 0.001). Crude protein concentration (g/kg dry matter) varied at VS from 212 (sainfoin) to 151 (phacelia), and at FS from 187 (vetch) to 88 (phacelia). The in vitro organic-matter digestibility at VS varied from 0.91 (buckwheat) to 0.82 (lucerne), and at FS from 0.81 (vetch) to 0.74 (lucerne). Buckwheat and sainfoin had the greatest concentrations of condensed tannins and total phenolic compounds. The incubation of phacelia, sainfoin and buckwheat resulted in a lower production of volatile fatty acids than did incubation with the other plant species. Methane production was lower at both stages for phacelia (–26%), buckwheat (–12%), sainfoin (–14%) and berseem clover (–13%) than it was for lucerne. Ammonia production expressed as total N proportion was significantly lower for sainfoin and buckwheat than for the other plant species. The reductions in methane and ammonia appeared to be linked to certain phenolic compounds for buckwheat and to condensed tannins for sainfoin. Conclusions The present study showed that these cover crop species hold nutritive characteristics as good as lucerne, indicating that they could be suitable for ruminant nutrition. Moreover, buckwheat and sainfoin have potential beneficial effects on methane and ammonia production. Implications These results constitute a first step towards a recommendation to farmers to use cover crops as forage.

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 1441
Author(s):  
Youssef Chebli ◽  
Samira El Otmani ◽  
Mouad Chentouf ◽  
Jean-Luc Hornick ◽  
Jean-François Cabaraux

Forest rangelands contribute largely to goat diets in the Mediterranean area. Information about browsed plant quality is essential for adequate feeding management. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal changes in chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of the main plant species selected by goats in the Southern Mediterranean forest rangeland during two consecutive years; these were very contrasted (dry and wet). The browsed species were composed of herbaceous, eleven shrubs, and four tree species. Overall, large variability in chemical composition, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD), and metabolizable energy (ME) was observed among species, grazing season (spring, summer, and autumn), and years within each species. Crude protein (CP) content varied from 60 to 240 g/kg dry matter (DM). The fiber fractions, except for Quercus suber, increased significantly by advancing maturity. Due to the water stress, the lignin level presented a higher value during the spring of the dry year. Condensed tannin (CT) content varied from 2 to 184 g/kg DM. CP, IVOMD, and ME showed a negative correlation with lignin and CT. Based on the results presented herein, it is concluded that the nutritive value of the browsed plant species was highest in the spring and lowest during the summer and autumn of both studied years. With a good grazing management strategy, the selected plant species by goats could guarantee high-quality feeding resources throughout the year.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arminda Moreira de Carvalho ◽  
Luana Ramos Passos Ribeiro ◽  
Robélio Leandro Marchão ◽  
Alexsandra Duarte de Oliveira ◽  
Karina Pulrolnik ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 1856-1869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joana R. Costa ◽  
Manuela Amorim ◽  
Ana Vilas-Boas ◽  
Renata V. Tonon ◽  
Lourdes M. C. Cabral ◽  
...  

Grape pomace (GP) is a major byproduct worldwide, and it is well known for its bioactive compounds, such as fibers and phenolic compounds, that are popular for their impact upon human health, including in gastrointestinal health.


2020 ◽  
Vol 322 ◽  
pp. 126783 ◽  
Author(s):  
Débora P. Moraes ◽  
Jesús Lozano-Sánchez ◽  
Marina L. Machado ◽  
Márcia Vizzotto ◽  
Micheli Lazzaretti ◽  
...  

2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 223-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atiyeh Bohluli ◽  
Abasali Naserian ◽  
Reza Valizadeh ◽  
Fereydon Eftekarshahroodi

Pistachio (pistachio vera) is from Anacardiaceae family. According to the FAO (2003) report, Iran is the largest pistachio producer in the world (more than 310,000 tons). The most three important exported pistachio nuts of Iran are Ohadi, Akbari and Kaleghuchi (Mohammadi, 2005). About 150,000 tons in DM of pistachio by-product (PB) is produced from dehulling process in Iran, annually. This by-product is mainly consisted of pistachio hulls (PH), and then peduncles, leaves and a little amount of mesocarp and kernels. In this experiment the chemical composition, Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and tannin amount of PB and PH of Ohadi, Kaleghuchi and white varieties were determined; also, In Vitro Dry Matter and Organic Matter Digestibility (IVDMD and IVOMD) were measured.


2007 ◽  
Vol 2007 ◽  
pp. 233-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armin Towhidi ◽  
Farnoush Rostami ◽  
Reza Masoumi

In Iran, Javan (2001) has reported the digestibility some arid rangelands plants by bovine rumen liquor. The determination of in vivo digestibility of wheat straw implies that camel apparently digested poor quality roughages more than cattle and sheep (Cianci et al., 2004). Therefore, It is required to measure the in vitro digestibility of herbages by camel rumen liquor. In province of yazd, nutritive value of 11 different plant species for camel were determined (Towhidi, 2007). The objectives of the current study were to determine 1) the chemical composition, gross energy of the most consuming plant species from rangeland of Semnan province including Seidlitzia rosmarinu, Tamarix tetragyna, Tamarix strica, Halostachys spp, Saudea fruticosa., Alhagi camelorum, Haloxylon ammondendron., Salsola arbescola, Hammada salicornica and, 2) in vitro digestibility of the plants by camel rumen liquor.


2020 ◽  
Vol 131 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-25
Author(s):  
Saya Nakano ◽  
Michio Oguro ◽  
Tomoyuki Itagaki ◽  
Satoki Sakai

Abstract Plants might allocate chemical defences unequally within attractive units of flowers including petals, sepals, and bracts because of variations in the probability of florivory. Based on optimal defence theory, which predicts that plants allocate higher chemical defences to tissues with higher probabilities of herbivore attack, we predicted that distal parts and sepals would have higher chemical defence allocations than proximal parts and petals. To test this prediction, we compared total phenolics and condensed tannins concentrations as well as presence of florivory within attractive units of ten angiosperm species. In agreement with the prediction, the overall results showed that the distal parts had higher total phenolics and condensed tannins than the proximal parts. On the other hand, contrary to the prediction, petals and sepals showed no tissue-specific variations. Florivory was more severe on the distal parts than the proximal parts, although statistical support for the variation was slightly weak, while the variations in presence of florivory between petals and sepals differed between the distal and proximal parts. These results may support the prediction of the optimal defence theory because distal parts of attractive units had higher presence of florivory and concentration of chemical defences.


2016 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erika C. Lara ◽  
Fernanda C. Basso ◽  
Flávia B. de Assis ◽  
Fernando A. Souza ◽  
Telma T. Berchielli ◽  
...  

Chemical composition, fermentation characteristics, in vitro digestibility and aerobic stability were evaluated in corn silage inoculated with microbial additives in two different experiments. Inoculant treatments (untreated, Bacillus subtilis and B. subtilis combined with Lactobacillus plantarum) were applied to fresh forages. Chopped corn plants (2B655 Hx) were ensiled in laboratory silos for periods of 7, 14, 21 and 63 days to evaluate the fermentation parameters. The experimental silos were weighed to determine gas losses. After the ensiling period, the silage was sampled to determine chemical composition and in vitro organic matter digestibility. To evaluate aerobic stability, chopped corn plants (AG‐1051) were ensiled in laboratory silos that were opened after 96 days of ensiling. The silage was placed in different buckets containing data loggers. The silage was sampled after 0, 4, 8 and 12 days of exposure to air to evaluate the microbial populations and pH. The data were analysed as a completely randomised design using a mixed repeated-measures model in the MIXED procedure of SAS. To evaluate each treatment relative to the fermentation times, a regression analysis using the PROC REG procedure of SAS was applied. A significance level of P < 0.05 was used. Inoculation with both strains increased lactic acid concentration, whereas the use of B. subtilis alone or combined with L. plantarum improved in vitro apparent organic matter digestibility. In the B. subtilis and B. subtilis combined with L. plantarum silages, moulds and yeasts decreased, and aerobic stability was improved. Inoculation with B. subtilis alone or combined with L. plantarum improved the nutritional value and aerobic stability of corn silage.


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