Nutritive value for ruminants of winter oats–legume intercrops in organic cultivation

Abstract

Winter oats were grown according to European organic farming regulations in monoculture (oats) and in intercropping with bard vetch (BAV), bitter vetch (BIV) or both legumes (MIX) to evaluate the effects of intercropping on forage yield and nutritive value for ruminants. The experiment was carried out as a randomised complete block design with four replications, and whole forage samples were obtained at two harvest dates (June and July). For both harvest times, all intercrops increased (P < 0.05) forage yield compared with oats, but forage crude protein content was only increased (P < 0.05) for BAV and MIX. Compared with oats, intercropping with BAV increased (P < 0.05) in vitro rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production, indicating a higher rate and extent of rumen degradation of BAV forage. In contrast, BIV forage harvested in June had lower (P < 0.05) rate of gas production and total volatile fatty acid production than June oats, but in general no differences in the in vitro rumen fermentation were detected between oats and BIV samples harvested in July. The results indicate that forage yield and quality can be enhanced by intercropping oats with BAV; however, intercropping with BIV increased yield but decreased nutritive value of the forage.

Silage Fermentation and In Vitro Degradation Characteristics of Orchardgrass and Alfalfa Intercrop Mixtures as Influenced by Forage Ratios and Nitrogen Fertilizing Levels

“…Higher fiber content means a lower degradation rate and longer fermentation time [52], and the indigestible fiber, e.g., ADL, in particular, is the main physical barrier interfering with microbial attachment and degradation, and this is negatively correlated with fiber digestibility [33]. In accordance with the present study, the decrease in NDFD and ADFD with an increasing alfalfa proportion in silage mixtures is due to the higher ADL in the cell wall of alfalfa compared with that of orchardgrass, and the higher degree of NDF lignification and lower level of digestible NDF fractions in alfalfa than in grass [53], corresponding to the diversified populations of the three predominant fibrolytic bacteria, e.g., F. succinogenes, R. albus, and R. flavefaciens in the rumen [54].…”

Evaluación Nutricional in Vitro De Forrajes De Cereales De Grano Pequeño Para Sistemas De Producción De Leche en Pequeña Escala

“…Los resultados de este trabajo muestran que la maduración del forraje tuvo un efecto importante en la fracción soluble (A) después de 4 horas de incubación. Díaz et al (2014) reporta valores menores en la asíntota de producción de gas, a los encontrados en está investigación, en avena de invierno bajo condiciones orgánicas. Este mismo autor obtuvo una menor degradación de materia seca y FDN, caso contrario a lo observado en este trabajo.…”