Nutritive value of red clover and lucerne forages for ruminants estimated by in vitro and in vivo digestibility methods

Abstract

ABSTRACT:The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient and energy levels of red clover and lucerne forage. Investigation of forage at different maturity stages of three growths was carried out by chemical analysis, in vitro and in vivo digestibility methods. Generally, maturation caused a significant increase in fibre fractions. With the increasing maturity of forage samples the in vivo, in vitro, and calculated in vivo (in vivo calcul ) digestibilities of organic matter (OM) linearly decreased. The in vitro and in vivo calcul digestibilities of OM averaged 0.754 and 0.708 for red clover and 0.717 and 0.667 for lucerne, respectively. The in vivo OM digestibility averaged 0.710 for red clover and 0.666 for lucerne. Gross energy (GE), digestible energy (DE), metabolizable energy (ME), net energy for lactation (NEL), and net energy for growth (NEG) averaged 18.12, 12.41, 9.60, 5.67, 5.50 and 18.09, 11.56, 9.01, 5.26, 4.99 MJ/kg of dry matter for red clover and lucerne, respectively. The effect of a vegetative stage on energy values of both forages was diverged for various growth times. When data were pooled across the estimated season, seven cutting-specific equations for descriptions of GE, DE, ME, NEL, NEG, in vitro, and in vivo OM digestibilities were obtained for red clover and lucerne, separately. The red clover model expression gave similar prediction equations for lucerne. It was possible to predict cutting-specific equations with coefficients of determination R 2 > 0.719 for red clover and R 2 > 0.400 for lucerne of the variation in GE, DE, ME, NEL, and NEG. The in vitro and in vivo OM digestibility equations were predicted with R 2 being 0.840 (in vitro) and 0.707 (in vivo) for red clover, and 0.979 (in vitro) and 0.937 (in vivo) for lucerne. The parameters of these specific equations were statistically preferable than the general model expression which included both forages together.

Protein and carbohydrate profiles of a diploid and a tetraploid red clover cultivar

“…The results obtained in the current study are generally in agreement with those reported by Homalka et al (2012) for cell wall components of red clover cultivars at various stage of development. Balancing the appropriate level and type of non-structural and structural carbohydrates is a major challenge in formulating ruminant diets.…”

Evaluation of ruminal crude protein degradation of common feeds used in temperate climates

“…Forage exhibited increasing lignification with rising plant maturity (ADL = 43.9 and 64.9 g/ kg DM for the first and second mitres, respectively). This trend has been cited in several publications (Rinne and NykÓnen, 2000;Homolka et al, 2012). The GE of the estimated samples had an average of 19.7 MJ/kg DM.…”

White clover fractions as protein source for monogastrics: dry matter digestibility and protein digestibility‐corrected amino acid scores

“…No significant difference between DMD or between TDP of the different fractions was found. However, the fractionated white clover leaves were more concentrated with respect to CP content, demonstrating that, in a low fibre‐containing legume such as white clover,, the extra processing needed to isolate leaves is only necessary to secure a product with the highest possible protein content.…”