Plantain (Plantago lanceolata) - a potential pasture species

Abstract

<jats:p>Plantago lanceolata L. is a herb species with a broad distribution in grasslands throughout the temperate world. The leaf is highly palatable to grazing animals, providing a mineral- rich forage. The species is rapid to establish, grows on a wide range of agricultural soils and is tolerant of drought and of many common diseases and pests. Two productive upright cultivars of plantain have been bred, Grasslands Lancelot and the more erect winter active Ceres Tonic. Plantain contains a range of biologically active compounds, often in large quantities. The antimicrobial compounds present can inhibit rumen fermentation and change the volatile fatty acid composition of the rumen. These changes have potential to affect bloat, animal performance and milk composition. The performance of animals grazing plantain has varied from excellent in mixed pastures to poor on nitrogen-fertilised pure swards. Animals grazing plantain have been observed to have a reduced incidence of scouring and dags in some trials, but despite a mild anthelmintic effect detected in the laboratory, field trials have failed to detect any significant reduction in worm burdens. The most likely use of plantain on farms is as a component of mixed pasture swards. Its contribution is likely to be greatest where grass growth is less vigorous and where there are gaps in the sward. These conditions are likely to be found in low fertility dryland pastures. It is unlikely to be the dominant species and could be expected to contribute less than 20% of the sward, except where the grass or legume growth is poor. Keywords: perennial forage herbs, Plantago lanceolata, plantain</jats:p>

Forage Chicory and Plantain Nutritive Value of Herbage at Variable Grazing Frequencies and Intensities

“…Reported IVTD values for naturally occurring plantain species are 804 g kg −1 (Derrick et al, 1993), but no additional reports are available concerning plantain under rotational grazing conditions. Wilman and Riley (1993) and Stewart (1996) suggest that the effect of plantain on rumen microflora (i.e., slowing down the breakdown of the material) affects the results obtained by the conventional methods of IVTD analysis. The authors advise that a similar method to that used in this work may judge against plantain when compared with other forages.…”

“…This variation can be associated with reproductive stages and maturity of plant parts (Buxton et al, 1985) and with the effects of grazing animals caused by treading and dung and urine depositions (Matches, 1992). Reproductive stages of Pennlate orchardgrass occur early in the spring, whereas chicory and plantain may flower later in the spring and summer (Castellano‐Cantero, 1997; Stewart, 1996). It is possible that differences in the timing to reproductive development are associated with nutritive values observed because most differences between the forbs and orchardgrass occurred in May.…”

“…These cultivars were selected for their upright growth habit and larger leaves than naturally occurring types. Leaves of plantain cultivars are reported as highly palatable to animals and to have a similar digestibility to perennial ryegrass and birdsfoot trefoil pastures (Fraser and Rowarth, 1996; Stewart, 1996; Rumball et al, 1997).…”

Freezing Tolerance of Chicory and Narrow‐Leaf Plantain

“…Although naturalized populations of P lanceolata can be found throughout the northeastern USA, Tonic and Lancelot plantain were developed in New Zealand from germplasm originating in northern Portugal and the north island of New Zealand, respectively (Stewart, 1996). On the basis of our results, neither improved cultivar appears to have sufficient winter hardiness to survive in northeastern pastures.…”

“…I mproved cultivars of forage chicory and narrow‐leaf plantain have received increasing attention as possible forage and pasture species for the northeastern United States because of their reported high productivity during periods of drought (Stewart, 1996; Belesky et al, 1999; Kunelius and McRae, 1999) and high nutritive value (Jung et al, 1996; Stewart, 1996; Barry, 1998; Belesky et al, 2000). Although naturalized populations of chicory and plantain exist throughout the northeastern USA, the improved cultivars that are currently available were selected for pasture production under New Zealand conditions (Rumball, 1986; Stewart, 1996; Rumball et al, 1997). Sanderson et al (2001) reported stand losses of 20 to 50% for chicory grown in central Pennsylvania and found that plantain died out completely within 2 yr in one experiment.…”