Sainfoin: an alternative forage crop for bees

Kells, Andrea R

doi:10.1080/0005772x.2001.11099526

Cited by 15 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…Sainfoin is also conducive to honey bee culture, with the sainfoin flowers preferred over many other crops including alfalfa (Deveci & Kuvanci, ). Sainfoin nectar is especially sweet (42% to 50% sucrose; Kells, ) and blooms about 2 weeks earlier than alfalfa, and the honey produced is especially clear and easily blended with other honey stocks. Kropacova () calculated the total quantity of nectar sugar produced as 32.8–130.3 kg/ha.…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sainfoin nectar is especially sweet (42% to 50% sucrose; Kells, 2001) and blooms about 2 weeks earlier than alfalfa, and the honey produced is especially clear and easily blended with other honey stocks. Kropacova (1969) calculated the total quantity of nectar sugar produced as 32.8-130.3 kg/ha.…”

Section: Bee Culture and Aestheticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kropacova () calculated the total quantity of nectar sugar produced as 32.8–130.3 kg/ha. Kells () speculated that sainfoin yields more honey than any other temperate plants. Also of note, both honey bees and leaf cutter bees will pollinate sainfoin, and sainfoin seed yields are increased as much as 10‐ to 25‐fold when bees have access and are active (Kells, ).…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kells () speculated that sainfoin yields more honey than any other temperate plants. Also of note, both honey bees and leaf cutter bees will pollinate sainfoin, and sainfoin seed yields are increased as much as 10‐ to 25‐fold when bees have access and are active (Kells, ). Richards and Edwards () investigated pollinator requirements for sainfoin and found each flower needs 4‐8 visits to complete pollination.…”

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sainfoin production in western Canada: A review of agronomic potential and environmental benefits

Sheppard¹,

Cattani

Ominski

et al. 2019

Grass and Forage Science

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Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a forage legume of renewed interest in western Canada, with equally weighted advantages and disadvantages. In agronomic attributes, sainfoin is, at best, equal in yield, crude protein content and persistence to alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Sainfoin is equally or more palatable than alfalfa to ruminants, with comparable levels of animal productivity per unit forage consumed. The advantages it has compared to alfalfa include the following: (a) mitigation of frothy bloat; (b) reduced ammonia emissions (more faecal nitrogen (N) and less urinary N); (c) equal or better N retention by ruminants; and (d) anthelmintic protection from intestinal parasites. These advantages may be attributed to the presence of condensed tannins (CT), in legumes such as sainfoin. Emphasis on agronomic characteristics in breeding programmes appears to have led to the inadvertent reduction in the efficacy of CT characteristics. Persistence of sainfoin appears to be dependent on minimal pressure from competing plants, harvest or grazing, and good growth conditions from mid‐summer into fall, allowing for adequate root reserves for survival. It is possible that judicious use of glyphosate in late season might lessen competition in that critical period as sainfoin is more glyphosate‐tolerant than alfalfa. Otherwise, sainfoin may be best considered a short‐lived forage and best adapted for early season harvest or grazing to eliminate the risk of bloat.

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Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Bee Culture and Aestheticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Environmental Impacts Of Sainfoin In Livestock Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Sainfoin production in western Canada: A review of agronomic potential and environmental benefits

Sheppard¹,

Cattani

Ominski

et al. 2019

Grass and Forage Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The agricultural trend towards monoculture may exacerbate pollinator decline because pollen derived from a single source can compromise nutrition and health (Hendrikx et al , 2009; Aston et al , 2009). O. viciifolia flowers are a rich source of pollen and nectar, attracting ten times more bees than Trifolium repens (Rosov, 1952; McGregor, 1976; Kells, 2001) and are visited by managed and indigenous pollinator insect species, including Apis , Bombus and Osmia (Horne, 1995; Clement et al , 2006; Howes, 2007; USDA SARE, 2007; Westphal et al , 2008; Taki et al , 2009). Rozen et al (2010) noted that O. viciifolia is the sole pollen source for Osmia avosetta bees in Turkey, which build elaborate colourful nests from its pink petals.…”

Section: Beneficial Aspectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia): a beneficial forage legume

Carbonero

Mueller-Harvey

Brown

et al. 2011

Plant Genet. Resour.

113

134

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TheOnobrychisgenus comprises a few agronomically important forage legume species, with sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) being the most widespread.O. viciifoliahas a long history of traditional culture worldwide, but its use has declined in western countries over the last decades. It suffers from low productivity and is more difficult to maintain than other legumes but is known to have valuable characteristics such as palatability and drought tolerance. Recent studies suggest that it has several other highly beneficial properties due to its unique tannin and polyphenol composition. Condensed tannins present inOnobrychisspecies have been shown to confer anthelmintic properties, increase protein utilization and prevent bloating; they may also have the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Positive effects on wildlife and honey production could also be advantageous in the context of sustainable farming. Modern breeding programmes have not been a priority, leading to a lack of genetic knowledge in comparison to extensively used forage legumes. It is expected that potential forO. viciifoliaimprovements could be achieved by rigorous characterization of the available germplasm and utilization of characters derived from close relatives of the genus. Breeding priorities for the future would include enhanced germination and improved early establishment, allied to the best anthelmintic properties observed in some varieties.

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An insight into sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) breeding: Challenges and achievements

Poudel,

Bhattarai,

Singer

et al. 2023

Agronomy Journal

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Over the last decade, there has been a renewed interest in sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), particularly among western Canadian forage and beef‐cattle producers. A major trigger has been the availability of new sainfoin cultivars with improved compatibility with alfalfa. These new cultivars in binary mixture with alfalfa significantly reduced the incidence of alfalfa pasture bloat in grazing animals, potentially saving an estimated CAD 300‐500 million worldwide, largely by eliminating direct animal losses and expenses associated with prevention and treatment. Although the development of new sainfoin cultivars was a significant breakthrough, this alone did not ensure its adoption by producers in western Canada. Indeed, concerns and questions endured, including whether sainfoin cultivars could in fact grow together with alfalfa and persist as a perennial crop, whether including sainfoin in alfalfa stands would make the pasture bloat safe, whether the biomass yield of sainfoin was comparable to that of alfalfa for a profitable return, and whether livestock would graze sainfoin to the same extent as alfalfa. In this review paper, we provide an overview of sainfoin breeding research, and discuss how new sainfoin cultivars (AAC‐Mountainview and AAC‐Glenview) were developed in Canada for binary mixtures with alfalfa. Additionally, we highlight current progress in sainfoin breeding efforts and the prospect of this species as a livestock feed for a sustainable agriculture system.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

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Sainfoin: an alternative forage crop for bees

Cited by 15 publications

References 2 publications

Sainfoin production in western Canada: A review of agronomic potential and environmental benefits

Sainfoin production in western Canada: A review of agronomic potential and environmental benefits

Sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia): a beneficial forage legume

An insight into sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) breeding: Challenges and achievements

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