• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권7호
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• pp.1005-1015
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• 2009

Two experiments were carried out to determine the utility of sainfoin hay, a temperate tanniferous forage legume, as a dietary supplement for grass-fed cows. The condensed tannins (CT) of sainfoin might counteract the typical metabolic ammonia load of cows in intensive grazing systems. Furthermore, the physical fibrousness of sainfoin might improve ruminal pH stability. In the preliminary experiment, the eating rate of non-lactating Holstein cows of two tanniferous hays, sainfoin and birdsfoot trefoil, was compared to that of a grass-clover hay after specific periods of time (n = 4). The eating rate of sainfoin was superior to that of the other forages. In the main experiment, designed as a replicated 3${\times}$3 Latin square, six ruminally-cannulated, lactating Red Holstein cows received grass, concentrate and either no supplementation, 3 kg/d of grass hay or 3 kg/d of sainfoin hay (n = 6). Measured intakes of the grass hay and the sainfoin hay were 2.0 and 1.5 kg DM, and two cows entirely refused to eat the sainfoin hay and had to be excluded from data analysis. Grass DMI was similar for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay and cows fed only grass whereas intake of concentrate was higher (p<0.01) for the latter treatment. Continuous measurement of ruminal pH showed that the minimum pH at night tended to be lower (p<0.10) with grass-only feeding compared to sainfoin supplementation, but pH did not decline below the threshold of subacute acidosis for a longer period of time. The slightly higher intake of nitrogen (N) for cows supplemented with sainfoin hay (413 g/d) compared to cows fed only grass (399 g/d) was accompanied by an increased (p<0.05) fecal N excretion and a tendency for an increased (p<0.10) urinary N excretion. Ruminal ammonia concentration, as well as plasma and milk urea, were not affected by sainfoin supplementation. In conclusion, the lack of positive effects typical for CT might be explained either by the limited CT content of this plant species (55 g/kg DM) or the relatively low proportion of sainfoin in the total diet or both. Moreover, due to the unexpected low grass quality, the general ammonia load might have been too low for CT to have an impact.

• 한국초지조사료학회지
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• 제21권4호
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• pp.211-216
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• 2001

In an effort to investigate the germination and growth characteristics of tannin containing forage crops (such as chicory, birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus pedunculatus, sulla, lespedeza, crownvetch, sainfoin), germinativity, seedling vigor, and productivity were studied. Although the cumulative germination percentage (CGP) of chicory and birdsfoot trefoil was low, the germination rate(GR) and days to reach 50% of final germination(Gt50) were excellent. Crownvetch, lespedeza and sainfoin showed poor germination. Chicory seeds were light but the rate of emergence and establishment were high. Seeds of Lotus pedunculatus and birdsfoot trefoil were also small, but their rates of emergence and establishment were quite good. On the other hand, seeds of sainfoin and crownvetch were heavy but their emergence and establishment rate were very low. Lespedeza was the best in getting over the hot summer, and crownvetch also survived well during summer. Chicory was good in productivity and early growing but its persistence was not good. In case of birdsfoot trefoil and Lotus pedunculatus their early growing were slow but their productivity and persistence were fairly well. Lespedeza, crownvetch, and sainfoin showed poor growth in Korea. Based on the results of this study it can be concluded that chicory would be better to use as short term high productive forage crop, and Lotus pedunculatus and birdsfoot trefoil could be used as continuous functional forage crops in Korea. (Key words : Tannin. Germination. Chicory. Birdsfoot trefoil, Lotus pedunculatus)