Evaluation and Stability of Red and White Trifolium Species for Nutritional Quality in a Mediterranean Environment

Vasileios Greveniotis (), Elisavet Bouloumpasi (), Adriana Skendi, Athanasios Korkovelos, Dimitrios Kantas and Constantinos G. Ipsilandis
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Vasileios Greveniotis: Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, Institute of Industrial and Forage Crops, GR-41335 Larissa, Greece
Elisavet Bouloumpasi: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Oenology, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-66100 Drama, Greece
Adriana Skendi: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology and Oenology, Democritus University of Thrace, GR-66100 Drama, Greece
Athanasios Korkovelos: Directorate of Water Management of Thessaly, Decentralized Administration of Thessaly—Central Greece, GR-41335 Larissa, Greece
Dimitrios Kantas: Department of Animal Science, Campus Gaiopolis, University of Thessaly, GR-41500 Larissa, Greece
Constantinos G. Ipsilandis: Regional Administration of Crete, GR-71201 Heraklion, Greece

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 4, 1-18

Abstract: It is generally recognized that clovers represent a major nutrient used in ruminants’ diets due to their composition, which is high in protein content and low in fiber content. Investigating the nutritional quality of red and white clover genotypes, and classifying the genetic materials according to their primary quality attributes were the main goals of the current study. During a two-year experiment, we assessed their performance stability. Twelve red clover ( Trifolium pratense L.) and twelve white clover ( Trifolium repens L.) genetic materials were cultivated in a randomized complete block experimental design. Crude protein (CP%), acid detergent fiber (ADF%) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF%) concentrations were measured, and the relative feed value (RFV) was calculated using the estimates of digestible dry matter (DDM%) and potential dry matter intake (DMI% of body weight) of the forage. The average CP% content for white clover varied between 17.18% (REP-4) and 20.55% (REP-9) during the two years of testing. Regarding the red clover, the populations PRA-4, PRA-3, PRA-5, and PRA-10 exhibited the highest CP% content (19.98%) and the lowest ADF% (less than 29%). Although the variation was stable across the years, the profile of this variation of CP, ADF, and NDF for each clover species differs. The CP% was related negatively to ADF% and thus positively to DDM in both species but not with the same allocation, forming different clusters. PRA-3 and PRA-4 for the red clover and REP-5 for the white clover genetic materials exhibited characteristics belonging to the other species studied regarding their content in protein and fiber. Because of their relationship, CP and DDM could be improved simultaneously by breeders. This study revealed that ROZETA and PRA-4 were more stable genetic materials in red clover, and GRASSLANDS HUIA, RIVENDEL, and REP-5 in white clover.

Keywords: clover; nutrition; crude protein; fiber; relative feed value; stability index (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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