In Vitro Assessment of the Nutritional Value of Seed Crop Plants Damaged by Hailstorms and Strong Winds as Alternative Forages for Ruminants

Sonia Tassone (), Salvatore Barbera, Rabeb Issaoui, Hatsumi Kaihara, Sara Glorio Patrucco and Khalil Abid
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Sonia Tassone: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
Salvatore Barbera: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
Rabeb Issaoui: Independent Researcher, Tunis 1068, Tunisia
Hatsumi Kaihara: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
Sara Glorio Patrucco: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy
Khalil Abid: Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Turin, Largo P. Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: The increasing frequency of extreme weather events, exacerbated by climate change, has caused significant physical damage to crops worldwide. This study explores the potential of repurposing crop plants that exhibit structural breakage due to hailstorms and strong winds and were originally cultivated for seed production (amaranth, borage, camelina, flax, quinoa, soybean, and white lupin) as alternative forages for ruminants. Their nutritional value was assessed by analyzing chemical composition, in vitro dry matter degradability (DMD), in vitro neutral detergent fiber degradability (NDFD), estimated dry matter intake (DMI), and relative feed value (RFV) compared to conventional forages (alfalfa and ryegrass hay from undamaged plant). Results revealed significant variability among the damaged crops. Borage, amaranth, and white lupin exhibited superior DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV, positioning them as promising forage alternatives. Soybean and quinoa showed protein content, DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV comparable to alfalfa hay, suggesting their suitability as substitutes. However, camelina exhibited limited NDFD, while flax had low DMD, NDFD, estimated DMI, and RFV, indicating the need for pre-treatment strategies to optimize their nutritional value. Overall, repurposing weather-damaged borage, amaranth, white lupin, soybean, and quinoa as alternative forages for ruminants provides a promising approach to mitigating feed shortages, improving feed resource utilization, and optimizing resource utilization in livestock production.

Keywords: alternative ruminant feeds; damaged seed crop plants; agricultural resilience; feed resource optimization; sustainable livestock production (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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