Beneficial Effects of Temperate Forage Legumes that Contain Condensed Tannins

Jennifer W. MacAdam and Juan J. Villalba
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Jennifer W. MacAdam: Department of Plants, Soils and Climate, Utah State University, 4820 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA
Juan J. Villalba: Department of Wildland Resources, Utah State University, 5230 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322, USA

Agriculture, 2015, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-17

Abstract: The two temperate forage legumes containing condensed tannins (CT) that promote ruminant production are birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus L.; BFT) and sainfoin ( Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.; SF). Both are well-adapted to the cool-temperate climate and alkaline soils of the Mountain West USA. Condensed tannins comprise a diverse family of bioactive chemicals with multiple beneficial functions for ruminants, including suppression of internal parasites and enteric methane. Birdsfoot trefoil contains 10 to 40 g·CT·kg −1 dry matter (DM), while SF contains 30 to 80 g·CT·kg −1 DM. Our studies have focused on these two plant species and have demonstrated consistently elevated rates of gain for beef calves grazing both BFT and SF. Novel results from our BFT research include carcass dressing percentages and consumer sensory evaluations equivalent to feedlot-finished steers and significantly greater than grass-finished steers, but with omega-3 fatty acid concentrations equal to grass-finished beef. We have further demonstrated that ruminants fed BFT or SF will consume more endophyte-infected tall fescue ( Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort.) forage or seed than ruminants fed a non-CT forage legume. There is great potential value for sustainable livestock production in the use of highly digestible, nitrogen-fixing legumes containing tannins demonstrated to improve ruminant productivity.

Keywords: proanthocyanidin; birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.); sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) (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: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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