F. Gonzalezandres et Jl. Ceresuela, CHEMICAL-COMPOSITION OF SOME IBERIAN MEDITERRANEAN LEGUMINOUS SHRUBS POTENTIALLY USEFUL FOR FORAGE IN SEASONALLY DRY AREAS, New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research, 41(2), 1998, pp. 139-147
The chemical composition of herbage produced by legume shrubs was dete
rmined to appraise their potential value for forage. Six species were
assessed for seasonal variation in the proportion of leaves, and ash c
ontent, neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), aci
d detergent lignin (ADL), and crude protein (CP) concentrations. Hippo
crepis balearica, Medicago citrina, Medicago strasseri, and Medicago a
rborea showed an average ADF content <25% and an average crude protein
content >18%. The chemical composition of Medicago strasseri was very
close to that of Medicago ar borea throughout the year. In winter and
summer, Medicago citrina showed lower ADF and ADL content than Medica
go arborea. Therefore, Medicago citrina could be useful as a summer or
a winter forage. Hippocrepis balearica showed higher crude protein co
ntent in summer and lower ADF content in winter than Medicago arborea,
but significantly higher ADL contents (9.7% to 12.5% versus 7.1% to 9
.4%). Therefore, Hippocrepis balearica could be a good option as a win
ter and summer forage, although further studies are necessary to eluci
date the possible detrimental effect of lignin in forage digestibility
. Coronilla juncea and Cytisus arboreus showed an average ADF content
>30% and an average crude protein content <15%. Coronilla juncea showe
d good chemical composition in winter (28.7% ADF, 9.0% ADL, and 12.6%
crude protein) making this species potentially useful as a winter fora
ge.