Influence of alkaloid content on intake of subspecies of Chamaecytisus proliferus

Alkaloid contents (sparteine accounted for more than 80%) of four subspecie s of Chamaecytisus proliferus (tagasaste) were higher in spring cuts than i n autumn cuts, and they were (g kg(-1) DM for spring and autumn cuts, respe ctively) 2.9 and 1.6 for palmensis subspecies, 7.3 and 2.9 for canariae, 11 .3 and 7.9 for meridionales and 2.7 for the autumn cut of calderae. Volunta ry intake was determined by free-choosing among subspecies cuts. Intake of tagasaste subspecies ranged between 3.7 and 9.2 g DM kg(-1) BW0.75, and was negatively correlated (r=--0.92, p<0.01) with alkaloid content of subspeci es, but not with chemical composition or ruminal degradability of nutrients . Alkaloid content of subspecies could explain the erratic intake of tagasa ste. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.