Published in Scientific Papers. Series D. Animal Science, Vol. LXIV, Issue 2
Written by Victor ŢÎŢEI
Efficient animal-based agriculture is sustained by the cultivation of legumes. Forage legumes have the unique attributes of producing high-quality forage to enhance animal performance and the ability to utilize symbiotic nitrogen. Perennial legumes of the genus Astragalus are promising subjects in the search of new species and forms for introduction and breeding. We investigated some agro-biological peculiarities and the forage quality of Astragalus galegiformis, cv. 'Vigor’ grown in an experimental field of the National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chişinău. We found that the first cutting green mass contained 21.9% dry matter, but second and third cutting green mass – 31.9-34.2% dry matter. The dry matter of whole plant contained 231-234 g/kg CP, 111-126 g/kg ash, 247-248 g/kg ADF, 378-401 g/kg NDF, 31- 38 g/kg ADL, 209-217 g/kg Cel, 131-153 g/kg HC, 188 g/kg TSS,83.2- 87.52% DMD, 75.3- 82.3% DOM and RFV = 161-171, 13.6 MJ/kg DE, 11.2 MJ/kg ME, 7.2 MJ/kg NEl. The fermented fodder from Astragalus galegiformis 'Vigor’, contained 227-194 g/kg CP, 320-335 g/kg CF, 127-143 g/kg ash, 334-343 g/kg ADF, 518-524 g/kg NDF, 39-43 g/kg ADL, 34-92 g/kg TSS, 295-300 g/kg Cel, 175-190 g/kg HC, with nutritive value: 70.6-74.0% DMD, 63.0-66.0% OMD, 12.26-12.39 MJ/kg DE, 10.07-10.17 MJ/kg ME and 6.09-6.40 MJ/kg NEl. The cultivar 'Vigor’ of Astragalus galegiformis can be used as natural and fermented fodder for farm animals.
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