Comparison of chemical composition and nutritive values of some clover species

Abstract

This study was carried out to compare the chemical composition and nutritive value of some clover species, especially common in the rangelands of the Mediterranean region. For this purpose, clover species (Trifolium angustifolium, Trifolium cherleri, Trifolium hybridum, Trifolium lappaceum, Trifolium nigrescens, Trifolium pilulare, Trifolium resupinatum, Trifolium scabrum, Trifolium spumosum and Trifolium tomentosum) were collected from ten different points in Hatay Mustafa Kemal University campus pasture. To determine the chemical composition of collected clover species, crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), hemicellulose (Hcel) and cellulose (Cel) contents were investigated. In addition, dry matter digestibility (DMD), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV) and net energy lactation (NEL) characteristics were calculated in order to determine the nutritional value of clovers. Differences among species in terms of all features examined were found to be statistically significant. CA, CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, Hcel and Cel contents of species varied between 5.36% and 9.85%, 18.47% and 22.05%, 30.31% and 49.80%, 21.32% and 34.28, 3.25% and 5.04, 8.99% and 15.97% and 18.07% and 30.38, respectively. It was determined that the values of DMD, DMI, RFV and NEL properties calculated for the nutritive values of these plants varied between 62.20-72.29%, 2.41-3.97%, 116.20-222.18 and 1.40-1.74%, respectively. When the results obtained from the study were evaluated collectively, it was determined that T. resupinatum and T. hybridum offered a superior nutrient content and nutritional value compared to other species.