Forage production and quality of serradella in mild winter areas in north‐west Spain

Abstract

Forage production potential and nutritive value of pink serradella (Ornithopus sativus) from New Zealand and from the Atlantic coastal areas of Galicia (north‐west Spain, southwest Europe) were compared. The experiments were conducted in the high rainfall and mild winter areas of Galicia, where this minor legume has traditionally been grown on neutral to acidic sandy soils for hay and for green fodder production. The average forage dry matter (DM) yields ranged from 4.2 to 4.3 t DM ha‐1 in April and 5.6 to 6.1 t DM ha‐1 in May. At the May harvest the accumulated growing degree day units (base 10) ranged from 448 to 497. ‘Grasslands Koha’, a New Zealand variety of European origin, was the highest yielder, suggesting that serradella plant material from southwest Europe may be adapted to some areas of New Zealand and vice‐versa. The average decline in the forage quality of serradella from the vegetative stage to flowering stage was 0.71 g kg‐1 d‐1 in crude protein and 1.42 g kg‐1 d‐1 in in vitro organic matter digestibility. These quality reductions are lower than the values reported for some other forage crops. This important feature could be used to maximise production of high quality spring forage.