Abstract
This research was conducted to determine the forage quality of alfalfa during grazing season in artificial pasture from the years 2010 to 2012 in Isparta. The mixture of the pasture used were Medicago sativa L. (15%) + Onobrychis sativa Lam. (15%) + Agropyron cristatum L. (35%) + Bromus inermis L. (35%). Forage samples were collected from grazing and non-grazing areas once every 15 days during the grazing seasons. The crude protein (CP), acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) contents, in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) ratios were determined on the alfalfa forage samples. According to results of this research, the CP content, IVDMD, Mg, P and K contents decreased throughout the grazing season, while ADF, NDF and Ca contents increased in grazing and non-grazing areas. The ADF, NDF, Ca, Mg contents of alfalfa in non-grazed areas were higher than the grazed areas, while CP, IVDMD, P and K contents of grazed areas were higher than non-grazed areas. It can be concluded that the harvesting at the late stages caused a reduction in forage quality of alfalfa in grazing and non-grazing areas.
Highlights
The deep root system of alfalfa makes it more drought tolerant than cool-season legumes and grasses
The highest crude protein (CP) contents were obtained from beginning of the grazing season while the lowest CP contents were determined at end of the grazing season (Figure 3)
Other reports support that the CP contents decreases by advancing stage of maturity (Koc et al 2000; Rebole et al 2004; Turk et al 2011), suggesting that animals should be supplemented with protein sources, especially towards the end of the grazing season
Summary
The deep root system of alfalfa makes it more drought tolerant than cool-season legumes and grasses. Alfalfa does not make maximum growth during summer droughts, it usually provides good summer pastures. During extreme drought, this aspect is even more important since cool-season grasses become dormant. Dryland pastures best comprised a simple mixture containing two and three species having similar palatability, season of growth, grazing tolerance, drought tolerance and rare cases of regrowth (Holzworth et al 2003). Higher nutritive quality of feeds are dependent on higher levels of cell-soluble, crude protein and mineral contents. These components of forage decline substantially with the advanced plant growth and reach the lowest level when plants become quality (Koc and Gokkus 1994) as in all steppe vegetation. In this research, it was aimed to determine chemical composition of the alfalfa during the grazing season in artificial pastures established in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey
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