Open AccessEstimation of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) forage quality parameters depending on the stage of growth
Author(s) -
Jordan Marković,
Ratibor Štrbanović,
Dragan Terzić,
Rade Stanisavljević,
Dragoslav Đokić,
Tanja Vasić,
B. Anđelković
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
biotechnology in animal husbandry/biotechnology in animal husbandry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2217-7140
pISSN - 1450-9156
DOI - 10.2298/bah1104563m
Subject(s) - dry matter , red clover , forage , neutral detergent fiber , nutrient , net energy , biology , zoology , agronomy , energy density , mathematics , ecology , physics , theoretical physics
The objective of this study was to investigate the changes that take place in nutrient values of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cv K-27 at different stages of growth in the second and the third cut. The samples from different stages of growth: mid-bud stage, around 60% flowering and full flowering were investigated for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV), total digestible nutrients (TDN), net energy-lactation (NEl), net energy-maintenance (NEm) and net energy-gain (NEg) content. Higher content of crude protein was found in the third cut (262.1 g kg-1 of DM) than in the second cut (260.8 g kg-1 of DM) in the first stage of development. TDN, DDM, DMI, RFV, NEl, NEm and NEg were calculated according to the appropriate equations adapted from common formulas for forages. The stage of plant development has a significant influence on the chemical composition and the relative feed value of red clover. The achieved results show that adequate maturity stage for cutting might be at mid-bloom stage, when crude protein content, NEl, NEm and NEg content are high.