Birdsfoot Trefoil, a Valuable Tannin-Containing Legume for Mixed Pastures

Several species in the genus Lotus produce condensed tannins in high enough concentrations to influence herbage digestibility and animal performance. Big trefoil produces tannins at levels high enough to be considered antiquality. In contrast, birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) has lower herbage tannin concent...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inForage and grazinglands Vol. 2006
Main Authors MacAdam, J.W, Griggs, T.C, Beuselinck, P.R, Grabber, J.H
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Plant Management Network 2006
Subjects
beef cattle
dairy cattle
dairy cows
digestibility
forage legumes
forage quality
grazing
literature reviews
Lotus corniculatus
mixed stands
pastures
proanthocyanidins
tannins
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Summary:Several species in the genus Lotus produce condensed tannins in high enough concentrations to influence herbage digestibility and animal performance. Big trefoil produces tannins at levels high enough to be considered antiquality. In contrast, birdsfoot trefoil (BFT) has lower herbage tannin concentration, but levels can be high enough to be beneficial. This review discusses agronomic aspects of BFT and assesses studies comparing the livestock production value of BFT with forages containing little or no condensed tannin.
Bibliography:http://hdl.handle.net/10113/11931
http://dx.doi.org/10.1094/FG-2006-0912-01-RV
ISSN:1547-4631
1547-4631