The relative feeding value of a new pasture legume, eastern star clover (Trifolium dasyurum), compared with subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum)
Hayley C. Norman A D E , David G. Masters A , Allan J. Rintoul A , Matt G. Wilmot A , Vijay Jayasena B , Angelo Loi C and Clinton K. Revell C DA CSIRO Livestock Industries, Centre for Environment and Life Sciences, Private Bag 5, Wembley, WA 6913, Australia.
B Food Science and Technology, Curtin University of Technology, PO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia.
C Department of Agriculture Western Australia, 3 Baron Hay Court, South Perth, WA 6151, Australia.
D Centre for Legumes in Mediterranean Agriculture, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: Hayley.Norman@csiro.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(6) 637-644 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04271
Submitted: 15 November 2004 Accepted: 20 April 2005 Published: 24 June 2005
Abstract
An accession of eastern star clover (Trifolium dasyurum C. Presl.), a new species to agriculture, has been identified by the National Annual Pasture Legume Improvement Program for commercial release in Australia. This paper reports the findings of an experiment designed to assess the feeding value of eastern star clover compared with a commercial cultivar of subterranean clover (T. subterraneum L. cv. Dalkeith). The hypothesis tested in this experiment is that sheep grazing eastern star clover will have similar growth rates, condition scores, and wool production to sheep grazing subterranean clover. Additionally, it is hypothesised that the sheep grazing the different clover species will have similar health and meat quality.
The relative feeding value of the 2 clover species was tested using 14-month-old Merino wethers, grazing 8 by 0.5 ha plots (4 of each species). Stocking rates were such that herbage mass availability would not have limited feed intake. Liveweight, wool growth, and animal health were monitored. After 10 weeks of grazing, 2 animals from each plot were slaughtered for sensory analysis of meat.
Although there were generally no differences in liveweight change, condition, or wool growth between sheep grazing eastern star or subterranean clovers, sheep in the subterranean clover plots grew faster during the first month of grazing. There were no differences in meat eating quality (tenderness, juiciness, or flavour), animal health, or vegetable matter contamination of wool. The data suggest that the clovers had the same relative feeding value despite herbage mass from the eastern star clover plots having lower in vitro digestibility, crude protein, and higher fibre than herbage mass from the subterranean clover plots. Given that there was a minimum of 1000 kg/ha of herbage mass in the plots, it is likely that sheep gazing the two clovers were able to maintain the same weight by selecting the high quality components of the pasture. Differences in plant quality are associated with differences in reproductive strategies of the clovers.
Additional keywords: forage quality, duty-of-care, feed selection, Trifolium formosum.
Acknowledgments
Giles Glasson (WA Department of Agriculture) and Alicia Gardner (University of WA) assisted with the animal and pasture measurements. Mike Carthew and Phil Bullock (from CSIRO Livestock Industries) provided significant support in the preparation and monitoring of sheep. Hillside Meats in Narrogin carried out the slaughter, which was coordinated and supervised by Kelly Pearce and Mike Carthew (CSIRO Livestock Industries). Interpretation of blood analysis was given by Gerard Smith from the Animal Health Laboratory at the WA Department of Agriculture. Thanks to Dr Emma Bermingham for assistance in the field and comments on the manuscript.
Akin DE,
Robinson EL,
Barton FE, Himmelsbach DS
(1977) Changes with maturity in anatomy, histochemistry, chemistry and tissue digestibility of Bermuda grass plant plants. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 25, 179–186.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ballard RA,
Simpson RJ, Pearce GR
(1990) Losses of the digestible components of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaudin) during senescence. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 41, 719–731.
Barrett JF,
George JM, Lamond DR
(1965) Comparison of reproductive performance of Merino ewes on native pasture, improved pasture and red clover (Trifolium pratense) pasture. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 16, 189.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barry TN, McNabb WC
(1999) The implications of condensed tannins on the nutritive value of temperate forages fed to ruminants. The British Journal of Nutrition 81, 263–272.
| PubMed |
Blood, DC ,
Radostits, OM ,
and
Henderson, JA (1985).
Channon HA, Lyons R, Bruce H
(2003) Sheepmeat flavour and odour: a review. Final report prepared for the Australian Sheep Industry CRC, Armidale, NSW
,
. http://www.sheepcrc.org.au
Coleman SW, Henry DA
(2002) Nutritive value of herbage. ‘Sheep nutrition’. (Eds M Freer, H Dove)
pp. 1–26. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)
Cramer DA,
Barton RA,
Shorland FB, Czochanska Z
(1967) A comparison of the effects of white clover (Trifolium repens) and of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) of fat composition and flavour of lamb. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 69, 367–373.
Forbes JM, Mayes RW
(2002) Food choice. ‘Sheep nutrition’. (Eds M Freer, H Dove)
pp. 51–70. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne, Vic.)
Fortune JA,
Cocks PS,
McFarlane CK, Smith FP
(1995) Distribution and abundance of annual legume seeds in the wheatbelt of Western Australia. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 35, 189–197.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Freer M,
Moore AD, Donnelly JR
(1997) GRAZPLAN: decision support systems for Australian grazing enterprises – II. The animal biology model for feed intake, production and reproduction and the GrazFeed DSS. Agricultural Systems 54, 77–126.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Klein L, Baker SB
(1993) Composition of the fractions of dry, mature subterranean clover digested in vivo and in vitro. ‘Proceedings of the XVII International Grasslands Congress’.
. (New Zealand Grasslands Association: Palmerston North, New Zealand)
Langlands JP, Wheeler JL
(1968) The dyebanding and tattooed patch procedure for estimating wool production and obtaining samples for the measurement of fibre diameter. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 8, 265–269.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loi A,
Howieson JG, Carr SJ
(2001) Register of Australian herbage plant cultivars, B. Legumes, 25 Biserrula Biserrula pelecinus L. (Biserrula) cv. Casbah. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 41, 841–842.
Loi A,
Howieson JG,
Nutt BJ, Carr SJ
(2005) A second generation of annual pasture legumes and their potential for inclusion in Mediterranean-type farming systems: a review. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 45, 289–299.
| Crossref |
Mannetje L’t, Haydock KP
(1963) The dry-weight-rank method for the botanical analysis of pasture. Journal of the British Grasslands Society 18, 268–275.
Masters DG,
Mata G,
Revell CK, Solah V
(2002) The effects of gland clover (Trifolium glanduliferum) consumption on sheep production and meat eating quality. Animal Production in Australia 24, 127.
Norman HC,
Cocks PS,
Smith FP, Nutt BJ
(1998) Reproductive strategies in Mediterranean annual clovers: germination and hardseededness. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 49, 973–982.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Park RJ,
Corbett JL, Furnival EP
(1972) Flavour difference in meat from lambs grazed on lucerne (Medicago sativa) or phalaris (Phalaris tuberosa) pastures. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 78, 47–52.
Prescott J,
Young O, O’Neill L
(2001) The impact on variations in flavour compounds on meat acceptability: a comparison of Japanese and New Zealand consumers. Food Quality and Preference 12, 257–264.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Provenza FD, Pfister JA
(1991) Influence of plant toxins on food ingestion by herbivores. ‘Recent advances on the nutrition of herbivores’. (Eds YW Ho, HK Wong, N Abdullah, ZA Tajuddin)
pp. 199–206. (Malaysian Society of Animal Production: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Purchas, RW ,
Johnson, CB ,
Birch, EJ ,
Winger, RJ ,
Hagyard, CJ ,
and
Keogh, RG (1986).
‘Flavour studies with beef and lamb.’ (Massey University: Palmerston North, New Zealand)
Reeves TG
(1976) Effect of annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud.) on the yield of wheat. Weed Research 16, 57–63.
Standards Association of Australia (1988).
‘Australian Standard 2542.2.3: Sensory Analysis of Foods.’ (SAA: Sydney, NSW)
Suiter J
(1994) Body condition scoring of sheep and goats. 69/1994, Department of Agriculture, Western Australia
,
.
Sweeney RA, Rexroad PR
(1987) Comparison of LECO FP-228 'N Determinator' with AOAC copper catalyst Kjeldahl method for crude protein. Journal - Association of Official Analytical Chemists 70, 1028–1032.
| PubMed |
Thompson EF,
Rihawl S,
Cocks PS,
Osman AE, Russi L
(1990) Recovery and germination rates of seed of Mediterranean medics and clovers offered to sheep at a single meal or continuously. Journal of Agricultural Science, Cambridge 114, 295–299.
Ulyatt MJ
(1973) The feeding value of herbage. ‘Chemistry and biochemistry of herbage’. Vol. 3,(Eds GW Butler, RW Baley, N Abdullah, ZA Tajuddin)
pp. 131–178. (Academic Press: London)
Weston RH
(1996) Some aspects to constraint to forage consumption by ruminants. Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 47, 175–198.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young OA,
Berdagué JL,
Viallon C,
Rousset-Akrim S, Theriez M
(1997) Fat-borne volatiles and sheepmeat odour. Meat Science 45, 183–200.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
