title: Fatty acids, α-tocopherol, β-carotene, and lutein contents in forage legumes, forbs, and a grass-clover mixture.
abstract: Fresh forages are an important natural source of vitamins and fatty acids in ruminant diets, and their concentrations in forage species are important for the quality of animal-derived foods such as dairy and meat products. The aims of this study were to obtain novel information on vitamins and fatty acids (FA) in a variety of forage legumes and non-legume forb species compared to a grass-clover mixture and to explore implications for animal-derived products. Seven dicotyledons [four forbs (salad burnet ( Sanguisorba minor ), caraway ( Carum carvi ), chicory ( Cichorium intybus ), and ribwort plantain ( Plantago lanceolata )) and three legume species (yellow sweet clover ( Melilotus officinalis ), lucerne ( Medicago sativa ), and birdsfoot trefoil ( Lotus corniculatus ))] and a perennial ryegrass-white clover mixture were investigated in a cutting trial with four harvests (May-October) during 2009 and 2010. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, and analyses of variance were performed. In addition, three other forbs were grown: borage ( Borago officinalis ), viper's bugloss ( Echium vulgare ), and chervil ( Anthriscus cerefolium ). Lucerne and yellow sweet clover had the lowest α-tocopherol concentrations (21-23 mg kg(-1) DM) and salad burnet and ribwort plantain the highest (77-85 mg kg(-1) DM); β-carotene concentrations were lowest in lucerne, salad burnet, and yellow sweet clover (26-33 mg kg(-1) DM) and highest in caraway, birdsfoot trefoil, and ribwort plantain (56-61 mg kg(-1) DM). Total FA concentrations were lowest in lucerne, ribwort plantain, chicory, and yellow sweet clover (15.9-19.3 g kg(-1) DM) and highest in caraway and birdsfoot trefoil (24.5-27.0 g kg(-1) DM). Birdsfoot trefoil had the highest (53.6 g 100 g(-1) FA) and caraway and lucerne the lowest (33.7-35.7 g 100 g(-1) FA) proportions of n-3 FA. This study demonstrated higher vitamin concentrations in some forbs compared with major forages such as lucerne and grass-clover, more total FA in salad burnet, caraway, and birdsfoot trefoil than in lucerne, and higher n-3 FA concentrations in all forbs than in lucerne. Opportunities are discussed to develop novel biodiverse pastures for particular product quality characteristics.
authors.affiliation: Independent Scientist, P.O. Box 323, 6700 AH Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Anjo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elgersma
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Søegaard
authors.forename: Søren Krogh
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Jensen
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D007887:Fabaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D014975:Lutein / Q000032:analysis*; D019684:Magnoliopsida / Q000737:chemistry*; D029902:Medicago / Q000737:chemistry; D006109:Poaceae / Q000737:chemistry; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000032:analysis*; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D019207:beta Carotene; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol; D014975:Lutein