Relationships between botanical and chemical composition of forages: a multivariate approach to grasslands in the Western Italian Alps.
BACKGROUND
Plant composition of species-rich mountain grasslands can affect the sensorial and chemical attributes of dairy and meat products, with implications for human health. A multivariate approach was used to analyse the complex relationships between vegetation characteristics (botanical composition and plant community variables) and chemical composition (proximate constituents and fatty acid profile) in mesophilic and dry vegetation ecological groups, comprising six different semi-natural grassland types in the Western Italian Alps.


RESULTS
Mesophilic and dry grasslands were comparable in terms of phenology, biodiversity indices and proportion of botanical families. The content of total fatty acids and that of the most abundant fatty acids (alpha-linolenic, linoleic and palmitic acids) were mainly associated to nutrient-rich plant species, belonging to the mesophilic grassland ecological group. Mesophilic grasslands showed also higher values of crude protein, lower values of fibre content and they were related to higher pastoral values of vegetation compared to dry grasslands. The proximate composition and fatty acid profile appeared mainly single species dependent rather than botanical family dependent.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings highlight that forage from mesophilic grasslands can provide higher nutritive value for ruminants and may be associated to ruminant-derived food products with a healthier fatty acid profile. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Simone
S
Ravetto Enri
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Manuela
M
Renna
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Massimiliano
M
Probo
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Carola
C
Lussiana
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Luca M
LM
Battaglini
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Michele
M
Lonati
Department of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences, University of Torino, Largo Paolo Braccini 2, 10095 Grugliasco (TO), Italy.
Giampiero
G
Lombardi
D000821:Animal Feed; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D003611:Dairy Products; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000032:analysis; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D065948:Grassland; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008460:Meat; D009753:Nutritive Value; D018521:Plant Physiological Phenomena; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D010944:Plants / Q000737:chemistry*; D006109:Poaceae; D012418:Ruminants; D013045:Species Specificity
D004041:Dietary Fats; D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010940:Plant Proteins
ecological group; fatty acids; forage quality; grazing ruminants; pasture; phenology