NB of Forage Legumes and Fleshy Forages in Animal Nutrition

Question 1

Forage legumes in general

Answer 1

1) Perennial, or annual herbs
2) Fabaceae
3) Stems and leaves rich in fibre and proteins
3) Highly important plants as livestock forages
4) Rich in minerals: Ca2+, Mg2+, and P
5) Vitamin B and beta- carotene

Question 2

Forage Legumes Examples

Answer 2

Red Clover
Crimson Clover
Sainfoin

Question 3

Utilisation

Answer 3

1) Grazing
2) Hay
3) Silage
4) harbour Rhizobium species - ability to fix athmospheric N2

Question 4

Anti nutritives - Bloat

Answer 4

1) Freshly eaten forage legumes can be fermented easily in the intestines
2) Water-soluble peptids of low molecular weights are released
3) Rapid digestion by rumen microbes
4) Slime produced - frothy bloat

Question 5

Anti nutritives - Saponins

Answer 5

1) Amphipathic glycosides
- Have hydrophilic and lipophilic properties
- Emulsifying effect
- produce foam in stomach/rumen
- can enter into the lipid bilayer of cell membranes
- can enter into the lipid bilayer of cell membranes
- RBC’s - Hemolysis

Question 6

Anti nutritives - Phytoestrogens

Answer 6

1) Phytoestrogens can be isoflavonoids, or coumestans
2) Decrease Fertility
3) Abnormal Oestrus Cycle
4) Abortion, Sterility

Question 7

Anti nutritives - Tannins

Answer 7

1) Plant defence against herbivory
2) Precipitated proteins become water insoluble
3) More difficult to digest
4) Difficult to digest
5) Decreased protein conversion rate
6) Tannins interfere with protein and CH absorption
7) Fecal N excretion increases, but due to the necrosis of liver and renal tubules, total N retention can be increased as a result of decreased urinary excretion

Question 8

Fleshy Forages in General

Answer 8

1) Large Biomass
2) High water content 75- 90%
3) Low in proteins, fatty acids and fibers
4) Easily digestible compounds: sugars, starches

Question 9

Modified Taproot

Answer 9

Sugar Beet

- Increases milk production

Question 10

Modified Stem

Answer 10

Potato

• Storing nutrients
• High in Vit A,B,C,K
• Antinutritives = Solanin

Question 11

Fleshy Leaves

Answer 11

Kale

• Vitamin C
• High protein in leaves
• May cause frothy bloat

Question 12

Fleshy Fruits

Answer 12

Marrow

• High water content
• Poor digestibility

Question 13

Anti Nutritves of Sugar Beet

Answer 13

1) Consumption of too many sugar beet (or sugar) may lead to high lactic acid production in the intestines = lactic acidosis
2) Too many sugar in rumen - Decreased pH - shifts in species abundances in rumen microbial community - digestive problems
3) Betaine - can be secreted into the milk (beet taste in milk)

Question 14

Anti Nutritves of Potato

Answer 14

1) Protease (trypsin) inhibitors

2) Glycoalkaloids: solanine, chaconine

Question 15

Solanine Poisoning

Answer 15

1) acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the neuromuscular junction = inhibited by Solanine
2) Nervous system symptoms:
- starting with vomiting, salivation, mucosal inflammation, diarrhea
3) continues with dizziness, paralysis of skeletal muscles, cardiac arrhythmia, coma, death
4) Higher solanine levels in tubers exposed to sunlight, or with mechanical damages

Question 16

Anti Nutritves of Forage Kale

Answer 16

1) Contains glucosinolates which have goitrogenic effects
2) Accumulation of nitrate ions -NO3- poisoning
3) Causes frothy bloat - limited quantities should be applied