Forage Chicory and Plantain Nutritive Value of Herbage at Variable Grazing Frequencies and Intensities

Abstract

Cultivars of forage chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) and plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) grown in the northeastern USA have acceptable seasonal productivity; however, their reproductive habit could limit herbage nutritive value. The nutritive value of chicory and plantain cultivars was compared and examined under the effect of variable frequency and intensity of grazing. The cultivars were compared with 'Pennlate' orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), a productive grass during the summer, in two grazing experiments in 3 yr. Pre-grazing herbage samples were analyzed and compared for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and in vitro true digestibility of dry matter (IVTD). In both experiments, the average CP of entries was 180 to 200 g kg 21, similar to orchardgrass. The NDF of forbs, which ranged from 300 to 400 g kg 21 , was 200 g kg 21 lower than orchardgrass. The IVTD of chicory cultivars averaged 850 to 950 g kg 21 . In Exp. 1, 'Forage Feast' and 'Puna' chicory had the greatest IVTD (5% greater than orchardgrass: average 911 vs. 867 g kg 21 , respectively; P , 0.05). Lancelot plantain had the lowest IVTD in both experiments. Grazing management (frequency of grazing) affected nutritive value in Exp. 1 but not in Exp. 2. Although herbage composition in Exp. 2 varied, continuous reproductive development did not affect nutritive value. Managing Puna chicory and Lancelot plantain using a canopy-height based grazing system to maximize yield and persistence does not compromise nutritive value. Puna chicory could be a good complement to Pennlate orchardgrass in grassbased feeding systems.

Herbicide application and direct drilling improves establishment and yield of chicory and plantain

“…Labreveux et al . () reported similar findings , with lower in vitro digestibility in plantain swards compared with chicory and forage grasses in grazing experiments. However, the higher HA of plantain swards may counter this in terms of the likely milk production response.…”

The Variation for Dry Weight and Hay Quality in Turkish Origin Wild Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) Genotypes

“…Sulas (2004) reported that ADF content of chicory ranged from 25.8-49.9%. Labreveux et al (2006) reported that NDF content of chicory ranged from 25.5-39.9%.…”

Nutritional qualities, chemical compositions, and yield of chicory genotypes

“…Sanderson et al (2003b) reported that Forage Feast chicory had 20% higher CP than Lacerta chicory, and slightly higher CP than Puna chicory. While evaluating chicory cultivars in a grazing experiment, Labreveux, Sanderson, and Hall (2006) noted that the average CP of cultivars varied from 180-200 g kg −1 . Also, CP content of chicory at the vegetative growth stage averaged 187 g kg −1 in studies by Crush and Evans (1990), 222 g kg −1 by Niezen et al (1993), 183 g kg −1 by Volesky (1996), and 115 g kg −1 by Kidane, Sørheim, Eik, and Steinshamn (2015).…”

“…The ranges of both NDF and ADF in genotypes used in our study were higher than values reported by Piluzza et al (2014), which could be attributed to differences of growth stages of measured samples between the two experiments. Labreveux et al (2006) noted that the average NDF of cultivars ranged from 300-400 g kg −1 . In research by Holden et al (2000), NDF concentration was 175 g kg −1 and 250 g kg −1 , and ADF concentration of chicory was 161 g kg −1 and 212 g kg −1 in 2 yr of the experiment.…”