Harvest regimen changes sericea lespedeza condensed tannin, fiber and protein concentrations

Abstract

Sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata [Dumont de Courset] G. Don.; SL) is a perennial, warm‐season legume containing condensed tannins (CT) that can play important roles in ruminant ecosystems. Our research objective was to determine season‐long average herbage CT fractions, crude protein (CP) and fiber concentrations under three harvest regimens for SL cv. AU Grazer at five locations within the southeastern USA during 2010. Harvest regimens were regrowth every 35 days (35‐day), previously uncut plots every 35 days (ACCUM), or regrowth when height reached 40 cm (40 cm). We found harvest regimen by location interactions (P ≤ 0.05) for all dependent variables. The ACCUM plants usually had greater (P ≤ 0.05) fiber concentrations where there were differences, except for the Louisiana location. The lowest (114 g kg−1; P ≤ 0.05) CP concentrations were measured in ACCUM plants at the driest location (Texas) while the highest (181 g kg−1 for North Carolina plants) came from the 35‐day regimen. Total CT (TCT) concentration varied (P ≤ 0.05) from a low of 61.1 g kg−1 for ACCUM plants in Louisiana to 100.7 g kg−1 for Texas plants harvested from 35‐day plots. In summary, harvest regimen influenced SL nutrient and CT concentrations. Fiber concentration was better correlated (−0.621 for acid detergent fiber; P ≤ 0.05) with TCT than CP (−0.014; P = 0.82). Sericea lespedeza regrowth harvested every 35 days had higher season‐long average TCT concentrations in two of five locations along with greater CP and less fiber concentrations in four of five locations compared to the ACCUM regimen.

Ruminal fermentation and enteric methane production of legumes containing condensed tannins fed in continuous culture

“…Concentrations of CT for the birdsfoot trefoil and sericea lespedeza were within the range of those previously found by Jonker and Yu (2017; 21-47 g/kg of DM) and Müir et al (2018; 121-142 g/kg of DM). However, alfalfa and crown vetch showed numerically higher CT concentrations than those reported by Jonker and Yu (2017; 0.5 g/kg of DM) and Terrill et al (1992; 16 g/kg of DM), respectively.…”

Initial effects of supplemental forages and feedstuffs on bovine rumen ecologyin vitroas determined by DNA-based molecular procedures

“…Shelton (1995, 1997) reported 1.8% condensed tannin in the dietary DM had minimal effect on rumen fermentation, mainly on minor VFA (isobutyrate, valerate, and isovalerate). In the present study, SLZ (condensed tannin containing; Muir et al 2018), and WCS (oil; Moore et al, 1986, and condensed tannin containing;Yu et al, 1993) resulted in similar VFA patterns while the BFT (contains condensed tannin; Min and Hart 2003) treatment exhibited higher overall VFA concentrations. Condensed tannins in SLZ forage have been reported to have a higher affinity for protein than tannins in BFT forages (Aerts et al 1999).…”

Effects of different levels of lespedeza and supplementation with monensin, coconut oil, or soybean oil on ruminal methane emission by mature Boer goat wethers after different lengths of feeding

“…Approximately 1 month before harvest it appeared that the level of lespedeza would be high, but based on the analyzed CT concentration compared with that in previous studies (Animut et al 2008a(Animut et al , 2008bPuchala et al 2012aPuchala et al , 2012b, apparently the level of grass had increased. However, Muir et al (2017) reported total CT levels of 6.1%-10.0% in Sericea lespedeza harvested at five locations in the southeastern USA.…”