PROTEIN IN ANIMAL FEEDS

A study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary hydroalcoholic willow bark extract powder (HWE) supplemented to broilers (14–42 days old) that were exposed to heat stress, on the performance, serum biochemical parameters, liver oxidative status and caecal microflora. The feeding trial was conducted on 120 Cobb 500 broilers (14 days old), assigned to three treatments (T0, T25, and T50), each treatment consisting of eight replicates (five chicks per replicate). The broilers were housed in an experimental hall at a 32 °C constant temperature and 23 hours light regimen. Unlike the dietary control treatment (T0), the experimental treatments were supplemented with 25 g HWE powder/100 kg diet (T25), and 50 g HWE powder 100 kg diet (T50), respectively. Dietary HWE powder did not affect the broilers’ performance significantly (14–42 days). A significantly lower amount of malondialdehyde was noticed in the liver of broilers from T25 and T50 treatments in comparison with broilers fro...

A 28-day feeding trial was conducted on 60, Cobb 500 broilers (14 days), assigned to 2 groups (C, E) housed in an experimental hall (32° C, 23 h light regimen). Compared to the conventional diet C, the experimental diet (E) included 1% white willow bark extract (WBE). At 42 days of age, 6 blood samples /group were collected and 6 broilers/ group were slaughtered and caecal content was collected. The dietary WBE didn’t influence broiler performance. The serum concentrations of glycaemia, cholesterol and triglycerides were lower (P <0.05) in E group than in C group. E broilers had the lowest count (P<0.05) of Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli and staphylococci colony forming units in the caecal content. The inclusion of WBE (1%) in the diet of broilers reared at 32° C had an hypocholesterolemiant and hypoglycaemic effect and reduced the pathogenic bacteria in the caecum.

This work presents the evaluation of the chemical composition and nutritive value of silages prepared from the selected grass-legume mixtures, which are recommended for the meadow sowing in ecological farms. Prepared plant material was subjected to the analysis of the basic chemical composition by the standard method, the analysis of NDF, ADF and ADL content using ANKOM Fiber Analyser according to the method of Goering and Van Soest. The nutritive value was evaluated in the INRA 1988 units using Winwar 1.6 software (DJG). The estimation was done on the basis of tabular coefficients of forage distribution in the rumen and intestines. The content of organic components was very diversified, what can be the result of the differentiated share of grasses and legumes in the examined silages. The samples of silages collected from the examined mixtures were characterized with significantly higher mean contents of the investigated organic components than did the silage from the control object...

The purpose of this paper is to determine the changes in the concentration of different fractions in the cell wall of Dactylis glomerata and Festuca pratensis growing on both mineral and organic soil with different harvesting times. This paper has drawn on two field experiments set up and carried out between 2010 and 2013 by the Research Centre for Cultivar Testing in Słupia Wielka. The experimental plots were sown with varieties of Dactylis glomerata: Niva, Tukan, Amila, Crown Royale and with varieties of Festuca pratensis: Limosa, Pasja, Anturka, Amelka (d. AND 1009). The experiment in Krzyżewo was set up on mineral soil. In Uhnin the experimental plots were located on peat meadow. The full exploitation of Dactylis glomerata varieties was due between 2012 and 2013, whereas for Festuca pratensis it was due between 2011 and 2012. In the experimental plots with the varieties of Dactylis glomerata the grass was harvested six times a year and chemical analysis of the biomass was done t...

The effects of the biological insecticides Madex and Agricolle, applied alone or in combination with the biological fertilizers Lithovit and Nagro, on chemical composition and enzyme in vitro digestibility, as well as energy feeding value of alfalfa dry mass were studied. Treatments were carried out at the beginning of the flowering stage during the second cutting for control of economically important pests, testing a method of organic pest control. Independent and combined applications of several biological products were found to influence positively the chemical composition, enzyme in vitro digestibility, and energy and protein nutritional value of alfalfa feed. An optimal combination of decrease in the content of plant cell wall fiber components and a significant increase in forage enzyme in vitro digestibility was revealed after the application of Agricolle and a combination of Agricolle and Nagro. Digestibility reached 60.4 and 59.9%, respectively, which is an increase of 12.0 ...

The aim of the conducted studies was an estimation of the quality and nutritive value of silages derived from the meadow sward as affected by the kind of fertilization used. The following variants were taken into account: the control object without fertilization, NPK mineral fertilization, fertilization with manure and fertilization with liquid manure. The conducted fertilization resulted in the significant growth of the mean organic matter and total protein content, what in turn influenced the higher nutritive value expressed as UFL, UVF, PDIN and PDIE in comparison to the non-fertilized object. Treatment with natural fertilizers affected the increased level of organic matter and total protein by 4 and 21 %, respectively when compared with the respective values found for the silages derived from the control object. Furthermore, the increment of nutritive value amounted to 13 % – UFL, 17 % – UVF, 13 % – PDIN and 11 % – PDIE. In that light, it can be stated that organic fertilization...

In in vivo trials using the method of “trough cafeteria” the palatability or the preference of sheep (Pleven Blackface sheep) to the subterranean clover and to other commonly used perennial forage crops was studied. The observations were done on pure swards of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum) (cv. “Antas”), birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (cv. “Tar- govishte 1”), sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia L.) (local population), cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) (cv. “Dabrava”) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (cv. “Albena”). Results obtained showed that subterranean clover was grazed at 100% and from the legumes sheep prefer most this crop followed by birdsfoot trefoil and sainfoin, and from the grasses – cocksfoot. Subterranean clover is a palatable and prefered for grazing by sheep forage crop because of lower crude fiber and higher crude protein content as compared to the same characteristics in sainfoin, cocksfoot and tall fescue.

Pastures are considered as the primary and most economical source of nutrients for herbivores. The purpose of this study was to compare changes in chemical composition, plant cell wall fiber component and in vitro enzyme digestibility of the forage from first growth of natural and temporary pasture. In 2017, samples of both pastures were given from Mid-April in 7 days to determine changes in composition and in vitro digestibility. The average crude protein is approximately the same for both grasses (12.39% and 12.94%) and showed a tendency to decrease from the beginning to the end of the period. The rate of change in CF was more dynamic in temporary pasture, which increased by 49.37%. For the same period, the increase in CF in natural pasture was 40.80%, respectively. NDF content increased from 46.67 to 58.16%, or average by 3.57% units per week in natural grassland, and in temporary pasture by 45.71% to 57.77% respectively, or by 3.68 % units per week. ADF of temporary pasture increased by 4.35% units per week, while in natural pasture increased by 3.57% units per week. ADL in natural pasture increased by 0.974% per week, while in temporary pasture more dynamic changes were found and ADL increased more than twice for 4 weeks. Digestibility reduced at approximately the same rates in both pastures-temporary and natural by 24.21% and by 25.52%, respectively for period of 4 weeks.

Nikolova, I. M., Georgieva, N. A. & Marinova, V. (2020). Effect of growing legumes as pure and mixed crops on Otiorrhynchus ligustici L. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) damage. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 26 (4), 835-840 A field trial was carried out at the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria to determine the effect of the growing legumes as pure and mixed crops on the damage of Otiorrhynchus ligustici L. The study was performed for the period 2015-2017 on sainfoin, birdsfoot trefoil and alfalfa stands (grown alone) and in mixtures with cocksfoot, sowed under cover of spring forage pea. In mixed crops, the O. ligustici damage expressed through the number of holes and furrows, as well as their length, was reduced by 22.7, 33.3 and 18.2%, respectively. Alfalfa was the most preference crop by the alfalfa snout beetle and birdsfoot trefoil was less affected. In addition, the distance of the spiral furrows from the root collar and legume root length increased in mixtures by 19.0 and 3.0% to the crops grown alone. The most strongly significant negative effect on the height of legumes had the length of the spiral furrows (-13.1). A less pronounced but significant negative effect had hole number on plant roots (-5.7). The technology of growing of legume crops had an impact on the injury on the plant roots by the soil-inhabiting insects as in mixtures, there are favorable conditions for both, development of plants and reducing the degree of damage.

Vasileva V. and S. Enchev, 2018. Self-seeding of subterranean clover in degraded birdsfoot trefoil seed production stands, Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 24 (Suppl. 2):104-108 In connection with the dilution of seed production birdsfoot trefoil stands the possibility of under-sowing them with self-seeding crops was studied. The trial was carried out on the experimental field of Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria with birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) Targovishte 1 variety. In autumn after the fourth year of use of the stands (for seed production direction) an under-sowing with three subterranean clover subspecies was done as follows: Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (Antas variety), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (Trikkala variety) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (Denmark variety). The capacity of self-sowing of subterranean clover in birdsfoot trefoil stands was assessed. It was found that subterranean clover effectively used the autumn-winter soil moisture, formed a sufficient number of seeds for self-seeding and germinated plants occupied the sites of the dropped birdsfoot trefoil plants. Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum showed the best self-seeding ability. Thus, after under-sowing with subterranean clover, degraded seed production birdsfoot trefoil stands could be used for forage.

Forage quality characteristics of mixtures of alfalfa with cocksfoot (50:50%), alfalfa with tall fescue (50:50%), and the same with the addition of subterranean clover in their composition (33:33:33%) were measured. Alfalfa (cv. Pleven 6), cocksfoot (cv. Dabrava), tall fescue (cv. Albena), three subterranean clover subspecies, i.e. Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. Antas), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. Trikkala) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. Denmark) were used. Forage biomass from mixtures of alfalfa with cocksfoot had generally higher forage quality than mixtures of alfalfa with tall fescue: higher crude protein (16.34% DM) and lower crude fiber contents (26.95% DM), higher, both, digestibility (62.41%) and protein feeding value (TDP-PDIN-PDIE, 134-114-93 g/kg DM). After the addition of subterranean clover in the composition of mixtures, forage biomass showed more balanced basic chemical composition: higher crude rotein (with 0.32%) and lower crude fiber contents (with 0.63%) for cocksfoot mixtures; higher digestibility (with 1.67% for cocksfoot mixtures and with 3.24 for tall fescue mixtures); lower NDF, ADF and ADL (with 0.91, 2.23 and 1.16%) for tall fescue mixtures; lower degree of lignifications (with 0.84 for cocksfoot mixtures, and with 2.19 for tall fescue mixtures) and higher energy feeding value (UFL-UFV) (with 0.005-0.005) for tall fescue mixtures.

To cite this article: Viliana Vasileva , Konstantina Kocheva, Janet Mincheva, Georgi Georgiev, Anna Ilieva & Claudio Porqueddu (2017): Physiological analysis of growth and nitrogen metabolism of intercropped pasture species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) supplemented with different forms of inorganic nitrogen, Journal of Plant Nutrition,

Changes in some morphological and physiological parameters (leaves/stems ratio, total plastid pigments content, fixed amount nitrogen) of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) (cv. Targovishte 1) and three subterranean clover subspecies, i.e. Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. Antas), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. Trikkala) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. Denmark) were studied in a field trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2012-15). Crops were grown alone (100%) and in mixtures as follows: birdsfoot trefoil + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (50:50%); birdsfoot trefoil + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (50:50%); birdsfoot trefoil + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (50:50%). Leaves/stems ratio for alone grown crops was found: birdsfoot trefoil (1.33), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (1.02), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (0.93) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (0.93). Leaves/stems ratio for birdsfoot trefoil in all mixtures was found be higher as compared to alone grown birdsfoot trefoil-by 13.0% for the mixture with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum, by 16.3% for that with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum and by 20.1% for the mixture with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum. Total plastid pigments in birdsfoot trefoil increased in all mixtures: with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum by 7.4%, with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum by 8.1% and with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum by 15.6%. From mixtures of birdsfoot trefoil were obtained more fixed amount of nitrogen-from 1.71 kg N/da (with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum) to 4.84 kg N/da (with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum) as compared to alone grown birdsfoot trefoil. Birdsfoot trefoil and subterranean clover in mixtures showed good tolerance, morphological and physiological status.

– Herbaceous species, in rainfed pastures of the Mediterranean zone, reach maturity very early in the growing season due to the warm and drought conditions. Introduction of drought tolerant grass and legume species in the appropriate mixture could increase the herbage production and the nutritive value. The objective of this paper was to compare monocultures and replacement series mixtures of Dactylis glomerata L. cv. Palestina and Trifolium subterraneum L. cv. M. baker and to define which mixture was the most pertinent to achieve higher production and nutritive value. The experiment was conducted on the farm of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. The five planting proportions were monocultures of each species and mixtures at 75:25%, 50:50% and 25:75% (D. glomerata, T. subterraneum). The experimental design was a completely randomized block with three replications. D. glomerata had a higher yield per individual when grown in mixtures with T. subterraneum than ...

Vasileva, V. and A. Ilieva, 2017. Some physiological parameters in mixtures of cocksfoot and tall fescue with subterranean clover. Bulg. J. Agric. Sci., 23 (1): 71–75 Some physiological parameters (leafl et area, photosynthetic pigments) of subterranean clover, cocksfoot and tall fescue were studied in a fi eld trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2011-2014). Three subspecies of subclovers – i.e. Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. Antas), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. Trikkala) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. Denmark); and two grasses, i.e. cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) (cv. Dabrava) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (cv. Albena) were grown purely and in mixture (a ratio of grass to subclovers 50:50%). From pure grown subclovers most leafl et area formed Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (2.11 cm 2), followed by Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (1.98 cm 2) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (1.42 cm 2). For the plas-tid pigments content subclovers were arranged as follows: Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (300.18 mg/100 g FW), Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (283.53 mg/100 g FW) and Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (283.35 mg/100 g FW). Leafl et area of subclover was greater in mixtures with cocksfoot as compared to tall fescue. Total plastid pigments content (chlorophyll a+b and carotenoids) was found be higher in both components of the mixtures of cocksfoot with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (by 16.2% and 10.6%, respectively).

The analysis of forage quality of cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) (pure swards) and their mixtures with three subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) subspecies in the followed relations: grass + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (50:50%); grass + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (50:50%); grass + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (50:50%); grass + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum +Trifolium subterraneum ssp. yaninicum + Trifolium subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (25:25:25:25%) was performed. The field experiment was carried out at the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2011-2013). It was found that Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum in mixture with cocksfoot improves principal chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of forage biomass dry matter. The energy feeding value (Feed units for milk and Feed units for growth) was the highest for the mixtures of cocksfoot with Trifolium subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum. The protein feeding value (Total digestible protein, PDIN, PDIE) significantly increased for all kind of cocksfoot – subterranean clover mixtures. Their forage quality was improved in comparison with the same mixtures of tall fescue. The principal chemical composition of forage obtained from cocksfoot – subterranean clover mixtures was more balanced - in vitro digestibility, net energy and protein feeding value were found be higher.

Sustainable yield index (SYI), nitrogen in dry aboveground mass yield and amount of fixed nitrogen of birdsfoot trefoil, sainfoin and subterranean clover pure grown and in mixtures with tall fescue in the next ratios: birdsfoot trefoil + tall fescue (50:50), sainfoin + tall fescue (50:50), subterranean clover + tall fescue (50:50), birdsfoot trefoil + subterranean clover + tall fescue (33:33:33), sainfoin + subterranean clover + tall fescue (33:33:33) were studied. Pot trial was carried out in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria during 2011-2012. SYI in pure grown birdsfoot trefoil (0.767), sainfoin (0.720) and subterranean clover (0.666) was calculated. Sustainable yield index (SYI) in mixtures was found be higher-from 9.6% (sainfoin+tall fescue) to 18.2% (subterranean clover + tall fescue). Birdsfoot trefoil accumulated the highest amount of fixed nitrogen in dry aboveground biomass (8102 mg N/kg DM), followed by subterranean clover (6730 mg N/kg DM) and sainfoin (5598 mg N/kg DM). On averaged from mixtures studied nitrogen in dry aboveground biomass (7540 mg N/kg DM) was found be higher by 10.7% as compared to pure grown crops (6810 mg N/kg DM). Amount of fixed nitrogen obtained from mixtures (95.64 mg/kg DM) was by 15.2% higher as compared to pure grown forage legumes (81.79 mg/kg DM). Parameters as sustainable yield index, nitrogen in dry aboveground biomass, amount of fixed nitrogen were found be higher in mixtures. Keywords: Sustainable yield index (SYI), nitrogen in dry aboveground mass yield, fixed nitrogen .

The possibility for undersowing with subterranean clover of degraded alfalfa seed production stands and used for forage thereafter was studied in a field trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2007-2013). Three subterranean clover subspecies were tested: Tr. subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. " Antas "), Tr. subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. " Trikkala ") and Tr. subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. " Denmark "). The undersowing with clover was performed during the autumn of the fourth year (2010) of using the alfalfa stands with 400 germinated seeds/m 2 and interrow spacing of 12 cm. Four cuts were obtained during the first and second year after the undersowing and three cuts during the last. It was found that the subterranean clover contributed to the improvement of the botanical composition, as well as to a two-and threefold reduction of the weed infestation and it also increased the dry matter yield. Tr. subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum showed the best development and share in the stands. Undersowing with subterranean clover of degraded alfalfa stands used for seed production is a possible agrotechnical measure.

Changes in some root mass growth parameters of legume components in mixtures were studied in a pot trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2011–2012). The following treatments were studied: Birdsfoot trefoil (100%); Sainfoin (100%); Subclover (100%); Tall fescue (100%); Birdsfoot trefoil + Tall fescue (50:50); Sainfoin + Tall fescue (50:50); Subclover + Tall fescue (50:50); Birdsfoot trefoil + Subclover + Tall fescue (33:33:33); Sainfoin + Subclover + Tall fescue (33:33:33). It was found that the root mass of legumes in the mixtures showed better development as compared with pure crops. The above-ground/root mass length in the two-component mixtures of Birdsfoot trefoil (1.469) and Sainfoin (1.992) was higher as compared with pure Birdsfoot trefoil (1.314) and Sainfoin (1.880).

The possibility for undersowing with subterranean clover of degraded alfalfa seed production stands and used for forage thereafter was studied in a field trial in the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven, Bulgaria (2007-2013). Three subterranean clover subspecies were tested: Tr. subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum (cv. " Antas "), Tr. subterraneum ssp. yaninicum (cv. " Trikkala ") and Tr. subterraneum ssp. subterraneum (cv. " Denmark "). The undersowing with clover was performed during the autumn of the fourth year (2010) of using the alfalfa stands with 400 germinated seeds/m 2 and interrow spacing of 12 cm. Four cuts were obtained during the first and second year after the undersowing and three cuts during the last. It was found that the subterranean clover contributed to the improvement of the botanical composition, as well as to a two-and threefold reduction of the weed infestation and it also increased the dry matter yield. Tr. subterraneum ssp. brachycalicinum showed the best development and share in the stands. Undersowing with subterranean clover of degraded alfalfa stands used for seed production is a possible agrotechnical measure.