Chemical composition and digestibility of Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus) subspecies for goats

Abstract

The nutritive value of three Tagasaste (Chamaecytisus proliferus) subspecies (palmensis, canariae and meridionalis) was studied. Forage cuts from spring, summer. autumn and winter were compared with those of Medicago arborea. Organic matter (OM), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and crude protein (CP) content of Tagasaste subspecies ranged from 91.9 to 95.4, 43.8 to 51.4 and 15.6 to 17.4% respectively (DM basis). Organic matter and CP ruminal degradability of the Subspecies ranged from 47.9 to 53.9% and from 60.4 to 68.4%. respectively. In vitro organic matter digestibility Of Subspecies ranged from 63.2 to 65.0%. Estimated net energy for lactation (NEI) content of subspecies was 5.4 MJ k(-1) DM, with no significant differences among subspecies. The mean nutritive value of these shrubs was similar to that of Medicago arborea.