Nutritional Characterization of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) for Feeding to Ruminants

Abstract

Abstract This study aimed to analyze the nutritional characteristics of Medicago sativa (Alfalfa) hay for the feeding of ruminants in the central zone of the Sierra Region. The study was conducted in the Laboratory of the Faculty of Pecaurias Sciences of the Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo. Cutting was carried out for 60 days in different areas of the central Sierra region. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results of the bromatological analysis showed that the average total humidity was 11.12 ± 0.20% in (Rp-00542) while the minimum was 7.79 ± 0.05% in (Rp-00224). Values for dry matter ranged between 91.25 ± 0.03% (Rp336) and 88.53 ± 0.09% (Rp492); dry base ash ranged between 12.51 ± 0.08% (Rp500) and 9.16 ± 0.08% (Rp521); dry organic matter ranged between 90.84 ± 0.13% (Rp521) and 87.49 ± 0.08% (Rp521); and dry crude protein ranged between 22.44 ± 0.26% (Rp492) and 18.73 ± 0.08% (Rp336). The following values were also obtained: 1.94 ± 0.93% dry ethereal extract; 32.06 ± 2.11% dry nitrogen free extract; 46.96 ± 3.78% dry neutral detergent fiber; 40.67 ± 3.36% dry acid detergent fiber; and 8.23 ± 0.64% dry lignin detergent acid. Therefore, it can be determined that forage mixture provides all of the nutrients to the species of zootechnical interest.

Keywords

• medicago sativa, alfalfa, sierra centro, rumiants.