Potential nutritive value of field binweed (convolvulus arvensis L) hay harvested at three different maturity stages

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the potential nutritive value of Convolvulus arvensis L. using chemical composition and in vitro gas production technique. Gas productions of Convolvulus arvensis hay were determined at 0, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h incubation times and their gas production kinetics were described using the equation y = A (1-exo(-ct)). As a result of this study, maturity had a significant effect on the chemical composition, in vitro gas production, metabolisable energy (ME) and organic matter digestibility (OMD) of Convolvulus arvensis (P<0.05). Dry matter (DM), cell wall contents neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) of Convolvulus arvensis hay increased whereas crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and ash content decreased with maturity. The CP contents of Convolvulus arvensis hay ranged from 16.63 to 23.83%. The NDF, ADF and ADL contents of Convolvulus arvensis hay ranged from 34.00 to 54.04, 28.76 to 40.34 and 5.26 to 12.18% respectively. The potential gas production and estimated parameters decreased with increasing maturity of Convolvulus arvensis hay (P<0.05). The potential gas production (A) ranged from 61.59 to 71.77 ml. The ME and OMD ranged from 9.31 and 11.71 MJ/kg DM and 63.19 to 79.17% respectively. In conclusion, although the nutritive value of Convolvulus arvensis plant hugely decreased with increasing maturity it appears that Convolvulus arvensis plant could be grazed or harvested at these more advanced stages and still provides forage with an adequate quality for ruminant animals to meet their nutrient requirements.