Alfalfa Pasture Bloat Can Be Eliminated by Intermixing with Newly‐Developed Sainfoin Population

• DOI: 10.2134/agronj13.0378
• Publication Date: 2014-05-30T17:09:14Z
• Authors: E. T. Sottie; S. N. Acharya; T. McAllister; J. Thomas; Y. Wang; A. Iwaasa
• Keywords: Cattle grazing; Condensed tannin

Pasture bloat is a major deterrent to the grazing of alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.) pastures by ruminants, despite high growth rates that are obtainable. Sainfoin Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.), condensed tannin‐containing legume, known reduce pasture in mixed stands. Experiments were conducted 2010 2012 at Lethbridge, AB, using two sainfoin/cultivar AC Blue J originally seeded as 50:50 mixes 2008 and rotationally grazed steers Bos taurus ). New sainfoin population cultivar LRC‐3519 specifically selected for improved performance under multi‐cut system, persisted better (29% total herbage dry matter [DM]) compared Nova (5%) after cycles rotational each year. Bloat incidence severity reduced P < 0.001) 98% stands mixtures when Angus sainfoin/alfalfa conditions maximizing occurrence. In separate crop preference study during 2011–2012, eight randomly paired assigned four strip determine DM utilization time spent forages. Steers more (55%) strips 0.05) (2048 kg DM) than (1164 DM). spite higher alfalfa, proportion new risk substantially cattle alfalfa/sainfoin pasture.