Rumen microbial protein synthesis and nitrogen efficiency as affected by tanniferous and non‐tanniferous forage legumes incubated individually or together in Rumen Simulation Technique

BACKGROUND A limited availability of microbial protein can impair productivity in ruminants. Ruminal nitrogen efficiency might be optimised by combining high‐quality forage legumes such as red clover (RC), which has unfavourably high ruminal protein degradability, with tanniferous legumes like sainfoin (SF) and birdsfoot trefoil (BT). Silages from SF and from BT cultivars [Bull (BB) and Polom (BP)] were incubated singly or in combination with RC using the Rumen Simulation Technique (n = 6). RESULTS The tanniferous legumes, when compared to RC, changed the total short‐chain fatty acid profile by increasing propionate proportions at the expense of butyrate. Silage from SF contained the most condensed tannins (CTs) (136 g CT kg−1 dry matter) and clearly differed in various traits from the BT and RC silages. The apparent nutrient degradability (small with SF), microbial protein synthesis, and calculated content of potentially utilisable crude protein (large with SF) indicated that SF had the greatest efficiency in ruminal protein synthesis. The effects of combining SF with RC were mostly linear. CONCLUSION The potential of sainfoin to improve protein supply, demonstrated either individually or in combination with a high‐performance forage legume, indicates its potential usefulness in complementing protein‐deficient ruminant diets and high‐quality forages rich in rumen‐degradable protein. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry