Forage Quality Characteristics of Lotus tenuis, Narrow-Leaf Birdsfoot Trefoil

Narrow-leaf birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus tenuis Waldst. & Kit.) is a herbaceous perennial legume of Mediterranean origin, which can grow in saline and waterlogged environments (Teakle et al. 2010). If this species is to be cultivated in regions constrained by these abiotic factors, it is also vital that herbage produced has a forage quality acceptable for ruminant production. In addition, proanthocyanidin (PA) content is important, and legume species can cause animal production issues if PA content is low, (< 0.02%), e.g. fro-thy bloat, or high (> 5 %), e.g. decreased palatability and digestibility (Larkin et al. 1999). This study examined the PA content and forage quality of a range of L. tenuis accessions being evaluated for improved seed production and suitability for introduction into grazing systems where salinity and waterlogging are a common problem.