Hostname: page-component-5b777bbd6c-pf7kn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-06-22T22:42:18.605Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) as an alternative forage for dairy cows

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 March 2011

A. W. Alemu  and
L. Doepel
A. W. Alemu
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
L. Doepel*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
Get access

Abstract

Fenugreek is a novel forage crop in Canada that is generating interest as an alternative to alfalfa for dairy cows. To evaluate the value of fenugreek haylage relative to alfalfa haylage, six, second lactation Holstein cows (56 ± 8 days in milk), which were fitted with rumen cannulas (10 cm i.d., Bar Diamond Inc., Parma, ID, USA) were used in a replicated three × three Latin square design with 18-day periods. Diets consisting of 400 g/kg haylage, 100 g/kg barley silage and 500 g/kg concentrate on a dry matter (DM) basis were fed once daily for ad libitum intake. The haylage component constituted the dietary treatments: (i) Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada F70 fenugreek (F70), (ii) Crop Development Center Quatro fenugreek (QUAT) and (iii) alfalfa (ALF). DM intake (DMI), milk yield and milk protein and lactose yields were higher (P < 0.001) for cows fed ALF than fenugreek (FEN, average of F70 and QUAT). Milk fat of cows fed FEN contained lower concentrations of saturated, medium-chain and hypercholestrolemic fatty acids (FAs; P < 0.05) than that of cows fed ALF. Apparent total tract digestibility of DM and nutrients was not affected by treatments. Similarly, individual ruminal volatile FA concentrations and rumen pH (5.9) were not affected by treatments. Rumen ammonia–N concentration was higher for FEN than ALF (P < 0.001). Estimates of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) passage rate (P < 0.05) and NDF turnover rate (P < 0.001) in the rumen were higher for ALF than FEN. Our results suggest that although the digestibility of the FEN diets was not different from that of the ALF diet, fenugreek haylage has a lower feeding value than ALF for lactating dairy cows due in part to lower DMI and subsequently lower milk yield.

Keywords

alfalfadairy cowdigestibilityfenugreekfiber turnover
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 5 , Issue 9 , 05 August 2011 , pp. 1370 - 1381
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2011

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Acharya, SN, Thomas, JE, Basu, SK 2006. Fenugreek: an “old world” crop for the “new world”. Biodiversity 7, 27–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Acharya, SN, Thomas, JE, Basu, SK 2008. Fenugreek, an alternative crop for semiarid regions of North America. Crop Science 48, 841–853.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alberta Agriculture Food and Rural Development 2004. Soil group map of Alberta. Retrieved December 28, 2010, from http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/soils/soils.nsf/soilgroupmap?readform.Google Scholar
Al-Habori, M, Raman, A 1998. Review. Antidiabetic and hypocholesterolaemic effects of fenugreek. Phytotherapy Research 12, 233–242.3.0.CO;2-V>CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Allen, MS 2000. Effects of diet on short-term regulation of feed intake by lactating dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 83, 1598–1624.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 1990. Official methods of analysis, 15th edition. AOAC, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 1995. Official methods of analysis, 16th edition. AOAC Int., Gaithersburg, MD, USA.Google Scholar
Association of Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC) 2002. Official methods of analysis, 17th edition. AOAC, Arlington, VA, USA.Google Scholar
Basu, SK 2006. Seed production technology for fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) in the Canadian prairies. MSc, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.Google Scholar
Bauman, DE, Lock, AL, Corl, BA, Ip, C, Salter, AM, Parodi, PW 2006. Milk fatty acids and human health: potential role of conjugated linoleic acid and trans fatty acids. In Ruminant physiology: digestion, metabolism and impact of nutrition on gene expression, immunology and stress (ed. K Sejrsen, T Hvelplund and MO Nielsen), pp. 529–561. Wageningen Academic, Wageningen, The Netherlands.Google Scholar
Broca, C, Manteghetti, M, Gross, R, Baissac, Y, Jacob, M, Petit, P, Sauvaire, Y, Ribes, G 2000. 4-Hydroxyisoleucine: effects of synthetic and natural analogues on insulin secretion. European Journal of Pharmacology 390, 339–345.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cameron, MR, Klusmeyer, TH, Lynch, GL, Clark, JH, Nelson, DR 1991. Effects of urea and starch on rumen fermentation, nutrient passage to the duodenum, and performance of cows. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 1321–1336.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) 1993. Guide to the care and use of experimental animals vol. 1, 2nd edition (ed. ED Olfert, BM Cross and AA McWilliam). CCAC, Ottawa, ON, Canada.Google Scholar
Das, B, Arora, SK, Luthra, YP 1979. Variability in structural carbohydrates and in vitro digestibility of forages. 4. Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-gracum). Animal Feed Science and Technology 4, 17–22.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
DePeters, EJ, Cant, JP 1992. Nutritional factors influencing the nitrogen composition of bovine milk: a review. Journal of Dairy Science 75, 2043–2070.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Doepel, L, Lapierre, H, Kennelly, JJ 2002. Peripartum performance and metabolism of dairy cows in response to prepartum energy and protein intake. Journal of Dairy Science 85, 2315–2334.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fawcett, JK, Scott, JE 1960. A rapid and precise method for the determination of urea. Journal of Clinical Pathology 13, 156–159.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Fenton, TW, Fenton, M 1979. An improved procedure for the determination of chromic oxide in feed and feces. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 59, 563–569.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Folch, J, Lees, M, Stanley, GHS 1957. A simple method for the isolation and purification of total lipids from animal tissue. Journal of Biological Chemistry 226, 497–509.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grant, RJ, Colenbrander, VF, Mertens, DR 1990. Milk fat depression in dairy cows: role of silage particle size 1. Journal of Dairy Science 73, 1834–1842.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Holden, LA, Muller, LD, Varga, GA, Hillard, PJ 1994. Ruminal digestion and duodenal nutrient flows in dairy cows consuming grass as pasture, hay, or silage. Journal of Dairy Science 77, 3034–3042.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hristov, AN, Price, WJ, Shafii, B 2004. A meta-analysis examining the relationship among dietary factors, dry matter intake, and milk and milk protein yield in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 2184–2196.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huhtanen, P, Ahhvenjärvi, S, Weisbjerg, MR, Nørgaard, P 2006. Digestion and passage of fibre in ruminants. In Ruminant physiology: digestion metabolism and impact of nutrition on gene expression, immunology and stress (ed. K Sejrsen, T Hvelplund and MO Nielsen), pp. 87–135. Wageningen Academic Publishers, The Netherlands.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khorasani, GR, Kennelly, JJ 2001. Influence of carbohydrate source and buffer on rumen fermentation characteristics, milk yield, and milk composition in late-lactation Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 1707–1716.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Khorasani, GR, Okine, EK, Kennelly, JJ 1996. Forage source alters nutrient supply to the intestine without influencing milk yield. Journal of Dairy Science 79, 862–872.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Khorasani, GR, Okine, EK, Kennelly, JJ 2001. Effects of substituting barley grain with corn on ruminal fermentation characteristics, milk yield, and milk composition of Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 84, 2760–2769.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kononoff, PJ, Heinrichs, AJ 2003. The effect of reducing alfalfa haylage particle size on cows in early lactation. Journal of Dairy Science 86, 1445–1457.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kramer, JKG, Blackadar, CB, Zhou, J 2002. Evaluation of two GC columns (60-m SUPELCOWAX 10 and 100-m CP Sil 88) for analysis of milk fat with emphasis on CLA, 18:1, 18:2 and 18:3 isomers, and short- and long-chain FA. Lipids 37, 823–835.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mir, PS, Mir, Z, Townley-Smith, L 1993. Comparison of the nutrient content and in situ degradability comparisons of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and alfalfa hays. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 73, 993–996.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mir, Z, Acharya, SN, Mir, PS, Taylor, WG, Zaman, MS, Mears, GJ 1997. Nutrient composition, in vitro gas production and digestibility of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) and alfalfa forages. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 77, 119–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mir, Z, Mir, PS, Acharya, SN, Zaman, MS, Tayior, WG, Mears, GJ, McAllister, TA, Goonewardene, LA 1998. Comparison of alfalfa and fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) silage supplemented with barely grain on performance of growing steers. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 78, 343–349.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, J 2009. The potential of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) as a forage for dairy herds in central Alberta. MSc, University of Alberta, AB, Canada.Google Scholar
Moyer, JR, Acharya, SN, Mir, Z, Doram, RC 2003. Weed management in irrigated fenugreek grown for forage in rotation with other annual crops. Canadian Journal of Plant Science 83, 181–188.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mustafa, AF, Christensen, DA, McKinnon, JJ 1996. In vitro and in situ evaluation of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) hay and straw. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 76, 625–626.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
National Research Council (NRC) 2001. Nutrient requirement of dairy cattle, 7th revised edition. National Academic Science, Washington, DC, USA.Google Scholar
Nousiainen, J, Shingfield, KJ, Huhtanen, P 2004. Evaluation of milk urea nitrogen as a diagnostic of protein feeding. Journal of Dairy Science 87, 386–398.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oba, M, Allen, MS 1999. Evaluation of the importance of the digestibility of neutral detergent fiber from forage: Effects on dry matter intake and milk yield of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 82, 589–596.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oelker, ER, Reveneau, C, Firkins, JL 2009. Interaction of molasses and monensin in alfalfa hay- or corn silage-based diets on rumen fermentation, total tract digestibility, and milk production by Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 92, 270–285.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Palmquist, DL, Lock, AL, Shingfield, KJ, Bauman, DE 2005. Biosynthesis of conjugated linoleic acid in ruminants and humans. Advances in Food and Nutrition Research 50, 179–218.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Penner, GB, Beauchemin, KA, Mutsvangwa, T 2006. An evaluation of the accuracy and precision of a stand-alone submersible continuous ruminal pH measurement system. Journal of Dairy Science 89, 2132–2140.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petropoulos, GA 2002. Fenugreek – the genus Trigonella. Taylor and Francis, London, UK.Google Scholar
Robinson, PH, Kennelly, JJ 1989. Influence of ammoniation of high moisture barley on digestibility, kinetics of rumen ingesta turnover, and milk production in dairy cows. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 69, 195–203.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Robinson, PH, Tamminga, S, Van Vuuren, AM 1987. Influence of declining level of feed intake and varying the proportion of starch in the concentrate in rumen ingesta quality, composition and kinetics of ingesta turnover in dairy cows. Livestock Production Science 17, 37–62.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Statistical Analysis Software Inc. (SAS) 2002. SAS® user's guide: statistics, version 9.1 for window. SAS Inc., Cary, NC, USA.Google Scholar
Shah, MA, Mir, PS 2004. Effect of fenugreek seed on dairy cow performance and milk characteristics. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 84, 725–729.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharma, RD, Raghuram, TC, Rao, NS 1990. Effect of fenugreek seeds on blood glucose and serum lipids in type I diabetes. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 44, 301–306.Google ScholarPubMed
Silveira, C, Oba, M, Beauchemin, KA, Helm, J 2007. Effect of grains differing in expected ruminal fermentability on the productivity of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 90, 2852–2859.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Srichamroen, A 2007. Hypoglycemic and hypolipedemic effects of galactomanan from fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) grown in Canada. PhD, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.Google Scholar
Stadtman, TC 1957. Preparation of assay of cholesterol and ergosterol. Methods in Enzymology. VIII. New York Academic Press, USA.Google Scholar
Steinberg, D, Parthasarathy, S, Carew, TE, Khoo, JC, Witztum, JL 1989. Beyond cholesterol. Modifications of low-density lipoprotein that increase its atherogenicity. New England Journal of Medicine 320, 915–924.Google ScholarPubMed
Taylor, WG, Zaman, MS, Mir, Z, Mir, PS, Acharya, SN, Mears, GJ, Elder, JL 1997. Analysis of steroidal sapogenins from amber fenugreek (Trigonella Foenum-graecum) by capillary gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography/mass spectrometery. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 45, 753–759.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Upadhyay, VS, Gupta, SC, Rekib, A 1977. Nutritional evaluation of fodder metha (Trigonella foenum-graecum) by in vitro and in vivo technique. Indian Veterinary Journal 54, 46–49.Google Scholar
Van Soest, PJ 1994. Nutritional ecology of ruminants, 2nd edition. Cornell University Press, Ithaca, NY, USA.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Soest, PJ, Robertson, JB, Lewis, BA 1991. Methods for dietary fibre, neutral detergent fibre and non-starch polysaccharide in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 3583–3597.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wrolstad, RE, Durst, RW, Lee, J 2005. Tracking color and pigment changes in anthocyanin products. Trends in Food Science Technology 16, 423–428.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yu, S, Derr, J, Etherton, TD, Kris-Etherton, PM 1995. Review; Plasma cholesterol-predictive equations demonstrate that stearic acid is neutral and monounsaturated fatty acids are hypocholesteroleamic. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 61, 1129–1139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar