Legume Research

  • Chief EditorJ. S. Sandhu

  • Print ISSN 0250-5371

  • Online ISSN 0976-0571

  • NAAS Rating 6.67

  • SJR .391

  • Impact Factor .669 (2022)

Frequency :
Monthly (January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December)
Indexing Services :
BIOSIS Preview, ISI Citation Index, Biological Abstracts, Elsevier (Scopus and Embase), AGRICOLA, Google Scholar, CrossRef, CAB Abstracting Journals, Chemical Abstracts, Indian Science Abstracts, EBSCO Indexing Services, Index Copernicus
Legume Research, volume 45 issue 1 (january 2022) : 46-51

Protein fractions as influenced by cultivars, stage of maturity and cutting dates in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)

Jordan Markoviæ, Mirjana Petroviæ, Dragan Terziæ, Tanja Vasiæ, Ivica Kostiæ, Ratibor Štrbanoviæ, Goran Grubiæ
1Institute for forage crops Kruševac, 00381 37 251 Globoder, Kruševac, R Serbia.
  • Submitted31-01-2019|

  • Accepted10-04-2019|

  • First Online 24-05-2019|

  • doi 10.18805/LR-479

Cite article:- Markoviæ Jordan, Petroviæ Mirjana, Terziæ Dragan, Vasiæ Tanja, Kostiæ Ivica, Štrbanoviæ Ratibor, Grubiæ Goran (2022). Protein fractions as influenced by cultivars, stage of maturity and cutting dates in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). Legume Research. 45(1): 46-51. doi: 10.18805/LR-479.
This study was undertaken to determine the relationship between CNCPS (Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System) protein fractions and in vitro RUP (Rumen Undegradable Protein) concentration and the variability of protein fractions among alfalfa cultivars grown in Serbia. Two cultivars of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) – Serbian cv K 28 and American cv G + 13R + CZ were sampled at three stages of maturity. Comparing the two cultivars of alfalfa (K 28 vs. G + 13R + CZ) means, there were significant differences in all protein fractions. Two investigated alfalfa cultivars differed significantly (p< 0.01) in RUP content, cv G + 13R + CZ was higher in RUP than cv K 28. Stage of maturity had an effect on proportions of the protein fractions. From a nutritional and breeding point of view, cultivar such as G + 13R + CZ is desirable because it combine higher CP (Crude Protein) values with lower protein degradability than cv K 28.
  1. AOAC 1990. Official method 984.13 Crude protein in animal feed, forage, grain and oil seeds. Official Methods of Analysis of AOAC International (15th edition). Gaithersburg, MD, USA, Association of Analytical Communities.
  2. CNCPS v_6.1 Feed Library. www.cncps.cornell.edu.
  3. Coblentz, W.K., Brink, G. E., Martin, N. P. and Undersander, D. J. (2008). Harvest timinig effects on estimates of rumen degradable protein from alfalfa forages. Crop Sci., 48: 778-788. 
  4. Djukiæ, D. (2005). Lucerne state and perspective in Europe and Serbia and Montenegro. Period. Sci. Res.Field Veget.Crops, 39: 155-    169.
  5. Elizalde, J. C., Merchen, N. R., and Faulkner, D. B. (1999). Fractionation of fiber and crude protein in fresh forages during the spring growth. J. Anim. Sci., 77 (2): 476-484. 
  6. Fox, D. G., Tylutki, T. P., Tedeschi, L. O., Van Amburgh, M. E., Chase, L. E., Pell, A. N., et al.,(2004). The net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating herd nutrition and nutrient excretion. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 112 (1-4): 29-78.
  7. Grabber, J. H. (2009). Forage management effects on protein and fiber fractions, protein degradability and dry matter yield of Red clover conserved as silage. Anim. Feed Sci. Technol., 154: 284-291.
  8. Guines, F., Julier, B., Ecable, C. and Huyghe, C. (2003). Among and within cultivar variability for histological traits of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) stem. Euphyt., 130: 293-301. 
  9. Hirel, B., Le Gouis, J., Ney, B. and Gallais, A. (2007). The challenge of improving nitrogen use efficiency in crop plants: towards a more central role for genetic variability and quantitative genetics within integrated approaches. J. Exp. Bot., 58: 2369-2387. 
  10. Jonker, A., Gruber, M. Y., Wang, Y., Coulman, B. J., Azarfar, A., McKinnon, J. J., et al., (2011). Modeling degradation ratios and nutrient availability of anthocyanidin-accumulating Lc-alfalfapopulations in dairy cows. J. Dairy Sci., 94: 1430-1444. 
  11. Karayilanli, E. and Ayhan V. (2017). Determination of degradation in the rumen for dry matter, organic matter and crude protein of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvested at different maturity stages using the in situ nylon bag method. Indian J. Anim. Res., 51 (5): 875-880.
  12. Karayilanli, E. and Ayhan V. (2016). Investigation of feed value of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) harvested at different maturity stages. Legume Res., 39 (2): 237-247.
  13. Lamb, J.F.S., Sheaffer, C. C. and Debroah, A. (2003). Poplation density and harvest maturity effects on leaf and stem yield in alfalfa. Agron. J., 95: 635-641. 
  14. Lanzas, C., Tedeschi, L. O., Seo, S. and Fox, D. G. (2007). Evaluation of protein fractionation systems used in formulating rations for dairy cattle. J. Dairy Sci., 90 (50): 7-21. 
  15. Licitra, G., Hernandez, T. M. and Van Soest, P. J. (1996). Standardization of procedures for nitrogen fractionation of ruminants feeds. Anim. Feed Sci.Techn., 57: 347-358. 
  16. Sniffen, C.J., O’Connor, D. J., Van Soest, P. J., Fox, D. G. and Russell, J. B. (1992). A net carbohydrate and protein system for evaluating cattle diets. II: Carbohydrate and protein availability. J. Anim. Sci., 70: 3562-3577. 
  17. Strbanoviæ, R., Simic, A., Postic, D., Zivanovic, T., Vuckovic, S., Pfaf-Dolovac, E. and Stanisavljevic, R. (2015). Yield and morphological traits in alfalfa varieties of different origin. Legume Res., 38 (4): 434-441.
  18. Tremblay, G.F., Michaud, R. and Bélanger, G. (2003). Protein fractions and ruminal undegradable proteins in alfalfa. Can. J. Plant Sci., 83: 555-559. 
  19. Tremblay, G.F., Michaud, R., Belanger, G., McRae, K. B. and Petit, H. V. (2000). In vitro ruminal undegradable proteins of alfalfa cultivars. Can. J. Plant Sci., 80: 315-325. 
  20. Yari, M., Valizadeh, R., Naserian, A. A., Ghorbani, G. R., Rezvani Moghaddam, P., Jonker, A. and Yu, P. (2012). Botanical traits, protein and carbohydrate fractions, ruminal degradability and energy contents of alfalfa hay harvested at three stages of maturity and in the afternoon and morning. Anim. Feed Sci.Techn., 172: 162-170. 
  21. Yu, P., Christensen, D. A., McKinnon, J. J. and Markert, J. D. (2003). Effect of variety and maturity stage on chemical composition, carbohydrate and protein subfractions, in vitro rumen degradability and energy values of timothy and alfalfa. Can. J. Anim. Sci., 83: 279-290. 

Editorial Board

View all (0)