Nutritional Quality of Three Varieties of Berseem in Sheep Fed as Hay

Fifteen adult crossbred (Local × Corriedale) male sheep (34.4±1.44 kg), divided into three groups of five each, were fed two improved varieties (JHB-98-1 and JHTB-96-4) of berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) against a check, JHB-146 as hay. JHTB-96-4 contained relatively higher CP (16.1%) but lower fibre (ADF: 40.7%) than both JHB-146 and JHB-98-1. But there was no significant difference in daily dry matter intake (DMI), calculated as kg/100 kg body weight or g/kg W^0.75, and digestibility of nutrients among the varieties, except higher (P<0.05) total daily DMI in JHTB-96-4. All the animals were in positive nitrogen balance. However, daily nitrogen intake (27.5 g) as well as retention (7.60 g) was significantly higher in JHTB-96-4 variety. The TDN content was comparable among the varieties, but DCP content (%) was lower in JHB-98-1 (7.98) than both JHB-146 (10.25) and JHTB-96-4 (10.18). It was concluded that berseem varieties evaluated as hay were nutritionally comparable, except lower DCP content in JHB-98-1.