Comparative Evaluation of Berseem (Trifolium alexendrium) Varieties in Buffalo Calves

A newly developed berseem cv (BL-42) was nutritionally evaluated using BL-10 as the standard check variety by conventional trial method and digestion kinetic parameters. The CP content was apparently higher (21.40%) in BL-42 than that of BL-10 (20.50%), however NFE values were quite comparable. The ADF and acid detergent lignin contents of the newly developed berseem were also apparently lowered than the standard variety. The digestibility coefficients of CP, EE and CF of BL-42 were significantly higher in comparison to BL-10. The degradation rate of DM was also higher in BL-42 in comparison to standard BL-10 variety. The prediction of DMI was higher by 3–14 per cent in comparison to in vivo studies. The digestion kinetic parameters are better index due to less amount of sample required for evaluation.