Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Imam University Kahramanmaras, Sutcu, 46 100, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
The potential nutritive value of Polygonum aviculare hay harvested at three maturity stages using chemical composition and in vitro gas production technique was determined. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF, 33.72 47.17%), acid detergent fiber (30.02–43.77%) and condensed tannin (CT) contents of Polygonum aviculare hay increased with maturity but crude protein (CP, 9.56–17.10%) and gas production parameters decreased. Although the nutritive value of Polygonum aviculare hay decreased with increasing maturity it could be grazed at these advanced stages also and provide an acceptable quality of fodder for ruminants during the summer period.
Polygonum aviculare hay, nutritive value, chemical composition, condensed tannin, in vitro gas production, digestibility
