Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) is a parasitic plant that lives by absorbing nutrients and sap of various tree and shrub species. The plant has spread over a large area in Turkey, and is an alternative roughage source for ruminant animals. In this study, it was aimed to determine some forage quality traits [crude protein (CP), crude ash (CA), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), potassium (K), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and Ca/P ratios] of mistletoe collected from wild pear and poplar trees in July, August, December, and January. The highest crude protein ratio content was determined from the pear tree in July (19.45%) and the lowest was from wild pear tree (13.28%) in January. In the study, the crude ash ratio of mistletoe ranged from 9.69% (wild pear + January) to 12.90 (wild pear + July). The highest ADF and NDF ratio was determined in the mistletoe collected from the pear tree in December (31.32-44.40%, respectively), while the lowest was the mistletoe collected from the pear tree in July (24.10-37.38%, respectively). K, P, Ca and Mg ratios of mistletoe ranged between 2.685-3.857%, 0.505-0.560%, 0.968-1.382%, and 0.381-580%, respectively. As a result, in the study, it was determined that mistletoe collected in July and from the wild pear tree was better in terms of forage quality. Besides, it was concluded that the mistletoe is rich in terms of forage quality, and therefore it can be evaluated as an alternative source of roughage.
Primary Language | Turkish |
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Journal Section | Research Article |
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Publication Date | June 30, 2020 |
Published in Issue | Year 2020 Volume: 7 Issue: 2 |