Legume tonic for livestock a godsend

摘要

There's a new legume providing a quality feed for grazing livestock - only it's not actually new. Birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) has been around Europe as a common pasture constituent for several thousand years, and has been sown for forage throughout North and South America and in several Asian countries for at least 200 years, but is a relatively recent import to Australia and New Zealand. It's like lucerne, in that it is best grown as a pure stand in drier areas - but unlike lucerne, it tolerates less fertile and more acidic and saline soils, which has to be good news in some Australian regions. Like lucerne, it is a perennial legume - but unlike lucerne or the other common temperate pasture plants, it contains condensed tannins in its foliage, which enhance its feed quality.