Fodder Galega vs. Alfalfa: Yield and Feed Value of Leaves, Stems, and Whole Plants

Fodder galega (<i>Galega orientalis</i> Lam.) is a perennial forage legume that can be an alternative to alfalfa (<i>Medicago sativa</i> L.) under more difficult environmental conditions. Galega is characterized by leafiness, and technology is now available to harvest leaves separately from stems, providing opportunity to utilize the more nutritious leaves as a feed protein source, and stems for alternative purposes. Our objective was to assess leaf, stem, and whole plant production and nutritive value of galega relative to alfalfa. Field-grown galega and alfalfa were sequentially harvested from bud to late flower maturity stages in first and second growth over two years. The proportion of leaves in galega at each harvest was greater than that of alfalfa, on average by 35%. The yield of galega leaves and yield of crude protein (CP) from leaves was also greater, on average by 31% and 18%, respectively. However, galega leaves had lower CP concentration, contained more fiber, and were less digestible than alfalfa leaves. Although the proportion of stems in galega was lower, the mean dry matter yield of stems of both species was similar. Crude protein concentration in the stems of both species was similar, but galega stems tended to contain more fiber and be less digestible than alfalfa stems. The dry matter yield of whole plant galega was greater than that of alfalfa, especially in the spring cut. Whole plant galega contained, on average, 6% more CP, and galega protein yield was also 16% greater than that of alfalfa. Whole plants of both species were generally characterized by similar levels of fiber and digestibility. The relatively high leaf-protein yield of galega under a two-harvest regime makes fractional harvest of this crop an attractive management strategy.