The Mineral Composition of Wild-Type and Cultivated Varieties of Pasture Species

Summary

This pot-based study examined mineral concentrations in 21 pasture species to explore whether increasing botanical diversity in swards could reduce the need for prophylactic mineral supplementation in livestock. Wild-type and cultivated varieties showed no consistent differences in mineral content; however, significant variation emerged between botanical groups, with forbs accumulating iodine and selenium, grasses enriched in manganese, and legumes in copper, cobalt, zinc and iron. The authors identify six promising forage species (Achillea millefolium, Cichorium intybus, Plantago lanceolata, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium hybridum and Lotus corniculatus) as potentially good mineral sources, though note that multispecies field trials and soil-type variation require further investigation.

UK applicability

The findings are directly applicable to UK livestock farming, where mineral deficiencies (particularly iodine and selenium) are common and typically managed through blanket supplementation. The identification of mineral-rich forage species offers a practical route to improving basal diet mineral status in UK pasture-based systems, though the authors note that controlled pot conditions may not reflect field performance or soil-dependent uptake variations.

Key measures

Herbage concentrations of cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc, sulphur, molybdenum and iron; comparisons between wild-type and cultivated varieties; botanical group differences

Outcomes reported

The study measured herbage concentrations of nine minerals (Co, Cu, I, Mn, Se, Zn, S, Mo and Fe) across 21 pasture species grown as single-species stands. It identified significant differences in mineral concentrations between botanical groups (forbs, grasses, legumes) and identified species with elevated concentrations of minerals typically deficient in livestock diets.

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