Summary
This controlled pot study assessed mineral concentrations in 21 pasture species to evaluate their potential in addressing mineral deficiencies in livestock diets without prophylactic supplementation. Botanical group rather than cultivar type was the primary driver of mineral variation, with forbs emerging as superior sources of iodine and selenium, and specific legume and forb species (Achillea millefolium, Cichorium intybus, Plantago lanceolata, Medicago lupulina, Trifolium hybridum, Lotus corniculatus) identified as promising for multiple micronutrients. The authors note that field validation across soil types and multispecies mixtures is required before practical application.
UK applicability
The findings are directly applicable to UK pasture management and livestock nutrition, as mineral deficiencies—particularly iodine and selenium—are recognised issues in UK livestock production. Results suggest that strategic botanical diversity in swards could reduce reliance on mineral supplements, relevant to both organic and conventional UK farming systems seeking to improve basal diet quality.
Key measures
Herbage mineral concentrations: cobalt, copper, iodine, manganese, selenium, zinc, sulphur, molybdenum, iron across grasses, legumes and forbs
Outcomes reported
The study compared herbage mineral concentrations (Co, Cu, I, Mn, Se, Zn, S, Mo, Fe) across 21 pasture species in wild-type and cultivated varieties grown as single-species stands. It identified botanical groups and specific species with potentially improved mineral profiles for livestock diets, particularly for iodine and selenium.
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