Which forage legumes (species and varieties) and which cropping systems can be used to improve protein self-sufficiency on herbivore farms?

The provision of high-quality protein is essential for the growth and production of ruminants. Many species of forage legumes, which are well-suited to temperate climates, have high protein-production potential without the need for synthetic nitrogen fertilisers. The most productive and widely used species, such as alfalfa and clovers, have a high rate of protein degradability in the rumen, which impairs their utilisation by the animal. Other species, such as bird’s-foot trefoil, sainfoin and crown vetch, produce condensed tannins which help to reduce this degradability. Given the rather limited scope for genetic improvement, technical or agronomic solutions can maximise protein utilisation by ruminants: technological processes such as dehydration, intercropping of several species to restore the protein-to-energy balance of the ration, thereby enabling better protein utilisation; and, finally, the inclusion of tannin-rich legumes in the ration, either by incorporating them into intercropping schemes or by adding them directly to the ration. Overall, these forage legumes offer real opportunities to increase the protein self-sufficiency of ruminant farms.