I've been looking at some of the data on various forages, and found some interesting things about common "weeds". During the height of their growing season, many are quite high in protein. For instance, the dandelion.
_________________June 3......July 7.....Sept 24.....Average
Acid detergent fiber...28.1........22.4.......25.8.......25.4
Crude protein ...........13.8........22.8.......14.7.......17.1
Ca...........................1.21........1.55.......1.61.......1.46
P.............................0.30........0.48.......0.29.......0.36
In an interview for weed control in hay, Jerry Doll a UW-Extension "weeds" expert says:
Other greens follow suit. Plantain is rich in many nutrients, and Mulberry is being researched as a protein feed for pigs (rice based diet) http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd15/1/phin151.htm and hugely significant mulberry hay for goats: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/X9895E/x9895e0k.htm with average 22% protein...even after the degredation of drying.
Since rabbits are able to get almost ALL of the nutrients out of a plant (through the cecum) I am thinking this would mean a diet/feed plan high in dandelion, mulberry, and other greens (research the quality) would be sufficient without the alfalfa. This could be significant for those in areas where alfalfa is scarce and very pricey. The problem being you can't know exactly how much protein is in a particular cutting of greens.
Of course, the other thing, is that the alfalfa provides a lot of fiber. a GOOD thing. (plantain is HIGH in fiber, too, btw.)
Thoughts? Ideas? Further research?
_________________June 3......July 7.....Sept 24.....Average
Acid detergent fiber...28.1........22.4.......25.8.......25.4
Crude protein ...........13.8........22.8.......14.7.......17.1
Ca...........................1.21........1.55.......1.61.......1.46
P.............................0.30........0.48.......0.29.......0.36
In an interview for weed control in hay, Jerry Doll a UW-Extension "weeds" expert says:
“On average, dandelions in the first cutting were four percentage points lower in protein,” he says. “In the second and third cuttings the difference wasn't statistically significant, but the dandelions averaged about a half point higher in protein than the alfalfa.”
Other greens follow suit. Plantain is rich in many nutrients, and Mulberry is being researched as a protein feed for pigs (rice based diet) http://www.lrrd.org/lrrd15/1/phin151.htm and hugely significant mulberry hay for goats: http://www.fao.org/DOCREP/005/X9895E/x9895e0k.htm with average 22% protein...even after the degredation of drying.
Since rabbits are able to get almost ALL of the nutrients out of a plant (through the cecum) I am thinking this would mean a diet/feed plan high in dandelion, mulberry, and other greens (research the quality) would be sufficient without the alfalfa. This could be significant for those in areas where alfalfa is scarce and very pricey. The problem being you can't know exactly how much protein is in a particular cutting of greens.
Of course, the other thing, is that the alfalfa provides a lot of fiber. a GOOD thing. (plantain is HIGH in fiber, too, btw.)
Thoughts? Ideas? Further research?