Forage yield and quality of hops (Humulus lupulus L.)

Medicinal plants increases animal yield and quality, they also play an alternative role in the treatment of animal diseases thanks to their phytotrepic properties.One of these plants is hops (Humulus lupulus L.). A hop contains significant amounts of polyphenols, crude protein, and crude ash, and it's also easy digestibility. It contributes to animal health, yield, and quality due to these traits. In this study, it was aimed to determine the hay yield and quality of hops the five different age groups (3, 5, 10, 15, and 20) of two varieties of hops (Brewers Gold and Aroma) were used in Bilecik grown. Hops are been harvested at between August and September. The boll of the harvested plant is used for brewing, while the rest is usually discarded. Therefore, following the harvest of the plant grown under farmer conditions, the remaining parts of the cocoon were taken and brought to the laboratory located in Bilecik Şeyh Edebali University Agricultural Application and Research field.The samples were investigated for hay yield, protein yield, acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, total phenolic, total flavonoid, condensed tannin and total alkaloid content. The highest hay yield was determined in the 3 age group (568.57 and 663.38 kg da-1, respectively) of both cultivars and in the 10 age group (568.71 kg da-1) of Aroma variety. The crude protein ratio ranged between 11.19-16.82%. The highest protein yield was determined at 5 and 10 years of age (107.67 ve 89.06 kg da-1, respectively) of Aroma variety. The K, P, Ca and Mg contents were ranged between 1.680-2.477%, 0.320-0.420%, 0.817-1.570% and 0.420-0.720%, respectively. The lowest total alkaloid content of 2.95% was determined in the 15 age group of Aroma variety. The condensed tannin content of hops varied between 1.38-5.42%, the total phenolic content ranged between 11.38-43.41 mg GA g-1, the total flavonoid content ranged between 11.87-13.32 mg QE g-1 and the DPPH content ranged between 72.57-82.13%. As a result, it has been determined that hay samples taken from different varieties and ages of hops can be evaluated as roughage in terms of the examined traits. Besides, there were differences between the age groups and varieties of the plant in terms of forage yield, quality, and although it was determined that the hay of the Brewers Gold variety of the 5 age group performed better than the other treatments, it is possible to use the parts of both varieties in every age group as roughage easily.