Determination of grass quality characteristics in some Qeurcus genotypes growing in meadow-pasture and natural vegetations of Southeast Anatolia Region

This study was conducted in May 2023 to determine the herbage quality characteristics of different Quercus genotypes obtained from meadow-pasture and natural vegetation in the Southeastern Anatolia Region. The 11 Quercus species subject to our study were collected from natural meadow pasture areas of Şırnak, Diyarbakır, Kilis, Gaziantep, Mardin, Adıyaman, and Batman provinces. Grass samples taken from each genotype were dried and ground in the laboratory environment at Dicle University and analysis results were obtained with the NIRS (Near Infrared Spectroscopy) device with 3 replications and some quality characteristics were determined according to these datas. According to the analysis results, in Quercus genotypes crude protein ratio (CP) was %12.19-21.88, dry matter ratio (DM) was %85,01-89,67, acid detergent insoluble fiber ratio (ADF) was %18,18-31,49, neutral detergent insoluble fiber ratio (NDF) was %25,15-53,52, acid detergent insoluble protein ratio (ADP) was %0,31-0,91, digestible dry matter ratio (DDM) was %64,37-74,74, dry matter intake (DMI) was %2,24-4,77, relative feed value (RFV) was 111.90-255.80, total digestible nutrient (TDN) was %74,39-84,35, digestible energy (DE) was 3.03-3.47, metabolic energy (ME) 2.48-2.85, potassium (K) %1.84-3.50, calcium (Ca) %0.98-1.73, magnesium (Mg) %0.00-0.29, phosphorus (P) %0.31-0.48, calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) 2.32-5.55 and K/(Ca+Mg) 1.01-2.59 were found. Among the examined characteristics, Q. infectoria subsp. veneris genotype number 8 in terms of CP, DM, DDM, DMI, RFV, Ca and Mg; Q. infectoria subsp. veneris genotype number 10 in terms of TDN, ME, DE, P and K; Q.brantii genotype number 2 gave statistically the highest value in terms of ADF, NDF and ADP. It would be useful to consider these prominent aspects of these genotypes in future studies. Keywords: Quercus, Genotype, Taxson, Herbagequality, Protein, ADF, NDF, Macro elements