Determination of quality characteristics of some medicago taxa growing in meadow-pastures and natural vegetations in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine quality characters of some Medicago species collected in natural lands of Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey. Obtained results were ranged from lowest to highest respectively; Crude Protein (CP) values 18.15-27.79%, Acid Detergent Fiber (ADF) values 14.25-30.96%, Neutral Detergent Fiber (NDF) values 18.49-33.59%, Crude Fiber (CF) values 21.78-34.15%, Ash (ASH) values 0.64-1.40%, total dry matter (TDM) 90.74-94.99, Digestible Dry Matter (DDM) values 64.78-77.80%, Dry Matter Intake (DMI) values 3.57-6.49% and Relative Feed Values (RFV) 188.4-391.4%. The best values were found in; Crude protein M. polymorpha var. polymorpha; ADF and Crude fiber M. rugosa; NDF M. lupulina; Crude ash, SKM, KMT and NYD M. orbicularis. When the Medicago taxa are examined for quality standards, M. coronata, M. minima var. minima, M. noeana, M. orbicularis, M. polymorpha var. polymorpha, M. polymorpha var. vulgaris, M. radiata, M. shepardii, M. lupulina were in the Prime group, which is the highest value for all investigated properties.