Sainfoin is very palatable, and is grazed by livestock in preference to alfalfa. It is reportedly nonbloating. Although very coarse, the herbage is highly nutritious. Compared to alfalfa, forage drymatter yields of sainfoin are about 20 percent lower under dryland conditions, and may be at least 30 percent lower in irrigated areas. Responds to irrigation on shallow soils. Condensed tannins in the leaves prevent bloating in ruminants and also improve the efficiency of protein metabolism. The stage of growth is very important during utilization because the food value of this species falls with increased maturity. Sainfoin is protein and mineral rich compared to grasses but its calcium and sodium concentrations are lower than in other major legumes. Sainfoin is a very earlygrowing legume, and it may tolerate light grazing during the bud stage and still yield a good crop of hay. Forage mass productivity ranges from 1520 MTha, hay productivity ranges from 2.85.0 MTha and seed productivity is 8002500 kgha. It is an excellent source of nectar and pollen for honey bees.

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