Description
The nutritive value of forages and other feeds have long been studied. However, the roles of secondary metabolites produced by forage-plants and their endophytes are an emerging field. Historically, the term secondary metabolite was used for compounds that were less abundant in plant tissue than the primary metabolites, such as fiber, sugars, and protein. It has become clear that secondary metabolites play important roles in the ecology of forage plants, and that both the detrimental and beneficial impacts of secondary metabolites to forage-animals should not be underestimated. This thematic session will consider fescue toxicosis, a detrimental outcome of ergot alkaloids produced by the tall fescue/Epichloë coenophiala symbiosis. Reports will also be made on isoflavones and condensed tannins from forage legumes. Secondary metabolites in general, must be better understood to be used in management programs that consider foraging behavior and the spatial distribution of bioactive forages in the landscape for enhancing forage-animal health and productivity. Human nutritionists refer to food with pharmacological benefits as a “functional food.” Forage scientists can borrow that idea for “functional feeds”, an interdisciplinary area that combines forage sciences and pharmacology.
Citation
Flythe, Michael D., "Forage Plant Secondary Metabolites At the Intersection of Animal Health, Productivity, and Sustainability" (2024). IGC Proceedings (1997-2023). 35.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/igc/XXV_IGC_2023/Livestock/35
Included in
Agricultural Science Commons, Agronomy and Crop Sciences Commons, Plant Biology Commons, Plant Pathology Commons, Soil Science Commons, Weed Science Commons
Forage Plant Secondary Metabolites At the Intersection of Animal Health, Productivity, and Sustainability
The nutritive value of forages and other feeds have long been studied. However, the roles of secondary metabolites produced by forage-plants and their endophytes are an emerging field. Historically, the term secondary metabolite was used for compounds that were less abundant in plant tissue than the primary metabolites, such as fiber, sugars, and protein. It has become clear that secondary metabolites play important roles in the ecology of forage plants, and that both the detrimental and beneficial impacts of secondary metabolites to forage-animals should not be underestimated. This thematic session will consider fescue toxicosis, a detrimental outcome of ergot alkaloids produced by the tall fescue/Epichloë coenophiala symbiosis. Reports will also be made on isoflavones and condensed tannins from forage legumes. Secondary metabolites in general, must be better understood to be used in management programs that consider foraging behavior and the spatial distribution of bioactive forages in the landscape for enhancing forage-animal health and productivity. Human nutritionists refer to food with pharmacological benefits as a “functional food.” Forage scientists can borrow that idea for “functional feeds”, an interdisciplinary area that combines forage sciences and pharmacology.
