Sericea lespedeza

SERICEA LESPEDEZASERICEA LESPEDEZAThomas H. Terrill Thomas H. Terrill

and Niki C. Whitleyand Niki C. WhitleyFort Valley State University, GeorgiaFort Valley State University, Georgia

CAN SERICEA LESPEDEZA CAN SERICEA LESPEDEZA BE USED AS….BE USED AS….

As a soil builder? As a cost effective source of hay? As a feed resource for different classes and

species of livestock? As a nutraceutical? As part of a sustainable parasite management

program? As a potential source of revenue?

Sericea LespedezaLespedeza cuneata (Dum.- Cours) G. Don

Native to eastern Asia and AustraliaNative to eastern Asia and Australia

Preliminary map of where Preliminary map of where Sericea Lespedeza may be Sericea Lespedeza may be adapted based on soil typesadapted based on soil types

Places where Sericea Places where Sericea Lespedeza is foundLespedeza is found

NRCS

Donn Rodekohr and J. Mosjidis

OK AR

KS

TX

OH

OK

KS MOIL IN

PA

Places where sericea lespedeza is found world-wide

http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20m?kind=Lespedeza+cuneata&guide=North_American_Invasives

History of Sericea Lespedeza in the USA

Introduced to the southeastern United States (NC) in 1896 but there was not much interest on the plant

In the 1920’s was considered to have use for forage and soil conservation

Widely seeded in the Southeast in 1930-1950 for soil conservationPieters et al. 1950 Circular 863

Sericea Lespedeza CultivarsSericea Lespedeza CultivarsName Year Available Institutions

Two unnamed introduced strains <1939 USDA

Arlington 1939 SCS

Okinawa 1944 SCS

Serala 1962 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.Gasyn 1963 GA Ag. Expt. Stn.

Interstate 1969 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

Cericea 1972 NC Ag. Expt. Stn.

Appalow 1978 SCS & KY Ag. Expt. Stn.

Serala 76 1978 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

Interstate 76 1978 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

AU Lotan 1980 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

AU Donnelly 1987 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

AU Grazer™ 1997 Alabama Ag. Expt. Stn.

Sericea Lespedeza in USA today

Older cultivars used for stabilizing soils from surface-mined coal sites, roadbanks, and other disturbed or eroding sites; improving wildlife habitats

‘Common’ sericea lespedeza is growing on thousands of acres in the mid-western states

AU GrazerTM is the primary cultivar planted as grazing and hay crop

Agronomic Advantages of Sericea Lespedeza

Grows on a wide range of soil types, including acidic, infertile sites

Legume, needs no N fertilization Deep rooting, reduces need for P fertilization Drought tolerant once established Insect damage, disease problems minimal Tendency to shed lower leaves, leading to:

Improved soil fertility, soil structureReduced soil erosion

Sericea lespedeza - Forms

Fresh forageFresh forage

HayHay

Leaf mealLeaf meal

PelletsPellets SilageSilage

Production of Sericea Lespedeza

3-4 tons of hay per acre in Georgia (Hoveland et al., 1990)

Up to 5.5 tons/acre reported for Alabama in the 70s-80s (ACES, ANR-1318)

Up to 2 tons per acre of leaf meal from SL in Alabama (2015, Sims Brothers)

Seed yield of 200-400 lb/acre (AR Extension, FSA3050)

Nutritional Value of Sericea Lespedeza

Older cultivars had thick, woody stems that reduced nutritional value

High-CT cultivars developed with finer stems High concentration of condensed tannins (CT)

reduced intake, digestibility Sun-drying of high-CT SL improved intake and

digestibility Low-CT cultivars developed with higher

digestibility


Cattle graze common SL when it is young, graze the top 7-8” of mature stands (younger leaves, pliable stems).

CT content is just as high in young plants as in mature stands

Recommended to start grazing when plants are 8” tall caused stand thinning with older types of SL

Grazing-tolerant cultivar (AU GrazerTM) released by Auburn University in 1997


High-CT sericea adequate nutrition as pasture and hay crop for beef cows and calves, animal performance similar to bermudagrass

Not recommended to graze growing calves on high-CT SL

Cattle and sheep grazed on “AU Lotan” in South Africa Hay, pelleted SL readily consumed by all classes of

livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, horses, llamas, exotic hoofstock)

Nutritional Value of Sericea Lespedeza for Small Ruminants

Goats readily graze high-CT SL Sheep graze SL after an adjustment period Adequate nutrition for older animals (bucks, does,

rams, ewes) Good nutrition as short-term feed (no more than 8

weeks) for weaned lambs and kids Reduced gains in growing kids and lambs compared

to perennial grasses after 8-10 weeks

Calf Performance when Fed Free-Choice Sericea Lespedeza or

Bermudagrass Hay

Trial: 49 days, 16 weaned steers/treatment, Beef Unit, Shorter, AL, 2004

11 lbs/head/day, soyhullslbs/head/day, soyhulls* No significant differences* No significant differences

Group 1 Group 1 SLSL

Group 2 Group 2 BGBG

Daily Gain, Daily Gain, lbslbs 1.49* 1.49* 1.381.38

Hay IntakeHay Intake11 9.29.2 13.613.6Supplement Supplement IntakeIntake11 66 66

Total IntakeTotal Intake11 15.215.2 19.619.6

Summary: Gained the same, but ate less

Cattle feeding trials in South Arica Unfertilized AU Lotan SL hay compared with fertilized

grass hay (*Eragrostis) for beef and dairy cows

Similar daily weight gain in 6-week trial with dry beef cows fed hay only diets

Milk volume, %butterfat, protein the same in 6-week study with SL and Eragrostis hay as the roughage source in balanced rations for dairy cows

SL hay 60% cheaper than Eragrostis hay

*Teff and Lovegrass(es) are types of Eragrostis

Growth rate of growing goats

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Infected BG

Infected SL

Non-Infected BG

Non-Infected SL

Summary: Goats with or without parasites grew better when fed SL vs BG hay

Health Benefits for Livestock Anti-parasitic

Lowers egg/ooycst counts for worms and coccidia

Anti-bloat Reduces somatic cell count in goat milk

Over 1.5 mil, cannot sell

Ethno-medical Uses of Sericea Lespedeza in China

Ye men guan (pinyin)Ye men guan (pinyin) Whole plant boiled extract Whole plant boiled extract

forfor HeartHeart HemorrhageHemorrhage HerniaHernia Infantile Infantile

marasmus marasmus (chronic undernourishment)

Skin ulcersSkin ulcers Snake biteSnake bite Tuberculosis Tuberculosis

of the of the testiclestesticles

AnemiaAnemia AscariasisAscariasis Dental cariesDental caries Dog biteDog bite DysenteryDysentery (severe

diarrhea with passage of mucus and blood usually caused by infection)

Enteritis Enteritis (inflammation of intestines)

Enuresis Enuresis (incontinence of urine)(incontinence of urine)

Duke and Ayensu 1985

Other benefits In studies, SL has:

Lowered ruminal methane production

Reduced urinary losses of N as urea

Had anti-bacterial (E. coli) effects

Killed houseflies in animal feces

(Puchala et al., 2005; Min et al., 2008; Naumann et al., 2013)

Sericea Lespedeza Contains Sericea Lespedeza Contains Condensed TanninsCondensed Tannins

Tannins are polyphenolic compounds

Accumulate in cell vacuoles of leaves and stems

CT have very high concentration of “prodelphinidin-type” tannins (PD type)

Very reactive with protein

Polyphenols

CT

CT

Sericea lespedeza tannins

Concentration Leaves - 16.0 %Stems - 3.3 %Pellets – 13.2 %

Structure Leaves – 98 % PD, 42 mDPStems – 94 % PD, 18 mDPPellets – 97.4 % PD, 86 mDP

CONDENSED TANNINS IN FORAGES

Vary in concentrationBirdsfoot trefoil (1-5 %)Big trefoil (5-10 %) Sericea lespedeza (6-13 %)Canary clover (15-20 %)

Vary in compositionBirdsfoot trefoil CT (low PD:PC ratio, mDP) Sericea lespedeza CT (high PD:PC ratio, mDP)

CONDENSED TANNINS IN FORAGES

CT concentration, composition varies with:Cultivar Plant part (Leaves vs stems)Plant maturity (leafy vs reproductive growth)Processing method

• Sun-curing for hay• Grinding and pelleting• Ensiling

ANTI-PARASITIC EFFECTS OF CONDENSED TANNINS

Associated with their ability to form complexes with both plant and parasite proteins

Mechanism of action explained by two hypotheses: Indirect effects Direct effects

Grazing trials with SL 57% reduction in GIN egg counts in does grazing SL compared with

tall fescue pasture

Lower numbers of adult worms in “tracer” kids grazing SLHaemonchus contortus – Barberpole Worm (94%)Teladorsagia circumcincta – Brown Stomach Worm (100%)Trichostrongylus colubriformis –Bankrupt Worm (45%) (Min et al.,

2002; 2003)

95.4% and 71.4% reduction in GIN egg counts in kids grazing SL or SL + bermudagrass (BG) pasture compared with BG pasture only

(Mechineni et al., 2014)

Anti-parasitic effects of grazed SL - Summary

GRAZING SERICEA LESPEDEZA WORKS FOR GIN MANAGEMENTDifferent locations

USA (North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Arkansas)South Africa (KwaZulu Natal)

Different animal species, breeds, agesPre-weaned, weanling lambs, weaned kids (3 to 12 months)Spanish, Boer-cross

Different SL cultivarsAU GrazerAU Lotan (S. Africa)Other cultivars not YET tested

Grazing of Sericea Lespedeza Limited to late spring, summer, early autumn months,

areas where SL is adapted

Ensiling SL, or sun-drying, processing into leaf meal, pellets– Gives farmers flexibility in use of SL on-farm– Facilitates storage, transport to areas where SL is not

adapted– Generates heat, reduces extractable CT, increases CT bound

to protein

Does sun-drying, grinding, pelleting or ensiling of sericea

lespedeza affect it’s anti-parasitic properties?

Effect of Feeding Sericea Lespedeza Hay on Fecal Egg Count (FEC) of Goats

Pre-trial Trial

% Larval survival in fecal cultures

Pre trial Trial period

Summary: SL hay decreased the number of larvae in feces compared to BG

Effects of Feeding SL Hay on Adult Worm Species in Goats

Summary: SL hay decreased worm loads for Barberpole, Brown Stomach and Bankrupt/Black Scour worms, but was most effective on Barberpole worm

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PelletedSericea

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Effects of Feeding SL pellets on goat FEC

Summary: Ground and pelleted sericea lespedeza reduced FEC

Effects of Feeding Ensiled SL on goat FEC

Hay trials with sericea lespedeza

GoatsFVSU, USDA/ARS Booneville, AR

Sheep LSU, USDA/ARS

CattleLSU

LlamasFVSU

Sericea lespedeza pellet experiments

Gastrointestinal nematodesSheep (LSU, USDA/ARS)Goats (FVSU, NCA&T, USDA/ARS)Beef cattle (FVSU)

Coccidia (Eimeria spp.)Sheep (USDA/ARS, LSU)Goats (FVSU)

Bottom Line

DRYING AND PROCESSING SERICEA LESPEDEZA DOES NOT

REDUCE IT’S ANTI-PARASITIC EFFECTIVENESS

Other Questions about Anti-parasitic Properties of SL

How much is needed to achieve anti-parasitic effect?

What parasites is it most effective against?

Does it always work?

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Effects of Feeding SL Hay on goat FEC: Dose Titration Study

Summary: Whole plant SL hay at 50% and 75% of the diet decreased FEC

Effect of feeding whole plant and leaf only SL meal at 25% of the diet on goat FEC

Summary: Both whole plant and leaf meal SL hay at 25% of the diet decreased FEC

Gastrointestinal Nematodes

Haemonchus contortus (Barberpole worm)

Trichostrongylus colubriformis (Bankrupt worm)

Teladorsagia circumcincta (Brown Stomach worm)

77%

50%

36%

Species % reduction of adult females relative to control

Eimeria spp. (Coccidia) OPG

SL dramatically decreased coccidia oocyst counts in goats

Eimeria spp. (Coccidia) OPG

Both hay and SL decreased coccidia oocyst counts in goats

Anti-parasitic Effectiveness of Sericea Lespedeza

Consistently effective in all forms tested with goats in Georgia

Consistently effective with sheep in trials in Louisiana

Variable results with sheep and goats in Arkansas and North Carolina

Infection level with Haemonchus contortus? Over-heating of pellets? Possible regional differences in parasites?

Sericea Lespedeza Feeding Recommendations for Parasite

Management Can be fed fresh (grazed, cut-and-carry), dried

(hay, leaf meal, pellets), or preserved (ensiled)

50% or more of the diet

Supplement energy or protein to meet nutritional needs of specific classes of animals


Management For control of Coccidia or Barberpole worm,

begin feeding 2 weeks prior to periods of stress, at least 6 weeks afterwards

Susceptible animalsKids and lambs at weaningDoes and ewes during kidding/lambing, in early

lactation (particularly with twins or triplets)


Management Currently, recommend feeding SL for no

longer than 8 weeks at a time with young kids and lambs because of possible binding of trace minerals in some locations/farms

Not a problem with older animals


Management Remember that SL is not a silver bullet for parasite

control, should be used in conjunction with FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles for H. contortus when needed, other integrated parasite management techniques

More information on sustainable parasite control methods for small ruminants can be found at the website for the American Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control – ACSRPC.org or wormx.info

Future Research with Sericea Lespedeza for Parasite Control

Grazing trials with sheep and goatsPure stands In combination with other foragesSL as deworming paddock

Research with SL as dried or ensiled feed Ingredient in complete feedsPasture supplement Component of TMR for feedlot, confinement feedingBeef and dairy cattle, dairy goats, llamas and alpacas, pigs,

poultry, zoo animals

Future Research with Sericea Lespedeza for Parasite Control

Establishment for organic or grass-fed small ruminant production

On-farm trialsUse of SL grazing, hay, pellet, or silage feeding for as

part of a parasite management program in combination with FAMACHA, copper oxide wire particles, other novel control technologies

Remaining Questions about Sericea Lespedeza

Is it a potential source of additional revenue for commercial farmers?SL leaf meal pellets currently being

marketed as an anthelmintic feedEnsiled in small batches?Feed resource for organic livestock

production?

Commercial sources for sericea lespedeza seeds and pellets?

Seeds and leaf meal pellets of ‘AU Grazer’ can be purchased from a company in Alabama:Sims Brothers Seed Company Union Springs, ALPhone: 334-738-2619Email: simsbrothers.com

Sericea lespedeza management: Establishment

Plant on upland soil (well-drained) Fertilize and lime according to soil test Broadcast SL on a well-prepared, firm seedbed in the spring after the

danger of a killing frost has passed Use herbicide to control weeds during establishment (Only Eptam

approved for SL, Treflan works as well) Plant SL at ¼” depth (no deeper) Plant 20 lbs/acre if herbicide used Plant 30 lbs/acre if no herbicide used

Sericea lespedeza management: Establishment

Slow seedling growth initially Regular moisture essential after germination Do not graze during establishment year Can cut for hay in year 1 if sufficient growth Stands usually thicken up in year 2 after

establishment

Sericea lespedeza management: Cutting for hay

Cut for hay when 15 to 20” tall Leaves dry very rapidly Use hay conditioner if available to crush stems Cut first day, bale the next after the dew dries off

Sericea lespedeza management: Grazing

Grazing should be initiated in the spring when plants are 6 – 8” tall

Rotationally graze to maintain adequate root carbohydrate reserves

Older cultivars less grazing tolerant ‘AU Grazer’ is the only grazing-tolerant cultivar

released so far

Potential for increased use of Sericea Lespedeza

Questions ???

Education

Sericea lespedeza