TY - JOUR T1 - Sainfoin in Ruminant Nutrition: An In-Depth Comparison with Alfalfa, Barley, Wheat, and Maize TT - Ruminant Beslenmesinde Korunga: Yonca, Arpa, Buğday ve Mısırla Derinlemesine Bir Karşılaştırma AU - Yeniçeri, Mikail AU - Filik, Ayşe Gül AU - Filik, Gökhan PY - 2026 DA - February Y2 - 2026 DO - 10.35229/jaes.1754326 JF - Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences JO - JAES PB - Bülent VEREP WT - DergiPark SN - 2548-0006 VL - 0 IS - 2026 LA - en AB - Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia), a perennial legume, is increasingly recognized for its role in sustainable ruminant nutrition due to its high protein content, condensed tannins, and ecological benefits. This article provides a comprehensive analysis of sainfoin’s contributions to livestock production, comparing its nutritional, agronomic, and environmental attributes with alfalfa (Medicago sativa), barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and maize (Zea mays). Drawing on 80 peer-reviewed studies from 2020-2025, the study evaluates sainfoin’s impact on protein utilization, gastrointestinal parasite control, methane emission reduction, soil health, and biodiversity. Sainfoin’s condensed tannins enhance nitrogen efficiency by 25-30%, reduce parasite loads by 45-50%, and lower methane emissions by 20-23%, outperforming alfalfa’s bloat-prone profile and the high-input requirements of cereal crops. Its nitrogen fixation (100-150 kg N/ha/year) and drought tolerance (300-500 mm/year water) reduce fertilizer needs by 30-40% and support marginal lands, while its flowers boost pollinator populations by 20%. A detailed comparative analysis highlights sainfoin’s advantages, such as reduced feed costs (15-20%) and enhanced ecosystem services, alongside limitations like low seed yield (0.5-1.0 t/ha). The study explores sainfoin’s applications in grazing, silage, and crop rotations, offering practical recommendations for its integration into sustainable farming systems. By addressing research gaps, including breeding for higher yields and adaptability to acidic soils, this article underscores sainfoin’s potential to address global challenges in food security, climate change, and environmental sustainability, providing actionable insights for farmers, researchers, and policymakers. KW - Sainfoin KW - ruminant nutrition KW - sustainability KW - alfalfa KW - barley KW - wheat KW - maize KW - forage crops N2 - Çok yıllık bir baklagil olan korunga (Onobrychis viciifolia), yüksek protein içeriği, yoğunlaştırılmış tanenleri ve ekolojik faydaları nedeniyle sürdürülebilir geviş getiren hayvan beslenmesindeki rolüyle giderek daha fazla tanınmaktadır. Bu makale, korunganın hayvancılık üretimine katkılarının kapsamlı bir analizini sunmakta ve besinsel, tarımsal ve çevresel özelliklerini yonca (Medicago sativa), arpa (Hordeum vulgare), buğday (Triticum aestivum) ve mısır (Zea mays) ile karşılaştırmaktadır. 2020-2025 yılları arasında 80 hakemli çalışmaya dayanan çalışma, korunganın protein kullanımı, gastrointestinal parazit kontrolü, metan emisyonunun azaltılması, toprak sağlığı ve biyolojik çeşitlilik üzerindeki etkisini değerlendirmektedir. Korunganın yoğunlaştırılmış tanenleri azot verimliliğini %25-30 oranında artırır, parazit yüklerini %45-50 oranında azaltır ve metan emisyonlarını %20-23 oranında düşürür; yoncanın şişmeye meyilli profilinden ve tahıl ürünlerinin yüksek girdi gereksinimlerinden daha iyi performans gösterir. Azot fiksasyonu (100-150 kg N/ha/yıl) ve kuraklığa toleransı (300-500 mm/yıl su), gübre ihtiyacını %30-40 oranında azaltır ve marjinal arazileri desteklerken, çiçekleri tozlayıcı popülasyonlarını %20 oranında artırır. Ayrıntılı bir karşılaştırmalı analiz, düşük tohum verimi (0,5-1,0 t/ha) gibi sınırlamaların yanı sıra, korunganın azaltılmış yem maliyetleri (%15-20) ve gelişmiş ekosistem hizmetleri gibi avantajlarını vurgular. Çalışma, korunganın otlatma, silaj ve ürün rotasyonundaki uygulamalarını inceleyerek, sürdürülebilir tarım sistemlerine entegrasyonu için pratik öneriler sunmaktadır. Daha yüksek verim elde etmek ve asidik topraklara uyum sağlamak için yetiştirme gibi araştırma boşluklarını ele alarak, bu makale korunganın gıda güvenliği, iklim değişikliği ve çevresel sürdürülebilirlik gibi küresel zorlukları ele alma potansiyelini vurgulayarak çiftçilere, araştırmacılara ve politika yapıcılara uygulanabilir içgörüler sunmaktadır. 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