NUTRITIVE VALUE OF FORAGE OF VETCH CULTIVARS (Vicia sativa L., Vicia villosa ROTH.)

The chemical composition, plant cell–wall fiber components content, in vitro enzyme digestibility, potential protein and energy feeding value of forage of seven vetch cultivars were evaluated. Vicia sativa L. (cultivars Liya, Lorina, Vilena, Moldovskaya, Obrazets 666) and Vicia villosa Roth. (cultivars Violeta and Viola) were planted at the experimental field of the Institute of Forage Crops, Pleven (Bulgaria) during 2012–2014 period. The origin of Obrazets 666 is Bulgaria and of the rest six cultivars–Moldova. Vicia villosa cultivars revealed a greater content of CP and fiber components, measured as NDF, ADF and ADL (211.4, 451.9, 378.5, 74.0 g kg DM respectively) in comparison with Vicia sativa cultivars (189.5, 409.2, 352.4, 67.9 g kg DM respectively). Quality of the herbage in terms of digestibility was 63.9% IVDMD for Vicia sativa and 52.9 % IVDMD for Vicia villosa. The nutritive value based on arithmetical rank sum of all studied parameters (chemical composition, in vitro enzyme digestibility, protein and energy feeding value) showed better forage quality of V. sativa compared to V. villosa. With the highest nutritive value was distinguished cultivars Liya, Vilena and Moldovskaya, which could be used as germplasm in future breeding programmes for quality improvement. Keyword: fiber, digestibility, vetch, feeding value.