Lespedeza cuneata

Sericea, sericea lespedeza

Perennial herb normally between 40 cm and 1 m high with stems that are densely beset with small leaves. Produces a good bulk of forage in its second year. Drought resistant. Good grazing either alone or mixed with grass. Because it contains tannic acid, palatability and digestibility are low. For hay it should be cut when about 30 cm high to ensure a high protein and low tannic acid content. It should be left in the swath in bright sunlight for not more than one hour, then windrowed and brought to the barn the day it is cut.

As % of dry matter

DM

CP

CF

Ash

EE

NFE

Ca

P

Ref

Fresh, early

bloom, USA

25.0

16.4

32.0

12.8

2.0

36.8

1.35

0.21

356

Hay, USA

11.3

42.6

3.4

2.3

40.4

314

Digestibility (%)

Animal

CP

CF

EE

NFE

ME

Ref

Hay

Cattle

35.0

55.3

53.7

46.7

1.80

314