Nutritive Value of Cistus ladanifer L. for Ruminants: Seasonal Variation of Chemical Composition, Digestibility, and Antioxidant Activity of Its Morphological Fractions

Cistus ladanifer has been used in ruminants feeding systems, but there is no information about the seasonal variation chemical composition and nutritional value of each morphological fraction during its growth cycle. This study characterized fractions C. (leaves, stems, flower buds, flowers, seed heads) throughout year composition, vitro digestibility, antioxidant activity. The leaves were more variable seasons, being by low protein level (48.5–114 g/kg dry matter (DM)), moderate cell-wall content (240–267 g NDF/kg DM), high levels condensed tannins (CT) (131–246 organic digestibility (IVOMD) (29.3–34.3%). distinctive among various allowed identification four distinct groups, first composed second leaves, third heads, last one buds flowers. All are sources bioactive compounds namely phenolic compounds. Leaves with higher nutritive value, especially when collected winter spring.