The Yields of Leaf Protein and Fibre that can be Obtained from Fractionation of Berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum L.)

Abstract

In recent years there has been an increasing interest in advanced countries in the process of mechanical fractionation of forage crops. In this process, crops are bruised and squeezed to yield a pressed fibre suitable as a feed to ruminants, and an expressed juice. The aim is to produce a material of lower moisture content than the original crops, so as to reduce the fuel needed for drying, and increase the throughput and labour economy of the drier. The use of protein - rich fraction isolated from the expressed juice, referred to as leaf protein, for feeding to humans and other non-ruminants has long been advocated.