Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/10.33128/k.67.2.1
A possibility of using chamomile herbs (Matricaria chamomilla L.) in sheep feeding
Tatjana Jelen
orcid.org/0000-0003-2067-2616
; Veleučilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
*
Dejan Marenčić
orcid.org/0000-0001-8352-4915
; Veleučilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
Marijana Vrbančić Igrić
orcid.org/0000-0002-0268-7315
; Veleučilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
Goran Mikec
; Veleučilište u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
Lorena Botković
; studentica Veleučilišta u Križevcima, Križevci, Hrvatska
* Corresponding author.
Abstract
For this paper’s purposes, the samples of chamomile’s residual mass (herb) from Virovitica-Podravina County were analyzed. The aim of this paper was to demonstrate the nutritional characteristics of chamomile’s residual green mass (herb) and a possibility of its use as a sheep feed. The obtained laboratory-analysis results were compared with the average meadow-hay values from the same area, produced in the same period. The research results proved that the chamomile herb had a similar chemical composition and nutritional value as the meadow-grass hay — that is, that there were no statistically significant differences between the investigated parameters (DM, C ash, CP, CFC, CFs, C sugars, ME, and NEL), except for the NDF content (P < 0.001). Namely, chamomile hay has a lower NDF content when compared to the meadow hay. Given the similar nutritional values, the addition of chamomile herb in the sheep feed is acceptable in lieu of hay. Also, further research is necessary, related to the influence of chamomile hay in a diet on the sheep health and production characteristics.
Keywords
chamomile herb; hay; sheep feeding
Hrčak ID:
343798
URI
Publication date:
12.1.2026.
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