WVJ
World's
Veterinary Journal
World's Vet. J. 3(2): 46-50, 2013 © 2013, Scienceline Publication
In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds
A. Balgees, Atta Elmnan, A.M.A. Fadal Elseed, A.G. Mahala and E.O. Amasiab
Faculty of Animal Production, University of Khartoum, Postal code 13314, Khartoum North, Sudan Corresponding author's email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT
In-situ degradability and in vitro gas production technique were used to evaluate the nutritive value of Albizia lebbeck (AL), Leucaena leucecophala (Lu), Sesbania sesban (SE), Sesbania fermuza (SF) leaves and Alfalfa (ALF). In the In-situ degradability study the sample were incubated at a different time (2, 4, 8, 16, 24, 48 and 72 hrs.) in the rumen of two fistulated, adult crossbred cattle. The gas production was continuously measured by incubating samples in buffered rumen from two adult crossbred cattle (2,4,8,16,24,48 and 72 hrs.) The results indicated that CP content ranged from 17.21 to 21.28% and significantly higher (P< 0.05) for SE 21.28% while ALF had a lower CP content 17.21%. NDF and ADF contents were higher for leaves of AL and ALF than leaves of LU, SE and SF. Total tannins content of the leaves range from 2.31 to 9.41% for ALF and LU respectively. OM and CP degradability kinetics (effective degradability, potential degradability, and slow degradation fraction) were significantly higher (P< 0.05) for SF and SE than LU, AL and ALF. Significantly higher (P< 0.05) in gas production were observed in SF and ALF compared to SE, AL and LU.
KEY WORDS: Tree Leaves, Chemical Composition, Degradability, Gas Production
INTRODUCTION
In Sudan, as in various parts of tropical areas, most small scale farmers rely on grasses as material feed input for animal maintenance. However, forage quality such as (digestibility, protein content and mineral content) decline during dry seasons which leads to nutritional imbalance that causes weight loss. CP content of tropical grasses during dry season falls far below the minimum 8% required for maintaining animal condition (McDonald et al., 2002).
The fodder trees can currently be considered as important source of energy and protein to be utilized in the different animal production system. Fodder tree leaves have the potential for alleviating some of the feed shortage and nutritional differences in dry season on small holder farms (Salem et al., 2006). Reddy and Elanchezhian stated that tree leaves could be considered promising and interesting sources for incorporation into ruminant diets. Also Hail and Tolemariam (2008) concluded that the fodder trees resources represent a great potential for sheep production in area where they are available.
The study was designed to determine the nutritional value of leaves of fodder trees species namely (Albizia
lebbeck, Leacaena leucocephala, Sesbania sesban and Sesbania fermuza compared to alfalfa. The study included proximate analysis, in-situ degradability and in vitro gas production test.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This study was carried out at the Department of Animal Nutrition; Faculty of Animal Production; U. of K. Sample Preparation
Mature leaves from 4 species were collected during dry season from different areas of Khartoum North city, picked up by hand from randomly selected 6 individual trees of each species. The samples were taken at three heights (top, middle and the bottom of the tree) polled, air dried in shaded place then ground in a hammer mill to pass 2.5 mm Mondal et al (2008) screen for in -situ study and to pass 1 mm screen for chemical analysis.
To cite this paper: Balgees A., Elmnan A., Fadal Elseed A.M.A., Mahala A.G. and Amasiab E.O. Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds. World's Vet. J. 3(2): 46-50. Journal homepage: http ://wvj. science-line. com/
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2013. In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected
Chemical analysis
Samples of tree leaves and Alfaalfa were analyzed for their proximate components, DM, ash and CP according to AOAC (1990). NDF, ADF were determined according to Goering and Van Soest (1970) method. All the analysis was run in triplicate.
Degradability study
Degradability study of tree leaves and Alfaalfa carried out in the rumen of two fistulated, adult crossbred cattle (250-300 kg) according to the nylon bag technique described by (0rskov et al., 1980). The two fistulated animal were fed at maintenance level on a balanced roughage concentrate diet with free access to water and mineral blocks.
In vitro gas production test
In-vitro gas production test was done as described by (Menk and Steingus, 1988). Rumen fluid was obtained from two healthy adult crossbred cattle weighing (250-300 kg. It was strained trough 4 layers of cheesecloth and stored in thermos containers saturated with carbon dioxide (CO2) and maintained at 39°C. The syringes, prewarmed at 39°C and contained two hundred grams of single substrates or mixtures, were inoculated with 30 ml inoculum under continuous CO2 reflux. They were incubated in an incubator at 39°C for 72 hours. The gas production of each syringe was recorded after 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, 48 and 72 hours of fermentation. Each run included in triplicate, a blank (syringes incubated with the inoculum alone).
Statistical analysis
Data obtained was subjected to statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA) for completely randomized design using computerized program known as statistix8.Where the F test was significant; the treatment means were compared using least significant difference (LSD).
RESULTS
Chemical composition
As shown in Table 1 there was no significant difference (P<0.05) in DM, OM and ash content among leaves of fodder trees and alfalfa. The CP content was highest (P< 0.05) for SE (21.28%) while ALF had a lowest CP content (17.21%). The NDF was significantly (P<0.05) different among treatments, the highest value recorded by AL was (48.56%) and the lowest value recorded by LU was (31.38%). The higher ADF content was (34.89%) for ALF, while the lowest ADF content was (25.95%) for LU.
Table 1. Chemical composition (%) of leaves of trees and alfalfa
Parameters DM CP NDF ADF ASH OM CT
AL 95.10 18.20bc 48.56a 32.28ab 9.55 90.45 0.78
LU 94.61 19.72ab 31.38c 25.95b 9.77 90.23 0.94
SE 94.41 21.28a 42.14ab 29.50ab 9.39 90.61 2.44
ALF 94.57 17.21c 44.18a 34.89a 9.42 90.58 2.31
SF 93.49 19.83ab 36.23ab 30.18ab 9.98 90.02 3.93
SEM 0.56 0.78 2.30 5.60 0.44 0.44
AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; ALF Alfalfa; SF Sesbania fermuza; CT condensed tannins; SEM standard error of the mean; a-c means with different superscripts in the same row were significantly different (P< 0.05)
In- situ degradability
Average proportion of OM and CP disappearing from different leaves of fodder tree and alfalfa at different periods of incubation in the rumen were shown in Tables 2 and 3 and plotted graphically in Fig. 1 and 2. It can be seen from Tables 2 and 3 that at each time intervals, the proportion of CP disappearing from leaves of fodder trees was higher for SF than SE, AIF, Lu and AL.
Estimated of OM and CP characteristics were illustrated in Tables 4 and 5. As can be seen from these tables the value of ready soluble fraction (a) was significantly higher for ALF than other leaves of fodder trees. Slow degradable fraction (b) and effective degradability at rate of 2 and 5% were significantly higher for SF and SE than ALF, AL and LU.
_Table 2. Rumen degradation of OM (%) of leaves of trees and alfalfa_
om% loss(hrs)_al_ALE_LU_SE_SF
2 28.33 30.96 20.4 26.6 26.0
4 31.53 34.49 23.3 29.8 29.2
8 36.74 40.34 28.4 35.1 34.6
16 43.78 48.46 36.1 42.8 42.4
24 47.95 53.50 41.8 47.8 47.7
48 52.94 60.23 53.7 55.6 56.5
72 54.16 62.45 62.9 59.8 61.7
AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban;ALF Alfalfa; SF Sesbania fermuza
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To cite this paper: Balgees A., Elmnan A., Fadal Elseed A.M.A., Mahala A.G. and Amasiab E.O. 2013. In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds. World's Vet J. 3(2): 46-50. Journal homepage: http ://wvj.science-line. com/
Table 3. Rumen degradation (%) of CP of leaves of trees and alfalfa
CP loss % (hrs) AL ALF LU SE SF
2 40.60 43.94 41.22 34.58 42.14
4 44.28 48.31 46.44 39.11 47.58
8 50.25 55.30 54.55 46.96 56.52
16 58.16 64.46 64.56 58.80 68.70
24 62.76 69.79 69.85 66.86 75.95
48 68.19 76.28 75.29 78.67 84.48
72 69.59 77.99 76.32 82.42 86.39
AL Albizia lebbeck;; ALF Alfalfa; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban SF Sesbania fermuza
Figure 1. Rumen degradation of CP (%) of fodder leaves and alfalfa
(AL Albizia lebbeck; ALF Alfalfa; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; SF Sesbania fermuza)
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2 4 8 16 24 48 72
Time (h)
Figure 2. Rumen degradation of OM (%) of fodder leaves and alfalfa.
(AL Albizia lebbeck ALF Alfalfa; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; SF Sesbania fermuza)
Table 4. OM fractions degradability (%) of tree leaves and Alfa alfa
Parameters a b c PD 2% ED 5% 8%
SF 25.03ab 46.33ab 0.05 71.37a 57.80a 48.13a 43.00a
SE 19.70b 52.87a 0.04 72.60a 54.03a 42.37ab 36.67c
LU 23.77ab 36.70bc 0.07 60.47bc 52.67bc 45.70ab 41.50ab
AL 24.67ab 29.97c 0.06 54.63c 47.40b 41.40b 37.93bc
ALF 26.93a 37.37bc 0.06 64.33b 53.67ab 46.10ab 41.98ab
SEM 2.17 3.15 0.01 1.94 2.00 1.84 1.52
(a) Readly degradable fraction; (b) slow degradable fraction; (c) rate of degradable fraction; (ED) effective degradability; SEM standard error of the mean: a-c means with different superscripts in the same column were significantly different (P< 0.05). AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; ALF Alfalfa; SF Sesbania fermuza
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To cite this paper: Balgees A., Elmnan A., Fadal Elseed A.M.A., Mahala A.G. and Amasiab E.O. 2013. In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds. World's Vet. J. 3(2): 46-50. Journal homepage: http ://wvj.science-line. com/
Table 5. CP fractions degradability (%) of tree leaves and Alfalfa
Parameters a b c PD 2% ED 5% 8%
SF 35.93a 51.03a 0.07 87.00a 74.83a 64.63a 58.70a
SE 29.60b 54.60a 0.05 84.20a 68.10b 56.27cd 50.03c
LU 35.00ab 41.60b 0.08 76.60b 68.60b 60.30bc 55.60ab
AL 36.33a 33.93c 0.07 70.27c 62.03c 55.37d 51.50bc
ALF 38.83a 38.87bc 0.07 78.70b 69.07b 61.23ab 56.73a
SEM 1.92 2.19 0.01 1.43 1.24 1.37 1.33
(a) Readly degradable fraction; (b) slow degradable fraction; (c) rate of degradable fraction; (ED) effective degradability SEM standard error of the mean: a-d means with different superscripts in the same column were significantly different (P< 0.05). AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; ALF Alfa alfa; SF Sesbania fermuza
In vitro gas Production
Gas production of leaves of fodder tree and Alfalfa was presented in Table 6. The gas production increased with increasing incubation time. Fermentable parameters for leaves of fodder tree and Alfaalfa were presented in Table 7. There were no significant (P<0.05) differences among feeds in the rate of gas production (c). The gas volumes from soluble fraction (a) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in ALF and slow degraded fraction (b) was significantly (P<0.05) lower in AL and LU.
Table 6. Gas production (ml/500 mgDM) for tree leaves and alfalfa
Gas production (hrs ) 2 4 8 16 24 48 72
SF 9.08 18.25 32.64 53.72 67.22 80.97 84.86
SE 1.75 14.25 29.06 52.39 63.63 77.59 83.85
LU 6.67 12.33 25.08 34.85 50.38 59.06 62.46
AL 6.75 12.08 26.81 41.64 50.18 59.12 62.78
ALF 6.50 17.17 35.72 58.47 73.81 86.14 88.03
AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; ALF Alfalfa; SF Sesbania fermuza
Table 7.Gas production constants (ml/500 mgDM) for tree leaves and alfalfa
Parameters a b c
SF -2.21a 89.33a 0.07
SE -3.77a 88.43a 0.07
LU -1.11a 65.43b 0.05
AL -2.46a 64.84b 0.07
ALF -8.28b 97.57a 0.07
SEM 1.37 3.17 0.003
(a) Ready degradable fraction; (b) slow degradable fraction; (c) rate of degradable fraction SEM standard error of the mean: a-b means with different superscripts in the same column were significantly different (P< 0.05). AL Albizia lebbeck; LU Leucaena leucocephala; SE Sesbania sesban; ALF Alfalfa; SF Sesbania fermu
DISCUSSION
Generally there was no significant difference in DM, OM and ash content among fodder trees and alfalfa (control). Leaves of fodder trees had a higher CP content compared to Alfalfa. Feed containing less than 8% CP can'not provide the minimum ammonia level required by rumen microorganism to support optimum activity according to Kamalak et al. (2004). The leaves of fodder trees examined in this study have shown that the CP content was sufficiently high to warrant consideration of their as protein supplement to low quality diet. NDF and ADF content were significantly different among leaves of tree; this could be attributed to difference in species of fodder trees selected. The chemical composition of the AL, LU and SE leaves in the present study at in the range of the values that was reported by Smith (1991). High CP content and low NDF and ADF content suggest that browse trees with potential degradability as N supplement to ruminants that are fed with low quality roughage during dry season (Salem et al., 2006).
SF and SE had higher in-situ degradability parameters for OM and CP than ALF, AL and LU as can be seen in Tables 4 and 5. These differences are attributable to difference in the chemical composition of fodder trees. The ALF and AL had higher NDF and ADF content than SF and SE. This constituent of fodder trees and alfalfa were negatively correlated with extent and rate of degradability as well as potential and effective degradability of OM and CP. This is in agreement with other studies that attributed higher degradable of S. sesban to low content of NDF and ADF compared to Leucaena leucocephala (Melkau et al., 2003). Ramana et al. (2000) also reported that there is a strong negative correlation between DM degradability and NDF and ADF content. Leaves of AL and LU had the lowest value of total tannins, SE and SF had moderate tannins content. In ruminant dietary condensed tannin (2 - 5% in DM) has shown to have beneficial effects because they reduce the wasteful protein degradation in the rumen by forming protein - tannin complex, species with moderate level of tannin have higher proportion of escape protein than those without tannin (Kamalak, 2005).
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To cite this paper: Balgees A., Elmnan A., Fadal Elseed A.M.A., Mahala A.G. and Amasiab E.O. 2013. In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds. World's Vet. J. 3(2): 46-50. Journal homepage: http ://wvj.science-line. com/
There was no significant difference in degradation rate (c) of OM and CP among leaves of fodder trees and alfalfa and they had a moderate rate of degradation. This phenomenon may be desirable. Fast rate of degradation of feed may not always be desirable particularly with regard to the rate of N degradation. Extensive ruminal degradation of feed N to ammonia above the level that can be utilized for microbial protein synthesis or observed into rumen is converted into urea and excreted in urine; this will put a limit on animal production (Melkau et al., 2003).
Gas production
The increase in gas production of SF compared to AL and Lu emphasized the negative effect of NDF, ADF and tannins content on digestibility. Low rates and extent of gas production from in-vitro incubation of Lu and AL compared to SF was in agreement with observation of Melkau et al. (2003) who reported a lower extent (b) of gas production from in- vitro incubated Leuceana pallieda compared to S. sesban. Salem et al. (2006) also reported negative relation between gas production and concentration of tannins content in leaves.
CONCLUSION
Leaves from AL, SF, SE and Lu had higher CP content compared to alfalfa and low ADF and NDF content compared to grasses in tropics, high degradable OM, CP. The results conclusively revealed that the leaves of Albizia lebbeck, Sesbnia sesban, Leucana leucocphala and Sesbnia fermuza had great potential as livestock feed, especially during dry season. In general fodder trees and shrubs not only degraded fairly well and rapidly in the rumen supplying soluble carbohydrate and fermentable N to the rumen but also are digested post ruminally often at a higher level than tropical grasses and should therefore improve the intake and digestibility.
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To cite this paper: Balgees A., Elmnan A., Fadal Elseed A.M.A., Mahala A.G. and Amasiab E.O. Multipurpose tree Leaves and Alfalfa as Ruminant Feeds. World's Vet. J. 3(2): 46-50. Journal homepage: http ://wvj. science-line. com/
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2013. In- situ Degradability and In vitro Gas Production of Selected