Nutrients digestion, fermentation, gas production and partition factor of Sehima nervosum -tree foliage diets in sheep and goat inoculums

Abstract

Dietary combinations of Sehima-nervosum-SN grass with tree leaves and shrubs 5 each in 50:50 and 75:25 proportions were evaluated for in vitro fermentation, nutrients degradation, metabolites production, gas production and partition factor in sheep and goat inoculums. SN at 50: 50 ratio with tree leaves and shrubs had higher (P<0.05) CP and lower NDF, ADF and cellulose than at 75:25 ratio. Mean nutrients degradability of diets differ (P<0.05) in both sheep and goat inoculums, while mean CP digestibility of diets was higher at 50:50 ratio of SN-tree foliage in both species. SN-SV (Securengia virosa) diets had highest nutrients digestibility against the lowest from SN-HB (Hardwickia binata) and SN-DC (Dichrostachys cineria) diets in both species inoculums. SN-DC diet had higher nutrients digestibility in goat inoculum while nutrients digestibility from other diets was at par with sheep inoculums. Mean concentration of TVFA (meq/l), total-N and NH3 -N (mg/100ml) from SN-SV and SN-LL (Leucaena leucocephala) diets was more both in sheep (79.50, 50.40 and12.60; and 73.50, 43.40 and 10.50) and goat inoculums (73.50, 57.40 and 13.65; and 77.50, 44.80 and 10.15), while SN-AC (Acacia catechu), SN-DC and SN-HB diets had lower production of these metabolites in rumen liquor of both species. Diets with SN: leaves of trees/shrubs in 50:50 ratio had higher totalN contents in goat inoculum. Mean gas production (ml/g/ 24 h), IVDMD and partition factor (PF) varied (P<0.05) amongst the SN-tree foliage based diets. Sheep had higher gas production at 75:25 ratio (143.11) than 50:50 ratio of grass-tree foliage diets (130.24 ml/g). Mean gas was higher at 75:25 ratio of grass-tree foliage diets in both species. Results revealed that dietary combinations of SN grass with SV, LL and GO had higher nutrients digestibility and more metabolites (TVFA, total-N and ammonia-N) production on fermentation in rumen inoculums of both sheep and goats.