Nutritional Value and in Situ Degradability of Selected Forages, Browse Trees and Agro Industrial by-Products

Abstract

The in situ dry matter and crude protein degradability of grasses, legumes, browse trees and agro industrial by products were evaluated by three fistulated bulls (Boran × Holstein-Friesian with mean body weight 580 kg and age= 29±3 months). The lower (P < 0.05) crude protein content was reported in Bracharia grass than the other grasses. The higher (P < 0.05) washing loss rapidly soluble nutrients (a) in Bracharia and Rhodes grasses and the greater (P< 0.05) potential and effective degradability for dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) were observed in desho grass compared with the other grasses. The content of crude protein, relative feed value, washing loss or rapidly soluble nutrients (a) and potential DM degradability were higher (P< 0.05) in Sesbania than Pigeon pea and tree lucerne browse trees. Acacia nilotica and Wanza (Cordia African) had the greater (P< 0.05) washes loss (a), potential and effective degradability for dry matter and crude protein than the other browse trees. Cactus (Cleistocactus sextoianus) and Shola (Ficus sure) had the highest (P< 0.05) undegradable protein than Acacia nilotica and Wanza (Cordia african). The energy source feed (maize bran) had the greater (P < 0.05) potential and effective dry matter and crude protein degradability parameters than the other by products. The rumen undegradable protein was higher (P < 0.05) in vetch than lablab. The rumen undegradable protein was higher (P < 0.05) in Rhodes grass than the other forage grasses. Brewery spent grain and cotton seed cake have the higher (P < 0.05) rumen undegradable protein than Noug seed (Guizotia abyssinica) cake, wheat and maize bran. The in situ dry matter and crude protein degradability values obtained in this study can be useful to identifying the best materials used for ruminant feeds.