Effects of various inulin levels on in vitro digestibility of corn silage, perennial ryegrass (&lt;i&gt;Lolium perenne&lt;/i&gt; L.) and common vetch (&lt;i&gt;Vicia sativa&lt;/i&gt; L.)/oat (&lt;i&gt;Avena sativa&lt;/i&gt; L.) hay

M Salman,B Genc,N Cetinkaya,Z Selcuk,M Acici

doi:10.4314/sajas.v47i5.16

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of various inulin levels on in vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVTDDM) and in vitro neutral detergent fibre digestibility (IVTDNDF) of corn silage (CS), perennial ryegrass (PR), and common vetch/oat hay (VO). Inulin was added to the fermenter at concentrations of 0 (CSC, PRC, VOC), 100 (CS100, PR100, VO100), 200 (CS200, PR200, VO200), and 300 (CS300, PR300, VO300) mg/litre of total culture fluid using an in vitro DaisyII incubator. Each fermenter contained 1600 ml buffer solution and 400 ml rumen fluid. The IVTDDM and IVTDNDF were determined with a DaisyII incubator and rumen fluid obtained from three cannulated Karayaka rams. The IVTDDM values (%) for PRC, PR100, PR200, and PR300 were 70.06 ± 1.133, 73.21 ± 4.153, 70.36 ± 0.506, and 66.69 ± 1.317, respectively. The effects of various inulin levels on IVTDDM and IVTDNDF values of PR were significant (P <0.05). The IVTDDM and IVTDNDF values for CS and VO were not significantly (P >0.05) different. Among the treatments, supplementation of inulin to CS and VO did not have a significant (P >0.05) effect on IVTDDM and IVTDNDF values. The high dose of inulin (PR300) reduced IVTDDM and IVTDNDF, whereas PR100 showed a statistically significant (P <0.05) increase on IVTDDM and IVTDNDF. However, in vivo studies with PR may be required to show the effects of various levels of inulin supplementation to support the IVTD findings of the current study.Keywords: Inulin, in vitro true digestibility, hay, silage

Highlights

Inulin is a stored complex carbohydrate of the fructans group in plants
Nutrients in forages such as silage, hay or fresh grass are fermented with enzymes produced by rumen microorganisms in ruminants
The neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) contents of perennial ryegrass (PR) in the present study were in accordance with the results of Faville et al (2010)

Summary

Introduction

Inulin is a stored complex carbohydrate of the fructans group in plants. It is estimated that inulin is produced by more than 36000 species of plants, with a large proportion of commercial inulin being obtained from the roots of chicory plants (Flickinger et al, 2003). Inulin is a linear multi-dispersible carbohydrate containing fructosyl-fructose residues with β-2,1-linkages (Waterhouse & Chatterton, 1993). Inulin is used as a feed additive for many animals, including rabbits, pigs, poultry, dogs, and cats (Samanta et al, 2013; Kozłowska et al, 2016). Kozłowska et al (2016) reported that inulin increases performance and carcass weight in poultry. Alzueta et al (2010) reported a significant effect of inulin on the digestibility of most amino acids and major fatty acids Inulin is used as a feed additive for many animals, including rabbits, pigs, poultry, dogs, and cats (Samanta et al, 2013; Kozłowska et al, 2016). Kozłowska et al (2016) reported that inulin increases performance and carcass weight in poultry. Alzueta et al (2010) reported a significant effect of inulin on the digestibility of most amino acids and major fatty acids

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Results