Evaluation of Mulberry (Morus alba) as Potential Feed Supplement for Ruminants: The Effect of Plant Maturity on In situ Disappearance and In vitro Intestinal Digestibility of Plant Fractions

D Saddul,Z A Jelan,R A Halim,J B Liang

doi:10.5713/ajas.2005.1569

Abstract

The in situ nylon bag degradation and in vitro intestinal digestibility of dry matter (DM), and crude protein (CP) of mulberry (Morus alba) plant fractions was studied at four harvest stages, 3 (W3), 5 (W5), 7 (W7) and 9 (W9) weeks. Degradability of DM and CP of the whole plant and stem fractions declined significantly (p W5 and W7>W9 and W3>W5>W7>W9, respectively. The degradation of DM and CP of the leaf fraction was also influenced by plant maturity but no trend was observed. The degradation of DM and CP of the whole plant and leaves increased rapidly during the first 48 and 24 h of incubation, respectively, when maximum degradation was reached. In vitro intestinal digestibility of CP was more influenced by the residence time in the rumen than by plant maturity. This study showed that mulberry is suitable as a supplement, particularly to low-quality roughages, in providing a source of rapidly available nitrogen to the rumen microbes, hence improving the roughage degradability and intake.

Highlights

This study showed that mulberry is suitable as a supplement, to low-quality roughages, in providing a source of rapidly available nitrogen to the rumen microbes, improving the roughage degradability and intake.(Asian-Aust
The results showed the high ruminal degradability of mulberry, which declined significantly with maturity, with more pronounced effects in the whole plant and the stem compared to the leaf fraction
Taking into account the significant effects of plant maturity on the nutritional composition (CP, Acid detergent fibre (ADF) and neutral detergent fibre (NDF)), leaf to stem ratio and the degradation pattern of mulberry, it can be concluded that mulberry re-growths are best harvested at 5week intervals

Summary

INTRODUCTION

Fodder trees have been shown to have tremendous potential as protein supplements (Devendra, 1993; Leng et al, 1993; Thorne et al, 1999) to provide soluble nitrogen, by-pass protein, whilst providing a source of energy and minerals, which are required by the rumen microorganisms. Mulberry has been shown to have positive effects on rumen functions and body metabolism and is suitable for improving the efficiency of utilization of low-quality fodder (Yao et al, 2000; Liu et al, 2002; Singh and Makkar, 2002). A first study recently conducted in Malaysia to evaluate its potential productivity under local conditions has been conclusive with respect to the nutritional composition of the whole plant as well as the leaves (Saddul et al, 2003)

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION