In Vitro Digestibility of Imperata Cylindrica Straw Associated with Multinutrient Block with Inclusion of Different Levels of Tithonia Diversifolia Leaves

Abstract

Recent research suggests that the development of multinutrient feed blocks with inclusion of tree and shrub leaves could improve the nutritive value and digestibility of straw. In order to test these possibilities, a study of the effect of the source of rumen fluid and multinutrient block with inclusion of different levels of Tithonia diversifolia leaves on in vitro digestibility of Imperata cylindrica straw was carried out between February and July 2012. Two sources of rumen fluid (sheep and goats) and three types of blocks namely: BMN0 (wheat bran: 100%; leaves of T. diversifolia: 0%), BMN50 (wheat bran 50%, leaves of T. diversifolia: 50%) and BMN100 (wheat bran: 0%; leaves of T. diversifolia: 100%) were used for this study. A sample of I. cylindrica straw and each block were collected and dried in the laboratory for the chemical composition analysis and in vitro digestibility tests. The results of this study showed that inclusion of T. diversifolia leaves has enhanced the levels of crude protein of the blocks. The ME, IVOMD, IVDMD, MM and PF of I. cylindrica straw obtained both in sheep and goats was improved when associated with MNB0. The IVOMD of I. cylindrica straw incubated alone or mixed with MNB with inclusion of T. diversifolia leaves was significantly (p