Abstract
<p class="abstrak2">This experiment was carried out to determine the effect of mulberry-leucaena foliage mixed feed on protein digestibility and VFA production using an in vitro gas production study. Mulberry was mixed with one of 2 leucaena varieties (<em>Leucaena leucocephala</em> hybrid and <em>Leucaena leucocephala</em> local) at 3 levels (0, 25 and 50%). Study was conducted in completely randomized design. Mulberry foliage, leucaena and mixtures of mulberry-leucaena were incubated for 24 hours in glass syringes. Parameter recorded were gas production, in vitro true dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD), in vitro N digestibility (IVND) and VFA production. Results of the study showed that supplementation of leucaena to mulberry decreased IVOMD, gas production and protein digestibility in the rumen buffered medium. The mixture of mulberry and leucaena hybrid at ratio 50% resulted in the lowest IVND than other treatment. However it increased protein digestibility in acid pepsin incubation as an estimate of protein availability in intestine. Gas production decreased in mulberry leucaena mixtures was followed by decreased total VFA production. Tannin derived from leucaena hybrid supplementation to mulberry at ratio 1 : 1 was most effective to decrease protein digestion in the rumen and to increase protein digestibility in acid pepsin incubation. In conclusion mixing of hybrid leucaena hybrid with mulberry foliage was able to protect protein degradation from mulberry in the rumen.</p>
Highlights
The key of successful and sustainable ruminant farming in tropical conditions is dependent on the attempt to formulate reliable cheap feeding strategy based on resource availability
In this study though gas production of mulberry was reduced when it was mixed with leucaena, but in mixture mulberry leucaena hybrid 50% (M/Leucaena Hybrid (LH)= 1 : 1) its IVTOMD was not significantly decreased (Table 3)
In Leucaena hybrid, though its gas production was significantly lower than other diets treatment, its IVTOMD was comparable to other diets except for mulberry
Summary
The key of successful and sustainable ruminant farming in tropical conditions is dependent on the attempt to formulate reliable cheap feeding strategy based on resource availability. This is due to the scarcity and fluctuation in quantity and quality of year round supply of conventional feeds. The high cost of imported concentrate led to seeking for alternative locally available forages for ruminants feed. This effort has practical implication because it is easy to adopt by small scale farmers. After 24 hours incubation, the protein of mulberry was degraded more than 80% in the rumen regardless of dietary treatments of the sheep (Yulistiani et al 2008). Gemeda & Hassen (2015) reported that, in vitro incubation of mulberry (Morus alba) produced highest NH3N among the tropical browse plants from South Africa, indicating that protein in mulberry was highly degradable in the rumen resulting in the loss of valuable essential amino acid sources for host animals
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call