ASSESSMENT OF CHEMICAL COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO DEGRADATION PROFILE OF SOME GUINEA SAVANNAH BROWSE PLANTS OF NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was conducted to estimate the nutritive value of six indigenous browse fodders (Etanda africana, Piliostigma thonningii, Detarium microcarpum, Daniellia oliveri, Pterocarpus erinaceus, and Afzelia africana) by the evaluation of chemical composition, anti-nutritional factors and in vitro gas characteristics. All samples (g/100g DM) had high CP (12.6–24.7), moderate ï¬bre concentrations (NDF, 34.7–54.6; ADF, 19.7–35.2 and lignin, 7.36–12). There were significant differences (P < 0.05) in NDF, ash, ether extract, hemicellulose, cellulose and mineral concentrations among the browse fodders. Except for condensed tannins which were similar among the browse fodders, other anti-nutritional factors were different (P < 0.05). The relative feed values of the selected legume browses ranged from 114.43 in E. africana to 202.94 in A. africana. Gas volume (ml/200mg DM), methane (ml/200mg DM), methane/total gas volume (v:v), metabolisable energy (MJ/kg DM), organic matter digestibility (%), short chain fatty acids (μmol) and in vitro dry matter degradability ( %) ranged from 19-34, 8.66-11.33, 0.29-0.46, 4.53-6.48, 35.73-49.06, 0.15-0.43 and 46-67 respectively. Results show that the browse species have good nutrient profile, low and safe levels of anti-nutritional factors and relatively high degradability which qualify them as suitable feed supplements to low quality basal diets for ruminants.