Rumen degradability and In vitro fermentation pattern in concentrate mixtures containing varying levels of Moringa oleifera (Moringa) leaves Potu Ramesh Babu1,*, Nagalakshmi D.2, Venkateswarlu M.2, Rao S. V. Rama3, Swathi B.4 College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500030, India 1Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University, Proddatur, Andhra Pradesh, 516360, India 2Department of Animal Nutrition, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500030, India 3Directorate of Poultry Research, ICAR, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500030, India 4Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Science, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500030, India *Correspondence: drrameshbabu4u@gmail.com
Online published on 22 March, 2023. Abstract A study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro gas production (IVGP), nutrient degradabilities and fermentation characteristics of concentrate mixtures containing varying levels of Moringao leifera (moringa) leaves. The control concentrate mixture was prepared with maize grain, de-oiled rice bran, cotton seed cake and soybean meal as major ingredients. The other 7 iso-nitrogenous (20% CP) concentrate mixtures were prepared by partially replacing de-oiled rice bran and cotton seed cake with moringa (MOR) leaves at varying levels (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35%). The IVGP (ml/500mg DM) and in vitro dry matter degradability (%), in vitro organic matter degradability (%) and in vitro neutral detergent fibre degradability (%) gradually increased (P<0.01) from 0 to 30% and comparable at 35%. The partitioning factor and microbial biomass production (MBP) (mg/500mg) was highest at 5% and then decreased gradually with MOR leaves inclusion. The metabolizable energy (ME) (MJ/kg) was gradually increased from 0 to 25% inclusion of MOR and comparable at higher levels. Ammonia - N (mg/40 ml) and pH was highest at lower levels (0 to 10 and 0 to 15%) and then gradually decreased, while total volatile fatty acids (mmol/40 ml) increased and highest at 25% and then decreased with inclusion of MOR leaves in concentrate mixtures. It could be concluded that MOR leaves at higher levels (30-35%) can be included in concentrate mixtures as it improved IVGP and nutrient degradabilities. Top Keywords Ammonia-N, Concentrate mixture, In vitro gas production, Moringa leaves. Top |