Feeding Value Assessment of Five Varieties Whole-Plant Cassava in Tropical China

Abstract

The feeding value of five varieties of whole-plant cassava (SC5, SC7, SC9, SC14, and SC205) was assessed through analysis of the nutritional composition and in situ ruminal degradability. The results showed abundant nutrients in whole-plant cassava, and the means of starch and crude protein (CP) were 267.7 and 176.8 (g kg−1), and ranged from 223.7 g kg−1 (SC9) to 296.4 g kg−1 (SC14) and from 142.4 g kg−1 (SC5) to 195.8 g kg−1 (SC9) (p −1 in SC9 to 286.6 g kg−1 in SC14 (p −1 (p p −1 (p p −1, respectively. Collectively, all varieties of whole-plant cassava had a high feeding value, as reflected by abundant starch, minerals, amino acid, and water-soluble carbohydrates, while having a low fiber content and HCN toxicity, as well as excellent ruminal digestibility characteristics, and they could be used as a potential feed resource for ruminants.

Keywords

• whole-plant cassava
• amino acids
• hydrogen cyanide acid
• mineral
• ruminal degradability