In vitro ruminal and post-ruminal nutrients degradation due to varying proportions of Leucaena leucocephala added with corn oil in the ration

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of Leucaena leucocephala and corn oil supplemented to diet on in vitro ruminal and post-ruminal nutrient degradation using a two-stage in vitro technique. The four dietary treatments consisted of Pennisetum purpureum and concentrate in a 75:25 ratio with increasing levels of L. leucocephala (L0= 0%, L25= 25%, L50= 50%, and L75= 75%, DM basis) with three levels of corn oil (CO) (CO1= 0%, CO2= 1%, and CO3= 2% of the substrate) resulting in 12 treatment combinations that were randomly assigned to a 4×3 factorial design. The L75 and CO3 treatment decreased ruminal and total dry matter and organic matter degradation (p<0.001). Leucaena supplementation also increased ruminal and post ruminal protein degradation (rdN and pdN) while CO decreased the rdN and the pdN. To conclude, inclusion of Leucaena to the diet by 50% improved nutrients degradation, particularly ruminal and post-ruminal N degradation, while CO at 1% level negatively affected nutrient degradation in the rumen.

Keywords

• legume supplementation
• oil source
• rumen fermentation
• ruminal undegradable protein
• tannins