Premium
Buffer nitrogen solubility, in vitro ruminal partitioning of nitrogen and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves of four fodder tree species
Author(s) -
Cudjoe N.,
Mlambo V.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of animal physiology and animal nutrition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.651
H-Index - 56
eISSN - 1439-0396
pISSN - 0931-2439
DOI - 10.1111/jpn.12130
Subject(s) - leucaena leucocephala , rumen , condensed tannin , tannin , proanthocyanidin , fodder , biology , fermentation , solubility , ruminant , botany , legume , leucaena , gigantea , food science , chemistry , zoology , agronomy , biochemistry , polyphenol , pasture , organic chemistry , antioxidant
Summary This study explores the chemical composition, buffer N solubility, in vitro ruminal N degradability and in vitro ruminal biological activity of tannins in leaves from G liricidia sepium , L eucaena leucocephala , M orus alba and T richanthera gigantea trees. These tree leaves are a potential protein source for ruminants, but their site‐influenced nutritive value is largely unknown. L eucaena leucocephala leaves had the highest N content (42.1 g/kg DM ), while T . gigantea leaves had the least (26.1 g/kg DM ). Leucaena leucocephala had the highest buffer solubility index (20%), while 10% of the total N in leaves of the other three species was soluble. The rapidly fermentable N fraction ‘ a ’ was highest in M . alba leaves (734.9 g/kg DM ) and least in T . gigantea leaves (139.5 g/kg DM ). The rate of fermentation ( c ) was highest for M . alba (7%/hours) leaves. No significant correlations were recorded between buffer solubility index of N and in vitro ruminal N degradability parameters: a , b , and c . The highest response to tannin inactivation using polyethylene glycol, in terms of percentage increase in 36‐hours cumulative gas production, was recorded in M . alba (39%) and T . gigantea (38%) leaves. It was concluded that buffer solubility of N is not a good indicator of ruminal N degradation in the leaves of these tree species. Leaves of M . alba could be more valuable as a source of rapidly fermentable N when animals are offered low‐protein, high‐fibre diets compared with other tree species evaluated in the current study. However, when feeding M . alba leaves, the role of tannins must be considered because these secondary plant compounds showed significant in vitro ruminal biological activity.