Open AccessNITRATE AND NITRITE IN RUMINANTS' BROWSE LEAVES
Author(s) -
C. F. I. Onwuka
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
nigerian journal of animal production
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 0331-2062
DOI - 10.51791/njap.v21i1.1147
Subject(s) - nitrite , nitrate , zoology , horticulture , biology , chemistry , ecology
The Nitrate (N03) and Nitrite (NO2) concentrations were determined in some 37 browse leaves usually fed to ruminants. Concentrations of nitrates obtained ranged from 0.00 to 2790 mg, 2050 mg and 1540 mg per 100 g DM respectively in the leaves of trees, shrubs and herbs/grass while those of nitrite were also from 0.00 to 840, 80 and 441 mg respectively. per 100 g DM of leaves. NO2concetration was generally lower than N03 in most of the leaves analysed. Feeding trials with goats indicated average NO2 intake of 5.25 to 415.75 mg/d/wkg0.734 while the respective DM intake values were between 22.34±5.01 and 85.36±3.78 g/d/Wkg0.734. Mortalities were not recorded ail through the experimental period.