Nutrition evaluation of an unconventional for ruminants estimated by the in vitro fermentation system | IJB_INNSPUB
By: Ping Sheng, Jiangli Huang, Li He, Shaoshi Ji, Zhihong Zhang, Dongsheng Wang, Yizun Yu, Shaoxun Tang, Jiannan Ding
For sustainable intensification of ruminant industries, it would be wise to explore the potential of unconventional feedstuff resources. Chinese medicine residue (CMR) is of interest due to its high nutrient, low cost and large quantities, indicating its potential as an unconventional feedstuff for ruminants. In this study, in vitro ruminal fermentation technique was used to evaluate the potential ruminant feedstuff. The chemical analysis showed that CMR had higher concentrations of crude protein and lower concentrations of crude fiber, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber than those of some conventional feedstuff, such as peanut vines, chinese sedge and rice straw, indicating its high nutritional quality. Cumulative gas production was recorded at 6, 12, 18, 24 and 48 h of incubation periods and the pH, ammonia-N (NH3-N), microbial protein production (MCP) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) were estimated at 48 h of incubation period.
Our results showed that the fermentation gas volume was greatest in CMR group, followed by peanut vines and chinese sedge group, and the gas volume in rice straw group was only 53.60 % of that from CMR group at 24 h. For MCP and VFA, CMR group also showed the highest value (MCP: 1.34 mg/ml; VFA: 4.33 mg/ml) than other groups, whereas rice straw group showed the least value (MCP: 1.03 mg/ml; VFA: 3.09 mg/ml). Besides that, we also found that the acetate to propionate ratio (A/P) was significantly lower in CMR group (1.21) than others. Based on these results therefore, Chinese medicine residue could be a valuable alternative unconventional animal feed source in ruminant feeding and could economize the ruminants production.
Original Source of Articles: Nutrition evaluation of an unconventional for ruminants estimated by the in vitro fermentation system
