Leaf meal from fodder trees and shrubs as protein source in ruminant rations

Results of the study (Chapter 1) showed that sundrying yielded significantly better results as regards feed composition and digestibility over oven-drying and air drying. Moringa olifera ranked highest in crude protein content followed by Leucaena leucocephala, Desmodium rensonii, Samanea saman, Flemengia macrophylla, Gliricidia sepium and Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184. F. macrophylla is the least digestible having the higest NDF [neutral detergent fiber] and ADF [acid detergent fiber] and lowest IVDMD [in vitro dry matter digestibility] and IVOMD [in vitro organic matter digestibility] values. No significant differences in CP [crude protein] content in the dry and wet season but NDF and ADF content were significantly (P0.01) higher in the dry season. Chapter 2 was in sacco evaluation of protein and dry matter disappearance in rice straw and leaf meal of fodder trees and shrubs with low and high tannin content in the rumen of cattle. Rice straw - (50 or 70%) based rations in combinations with five legume species with low tannin content (S. guianensis CIAT 184, L. leucocephala, D. rensonii and Desmanthus virgatus) and a legume containing high level of tannin (F. macrophylla at 0, 10 and 20%) were evaluated for protein solubility. The ration without Flemengia showed significantly higher amounts of protein disappearing from the nylon bags at all incubation periods indicating that the addition of 10 or 20% Flemengia lowered the amounts of soluble protein in the rumen. The effect of Flemengia in protecting CP content of the basal ration is shown in the lowering of effective degradation (ED) of protein in the rations. Desmodium ration showed significantly higher amount of protein disappearing from the nylon bags indicating the D. rensonii as a protein supplement is more soluble/degradable in the rumen compared to the other species. Leucaena had the highest soluble fraction of protein followed by by Stylo, Desmodium, Gliricidia and Desmanthus but effective degradation of protein was high with Desmodium. In chapter 3, leaf meals of G. sepium and S. saman were used as protein supplements for 15 mature drying goats of Saanen breed in a feeding trial at 50% of the ration dry matter. Milk yield composition showed no significant differences among the rations although results obtained from protein was lowest for concentrate supplementation hut highest for milkfat. Income over feed cost is in favor of feeding the leaf meals (15.46 and 16.04) vs. feeding concentrate (9.84)