Nitrogen utilisation and rumen function in Menz rams supplemented with foliages of Lablab purpureus or graded levels of Leucaena pallida 14203 and Sesbania sesban 1198
Solomon MelakuAlemaya University, PO Box 138, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia. Email: solmelay@yahoo.com
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 55(11) 1117-1124 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR03246
Submitted: 25 November 2003 Accepted: 23 September 2004 Published: 26 November 2004
Abstract
Thirty-five male Menz rams (19.3 ± 0.87 kg, mean ± s.d.) fed on a basal diet of tef (Eragrostis tef) straw were used in a randomised block design to study the effects of supplementing with one level of Lablab purpureus (lablab), at 1.2% LW (230 g DM/day), and 3 graded levels of Leucaena pallida 14203 or Sesbania sesban 1198 at 0.9% LW (170 g DM/day), 1.2% LW (230 g DM/day), and 1.5% LW (290 g DM/day) on nitrogen (N) intake, microbial N yield, N retention, levels of rumen pH, and ammonia N. Five rams were used in each of the 7 treatments. The rams were adapted to treatment feeds for 3 weeks, followed by the collection of faeces and urine for 7 days by keeping them in metabolic cages. Graded levels of L. pallida resulted in lower (P < 0.001) daily microbial N yield and lower (P < 0.001) efficiency of microbial N yield per kg organic matter digested in the rumen and per MJ metabolisable energy than graded levels of S. sesban. Urinary N excretion was higher (P < 0.001) in S. sesban and Lablab supplemented animals than those supplemented with L. pallida, and the opposite was true for faecal and total N excretion. However, these did not result in treatment differences in N retention. L. pallida promoted lower (P < 0.001) mean rumen NH3-N level and higher mean rumen pH than the other supplement feeds. It is concluded that the lowest level of either L. pallida or S. sesban supplementation was adequate to promote comparable N retention to the 2 higher levels of supplementation.
Additional keywords: tef straw; fodder tree legumes; microbial N yield.
Acknowledgments
The author is grateful to the German Academic Exchange Services (DAAD) and the International Livestock Research Institute for financial support, and Alemaya University, Ethiopia, for granting a study leave.
AFRC
(1992) Agricultural and Food Research Council, Nutritive requirements of ruminant animals: protein. Nutrition Abstracts and Reviews [Series B] 62, 787–835.
Ahn JH,
Elliot R, Norton BW
(1997) Oven drying improves the nutritional value of Calliandra calothyrsus and Gliricidia sepium as supplements for sheep given low-quality straw. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 75, 503–510.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
AOAC (1990).
Chen XB,
Hovell FD,
De B,
Ørskov ER, Brown DS
(1990b) Excretion of purine derivatives by ruminants; effect of exogenous nucleic acid supply on purine derivatives excretion by sheep. The British Journal of Nutrition 63, 131–142.
| PubMed |
Chen XB,
Mathieson J,
Hovell FD,
De B, Reeds PJ
(1990a) Measurement of purine derivatives in urine of ruminants using automated methods. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 53, 23–33.
Elliot R, McMeniman NP
(1987) Supplementation of ruminant diets with forage. ‘The nutrition of herbivores’. (Eds JB Hacker, JH Ternouth)
(Academic Press: Sydney)
Hove L,
Topps JH,
Sibanda S, Ndlovu LR
(2001) Nutrient intake and utilization by goats fed dried leaves of shrub legumes Acacia angustissima, Calliandra calothyrsus and Leucaena leucocephala as supplements to native pasture hay. Animal Feed Science and Technology 91, 95–106.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Komolong MK,
Barber DG, McNeill DM
(2001) Post-ruminal protein supply and N retention of weaner sheep fed on a basal diet of lucerne hay (Medicago sativa) with increasing levels of quebericho tannins. Animal Feed Science and Technology 92, 59–72.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krebs G, Leng RA
(1984) The effect of supplementation with molasses/urea blocks on ruminal digestion. Proceedings of Australian Society of Animal Production 15, 704–711.
Krishnamoorthy U,
Steingass H, Menke KH
(1991) Preliminary observations on the relationships between gas production and microbial protein synthesis in vitro. Archieves Tierernährung 41, 521–526.
Kumar R, Vaithiyanathan S
(1990) Occurrence, nutritional significance and effect on animal productivity of tannins in tree leaves. Animal Feed Science and Technology 30, 21–38.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mangan JL
(1988) Nutritional effects of tannins in animal feeds. Nutrition Research Review I, 209–231.
McSweeney CS,
Palmer B,
McNeill DM, Krause DO
(2001) Microbial interactions with tannins: nutritional consequences for ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology 91, 83–93.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mehrez AZ,
Ørskov ER, McDonald I
(1977) Rates of rumen fermentation in relation to ammonia concentration. The British Journal of Nutrition 38, 437–443.
| PubMed |
Melaku S,
Peters KJ, Tegegne A
(2003) In vitro and in situ evaluation of selected multipurpose trees, wheat bran and Lablab purpureus as potential feed supplements to tef (Eragrostis tef) straw. Animal Feed Science and Technology 108, 159–179.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mould FL, Ørskov ER
(1983) Manipulation of rumen fluid pH and its influence on cellulolysis in sacco, dry matter degradation and the rumen microflora in sheep offered either hay or concentrate. Animal Feed Science and Technology 10, 1–14.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mould FL,
Ørskov ER, Mann SO
(1983) Associative effects of mixed feeds. I. Effects of type and level of supplementation and the influence of the rumen fluid pH on cellulolysis in vivo and dry matter digestion of various roughages. Animal Feed Science and Technology 10, 15–30.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Norton BW, Ahn JH
(1997) A comparison of fresh and dried Calliandra calothyrsus supplements for sheep given a basal diet of barley straw. The Journal of Agricultural Science [Cambridge]. 129, 485–494.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Nunez-Hernandez G,
Holecheck JL,
Wallace JD,
Galyean ML,
Tembo A,
Valdez R, Cardenas M
(1989) Influence of native shrubs on nutritional status of goats: nitrogen retention. Journal of Range Management 42, 228–232.
Ørskov ER, Miller EL
(1988) Protein evaluation in ruminants. ‘Feed Science’. (Ed. ER Ørskov)
pp. 103–127. (Elsevier Science Publishing Company Inc.: Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
Owens FN, Zinn R
(1988) Protein metabolism of ruminant animals. ‘The Ruminant Animal Digestive Physiology and Nutrition’. (Ed. DC Church.)
pp. 227–249. (Waveland Press Inc.: Prospect Hights, IL)
Reed JD,
Horvath PJ,
Allen MS, Van Soest PJ
(1985) Gravimetric determination of soluble phenolics including tannins from leaves by precipitation with trivalent ytterbium. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 36, 255–261.
Reed JD, Soller H
(1987) Phenolics and nitrogen utilization in sheep fed browse.
‘Herbivore nutrition research: 2nd International Symposium on Nutrition of Herbivores’. 6–10 July. (Ed. M Rose )
pp. 47–48. (University of Queensland Press: Brisbane)
Reed JD,
Soller H, Woodward A
(1990) Fodder tree and stover diets for sheep: intake, growth, digestibility and effects of phenolics on nitrogen utilization. Animal Feed Science and Technology 30, 39–50.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Reed JD
(1995) Nutritional toxicology of tannins and related polyphenols in forage legumes. Journal of Animal Science 73, 1516–1523.
| PubMed |
Russel JB,
Stobel HJ, Martin SA
(1990) Strategies of nutrient transport by ruminal bacteria. Journal of Dairy Science 73, 2996–3012.
| PubMed |
SAS (1996).
Satter LD, Slyter LL
(1974) Effect of ammonia concentration on microbial protein production in vitro. The British Journal of Nutrition 32, 199–208.
| PubMed |
Siddons RC,
Nolan JV,
Beever DE, McRae JC
(1985) Nitrogen digestion and metabolism in sheep consuming diets containing contrasting forms and levels of N. The British Journal of Nutrition 54, 175–187.
| PubMed |
Silanikove N,
Perevolotsky A, Provenza FD
(2001) Use of tannin–binding chemicals to assay for tannins and their negative post-ingestive effects in ruminants. Animal Feed Science and Technology 91, 69–81.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
StatSoft Inc. (1995).
Stewart CS
(1977) Factors affecting the cellulolytic activity of rumen contents. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 33, 497–502.
Van Soest PJ,
Robertson JB, Lewis BA
(1991) Methods for dietary fiber, neutral detergent fiber and non-starch polysaccharides in relation to animal nutrition. Journal of Dairy Science 74, 3583–3597.
| PubMed |
Young EG, Conway CF
(1942) On the estimation of allantoin by the Rimini Schryver reaction. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 142, 839–852.
