Chemical composition, <i>in vitro</i> gas and methane production and dry matter degradability of some browse plants in semi-arid zone of north eastern Nigeria

Abstract

Leaves from seven browse plants namely: Cassia siaberiana, Acacia seberiana, Buahinea nufescens, Diospyrus mispliformis, Analgeousus leocarpus, Combretum leati and Gerdena sokotensis were analysed to estimate the chemical composition, methane production and in vitro dry matter degradability at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours. Crude protein (CP) content ranged from 11.49 to 15.60% DM with Accacia sieberiana having the highest protein content. NDF, ADF and ADL ranged from 49.31 to 58.05,21.85 to 25.38 and 9.37 to 16.90 g/100g DM respectively. Total condensed tannin (TCT) ranged from 0.09 to 021 mg/g DM. in viro methane emission ranged from 1 to 9, 2 to 10, 4 to 15 and 7 to 25ml/200 ml DM at 24,48,72 and 96h incubation periods with Garderna sokotensis and Cassia sieberiana having the highest gas production (22.66 ml) at all incubation periods. The lowest methane value was obtained from Accacia siebriana at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours while Buahenia nufescens had the highest methane production at all incubation periods. The fermentation characteristic showed significant difference (P<0.05) for all the parameters. All the gas production parameters (a, b, a+b) were highest for Buahenia nufescens while the highest rate constant of gas production ‘c’ (0.054) was observed for Acacia sieberiana based on chemical composition and in vitro results. It was concluded that the browse forages studied can serve as supplements to ruminant animals with short incubation period.