1 research outputs found
Nutritional value of Acacia amentacea and parkinsonia texana grown in semiarid conditions
In order to evaluate the nutritional value of Parkinsonia texana and Acacia amentacea, two leguminosae species of the Tamaulipan scrubland, Northeastern Mexico, two experiments were carried out: the first tested the effects of season and browse species on chemical composition as nutritional variable to small ruminants;
the second tested the effect of the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on fermentation parameters. Foliage samples were collected from three sites. Data of chemical composition were analysed using analysis of variance for a bi-factorial arrangement, whereas the
effect of PEG was analysed by a strip plot design. Results of chemical composition were affected by interacting factors season*species as individually they were significantly different (P<0.001). Addition of PEG affected (P<0.001) fermentation parameters.
Significantly higher values of neutral detergent fibre (42%), condensed tannins (19%), purines (9 ÎĽmol), partitioning factor (PF) (6.1) and gross energy losses (GEL=6.7%) were found in A. amentacea, while P. texana
gave higher crude protein (18%), in vitro true organic matter digestibility (82%), metabolisable energy (ME) [2.1 Mcal/kg dry matter (DM)], A (183 mL), c (0.07/h) and L (0.86 h). Addition of PEG increased ME, and affected
(P<0.001) fermentation parameters A and c, while purines and PF decreased. Results indicate that chemical composition and fermentation parameters vary according to seasons and species. PEG addition increases the fermentation parameters, which indicates that PEG
counteracts the detrimental effects of secondary components of samples. Data suggest that using both species combined could supply necessary nutritional requirements to small ruminants in the Tamaulipan scrubland