Nutritive evaluations of some browse tree foliages during the dry season: Secondary compounds, feed intake and in vivo digestibility in sheep and goats

Four browse tree foliages (Cassia fistula, Schinus molle, Chorisia speciosa and Eucalyptus camaldulensis), native to the semi-arid region of north Egypt, were harvested during the dry season and evaluated for nutritional quality by determination of levels of nutrient and secondary compounds, as well as feed intake and apparent digestibility in sheep and goats. The study consisted of four experiments conducted in sequential 28-day periods that were the same in all respects, except that a different foliage was evaluated in each experiment which used six adult male Rhmani sheep (35±2.3 kg body weight (BW) at the start of the study) and six crossbred goats (30±1.56 kg BW). Sheep and goats were randomly divided into two groups of three and offered foliage at a level equal to 1.3 of the previous days voluntary intake of fresh matter and a commercial concentrate, with or without 10 g/animal/d of PEG, at 10 g/kg of BW to meet 0.7 of maintenance metabolizable energy requirements. Foliage crude protein (CP) content ranged from 124 (S. molle) and 128 (C. speciosa) to 185 g/kg DM (C. fistula). Ether extract was highest (97 g/kg) in S. molle. C. fistula had the lowest neutral detergent fiber (NDFom), acid detergent fiber (ADFom) and acid detergent lignin (lignin(sa)), while E. camaldulensis had the highest values. Total phenolics (TP), condensed tannins (CT), saponins (SAP), alkaloids (ALKA), the aqueous fraction (AF) of lectins, polypeptides and starch, and essential oils (EO) were lowest in C. speciosa (29, 21, 3, 0, 4 g/kg DM and 0.40 ml/kg DM, respectively) and highest in E. camaldulensis (102, 68, 15, 5, 3 g/kg DM and 15 ml/kg DM, respectively). Levels of TP, CT, SAP, ALKA and EO were highly positively intercorrelated among foliages, although AF was weakly negatively correlated to all others. Goats consumed 3.9% more foliage dry matter (DM) than sheep per kg BW0.75, and their digestibility was about 8% higher, probably reflecting their better capacity to detoxify secondary compounds in the rumen than sheep. Levels of CT (and due to its correlations, also TP, SAP, ALKA and EO) was a strong predictor of DM intake of PEG unsupplemented foliages within both sheep and goats. PEG increased (P<0.05) intake of DM and its components in sheep and goats. Digestion of DM and NDFom were not affected by feeding PEG, although digestion of OM, EE and CP were higher (P<0.05). TP in tree foliages (and due to its correlations, also CT, SAP, ALKA and EO) was not a predictor of the proportional increase in DM with PEG feeding, which was best predicted by level of CP within foliage. Overall, C. speciosa, had the highest nutrient value for both sheep and goats, both without and with PEG feeding, S. molle and C. fistula were intermediate and E. camaldulensis had the lowest nutritive value

In vitro fermentation and microbial protein synthesis of some browse tree leaves with or without addition of polyethylene glycol

To assess the nutritional value of the leaf of four browse trees (Chorisia speciosa, Cassia fistula, Schinus molle, Eucalyptus camaldulensis), that are grown in semi-arid regions of northern Egypt, this study evaluated effects of incorporation of polyethylene glycol (PEG) on their nutritional value. In vitro gas production after 24 h of fermentation (IVGP24), volatile fatty acids (VFA), ammonia concentrations and microbial protein synthesis were determined, and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME) were estimated. The IVGP24, VFA and ammonia N concentrations varied (P<0.001) among browse species, with the IVGP24 and VFA highest (P<0.001) for C. speciosa, lowest (P<0.001) for E. camaldulensis, and intermediate for C. fistula and S. molle. C. speciosa had the highest (P<0.05) IVOMD, microbial protein synthesis, IVOMD and ME, while these measurements were lowest in E. camaldulensis and intermediate in the other browse leaves. In general, C. speciosa has the highest potential as a ruminant feed, the lowest being E. camaldulensis and S. molle, with C. fistula intermediate. Addition of PEG increased (P<0.001) IVGP24, VFA and ammonia N concentrations, as well as gas production (P<0.05). The highest overall improvement was for C. speciosa, intermediate for E. camaldulensis, and lowest for C. fistula and S. molle. Addition of PEG reduced (P<0.01) the amount and efficiency of microbial protein synthesis, and increased (P<0.001) IVOMD and ME in all leaves. The extent of the benefit of PEG on overall nutritive value varied somewhat by browse, with E. camaldulensis judged to have the largest overall improvement, C. fistula the lowest with C. speciosa and S. molle intermediate. However PEG addition did not change overall nutritive ranking of these browse leaves

Effects of exogenous enzymes, Lactobacillus acidophilus or their combination on feed performance response and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed sugarcane bagasse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC), exogenous enzymes of ZAD® (exogenous enzyme preparation) or their combination on feed conversion, and dressing of rabbits fed different treatments of sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Five rations were allotted randomly to five groups of New-Zealand White (NZW) rabbits (n=10) with initial live body weight of (838±42.4) g and 5 weeks of age. Rabbits were fed on diets with different sources of fiber as follows, (i) a control diet composed of 100% berseem hay and 0% SCB, (ii) 50% berseem hay and 50% untreated SCB (USCB), (iii) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with L. acidophilus (LAC), (iv) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with ZAD® (ZAD), and (v) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with a combination of LAC+ZAD® (LZ). Treatments of SCB with L. acidophilus, ZAD® and LAC+ZAD® had the highest feed conversion ratio than both USCB and control. The dressing percentage of rabbits that fed the LAC and LZ diets was higher (P<0.05) compared with that in the other groups. Performance index (PI) for LAC group was improved (P<0.05) compared to that for the other groups; however, PI for USCB group was the lowest (P<0.05). It could be concluded that treating SCB with L. acidophilus, exogenous enzymes of ZAD® or their combination improved feed conversion and performance with more positive effects with L. acidophilus than the other treatments

Effect of Mediterranean saltbush (Atriplex halimus) ensilaging with two developed enzyme cocktails on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation in sheep

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of feeding Atriplex halimus (AH) silage treated with two developed enzyme cocktails to sheep on feed intake, nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation. The AH silage was treated without or with 2 L of ZAD1® or ZAD2®/1000 kg with 5% molasses and ensiled for 30 days. Barley grain (300 g/head/day) was fed as an energy supplement once daily at 10.00 hours and AH silage with or without enzyme treatment was offered ad libitum to animals twice daily at 09.00 and 16.00 hours. Sheep were fed on four experimental forage diets comprised of AH silage and barley (D1), AH silage treated with ZAD1® and barley (D2), AH silage treated with ZAD2® and barley (D3) and AH silage treated with a combination of ZAD1® and ZAD2® (1:1) and barley (D4). Ensiling AH with enzymes reduced its contents of neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. The dry matter intake of AH of D2, D3 and D4 decreased (P < 0.001) as compared to D1. However, enzyme-treated diets had greater total digestible nutrients intake (P < 0.001) as compared to D1. The nutrients digestibility for D2, D3 and D4 were higher than those for D1 (P < 0.001), and were higher for D3 as compared to both D2 and D4. Sheep fed on D3 had highest (P < 0.001) ruminal total volatile fatty acids concentration, ammonia nitrogen concentration and microbial protein yield. It could be concluded that AH silage treated with ZAD1® or ZAD2® improved digestibility and rumen fermentation in sheep

Feed intake, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen utilization, and ruminal fermentation activities in sheep fed Atriplex halimus ensiled with three developed enzyme cocktails

The effects of feeding Atriplex halimus treated with three developed enzyme cocktails to Barki sheep on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, N utilization, and ruminal fermentation were assessed. A. halimus was ensiled with two developed enzyme cocktails of ZAD1® (Z1) and/or ZAD2® (Z2) as liquid enzyme preparations (2 l/t) with 5% molasses and ensiled for 30 days. Three Barki rams (45 ± 3.2 kg) were used per treatment in five consecutive digestibility trials, while three ewes fitted with a permanent rumen fistula were used as source of inoculum for in vitro rumen fermentation trials. Barley grain (300 g/animal/day) was fed as energy supplement during the experimental trial for all diets. Five diets were composed as follows: A. halimus (leaves and stems) (D1); untreated A. halimus plus 4 g/animal/day ZADO® (Z) (enzyme preparation in powder form) (D2); A. halimus ensiled with Z1 and barley plus 4 g/animal/day Z (D3); A. halimus ensiled with Z2 and barley (D3) plus 4 g/animal/day Z (D4); A. halimus ensiled with a combination of Z1 and Z2 (1 :1) and barley plus 4 g/head/day Z (D5). For all trials, ad libitum A. halimus was offered twice a day at 9:00 and 16:00 h while barley grain was given once a day at 10:00 h. Both D1 and D2 diets increased (P <0.001) dry matter intake of A. halimus and total dry matter intake. Addition of 4 g/day of Z to Z1 and/or Z2 ensiled diets improved (P < 0.0001) organic matter, crude protein, crude fibre, and neutral detergent fibre digestibilities. Diets D1 and D2 increased (P < 0.001) N intake, whereas the direct addition of Z to D3, D4, and D5 decreased (P < 0.001) N balance and N balance/N absorption ratio. Sheep fed on Z in addition to Z2 ensiled A. halimus showed higher improvements for total volatile fatty acids (P < 0.001), ammonia N (P = 0.007), and microbial protein production (P = 0.003). It can be concluded that feeding sheep on A. halimus ensiled with Z1 and Z2 with direct feeding of Z enzyme preparation improved intake, digestibility, nitrogen balance and utilization, as well as rumen fermentation

EFFECTS OF EXOGENOUS ENZYMES ON NUTRIENTS DIGESTIBILITY AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE IN SHEEP AND GOATS

Six crossbred sheep (32.00±0.603 kg BW) and 6 Baladi goats (18.00±0.703 kg BW) were used in 2×2 factorial design to evaluate the effect of exogenous enzymes of ZADO® (i.e., ENZ) and on digestibility and growth performance. Animals were fed on wheat straw ad libitum and restricted amount of commercial concentrate with (+ENZ) or without (-ENZ) 10 g/animal/day of ZADO to cover 120% of their maintenance requirements. Nutrients digestibilities were increased (

Effects of exogenous enzymes, Lactobacillus acidophilus or their combination on feed performance response and carcass characteristics of rabbits fed sugarcane bagasse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lactobacillus acidophilus (LAC), exogenous enzymes of ZAD® (exogenous enzyme preparation) or their combination on feed conversion, and dressing of rabbits fed different treatments of sugarcane bagasse (SCB). Five rations were allotted randomly to five groups of New-Zealand White (NZW) rabbits (n=10) with initial live body weight of (838±42.4) g and 5 weeks of age. Rabbits were fed on diets with different sources of fiber as follows, (i) a control diet composed of 100% berseem hay and 0% SCB, (ii) 50% berseem hay and 50% untreated SCB (USCB), (iii) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with L. acidophilus (LAC), (iv) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with ZAD® (ZAD), and (v) 50% berseem hay and 50% SCB treated with a combination of LAC+ZAD® (LZ). Treatments of SCB with L. acidophilus, ZAD® and LAC+ZAD® had the highest feed conversion ratio than both USCB and control. The dressing percentage of rabbits that fed the LAC and LZ diets was higher (P<0.05) compared with that in the other groups. Performance index (PI) for LAC group was improved (P<0.05) compared to that for the other groups; however, PI for USCB group was the lowest (P<0.05). It could be concluded that treating SCB with L. acidophilus, exogenous enzymes of ZAD® or their combination improved feed conversion and performance with more positive effects with L. acidophilus than the other treatments