NUTRIENT COMPOSITION AND IN VITRO DIGESTIBILITY OF 3 NEGLECTED AND UNDERUTILIZED BROWSE SPECIES IN THE DRY SAVANNA ZONE OF GHANA

Abstract

The nutrient composition and in vitro gas production of 3 neglected and underutilized browse specie (NUS) in the dry savanna zone of Ghana were evaluated. The NUS were Detarium microcarpum, Piliostigma thonningii and Icacina oliviformis. Leaves and seeds of NUS were harvested from 15 randomly selected matured trees within native fields in Nyankpala in the Guinea savanna zone. The in vitro gas production was evaluated in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial design. The factors were the 3 NUS, 2 fractions (seed and leaf) and 2 levels of Polyethylene glycol (PEG). With the exception of I. Oliviformis, the seed fraction of all NUS was found to be higher in CP than the leaf. The NDF was in the range of 463.3 and 663 g/kg with the seed fraction of D. microcarpum having the highest. The ADF concentration of the seed was relatively lower than that of the leaf fraction with the least reported in the seed of I. Oliviformis. There was a significant effect of NUS x Fraction x PEG interaction on the asymptote gas production. The in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and metabolizable energy (ME, MJ/Kg DM) were significantly affected by the Fraction x NUS interaction. The study revealed that the 3 NUS had nutritional potentials for use in ruminant feeds. The seed fraction of most of the NUS had higher CP and lower ADF than the leaf fraction. The ME reported for all the treatments was above the 4.7 MJ/Kg/d of growing lambs gaining 0-50 g/d.