Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment

Evaluation of nutritive value of browse tree fodder species in semi-arid Kiteto and Kongwa districts of Tanzania

Author(s):

Z. Nassoro ¹, C. D. K. Rubanza ^{1 *}, A. A. Kimaro ²

Recieved Date: 2015-05-29, Accepted Date: 2015-09-14

Abstract:

The use of browse tree fodder as supplements to ruminant feeding in the tropics is limited by lack of information on their nutritive potential. A study was carried out based on objectives: (1) to determine chemical composition and concentration of minerals and (2) to assess in vitro digestibility potential of five foliage species of Acacia (A. mellifera, A. senegal, A. tortilis and A. xanthophloea); and Boscia spp. indigenous to Kongwa and Kiteto districts, compared to Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena pallida and Melia azedarach that are established in farmlands in the two districts aiming to fill the existing feed gap for ruminants and soil improvement purposes. Data on chemical and mineral composition were analysed for ANOVA by using SAS software. The browse tree species had high levels of crude protein (CP) that varied (P<0.05) among the species from 130 to 230 g/kg DM for A. xanthophloea and G. sepium, respectively. The species had moderate to low (P<0.05) contents of fibers which varied among the species. The NDF ranged from 342 (A. xanthophloea) to 644 g/kg DM (Boscia spp.), ADF from 184 g/kg DM (L. pallida) to 577 g/kg DM (M. azedarach) and ADL from 38 to 175 g/ kg DM. The browse species had adequate levels of macro minerals ranging 2.2-12.6, 1.8-7.1, 1.4-6.4 and 1.5-3.1 g/kg DM for Ca, P, Mg and S, respectively. Concentrations of micro minerals were moderate to high (P < 0.05) (4.3 - 53, 155 - 300, 13.1 - 80.9 and 15.2 - 46 mg/kg DM for Cu, Fe, Man and Zn, respectively). The species had high (P<0.05) in vitro digestibility potential 320-671 and 325-658 g/kg DM for IVOMD and IVDMD, respectively. Browse tree fodder species with enough foliage biomasses such as A. tortilis (pods), G. sepium, L. pallida and M. azedarach and in the current study could be utilized as protein supplements to ruminant livestock fed on low quality feeds including hays, stovers and crop residues due to their high levels of crude protein and minerals, low fibre contents as well as high digestibility potential.

Keywords:

Acacia, browse fodder, chemical composition, minerals, in vitro digestibility, ruminants

---

Journal: Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment
Year: 2015
Volume: 13
Issue: 3&4
Category: Agriculture
Pages: 113-120

---

Full text for Subscribers

---

Information:

Note to users

The requested document is freely available only to subscribers/registered users with an online subscription to the Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. If you have set up a personal subscription to this title please enter your user name and password. All abstracts are available for free.

Article purchasing

If you like to purchase this specific document such as article, review or this journal issue, contact us. Specify the title of the article or review, issue, number, volume and date of the publication. Software and compilation, Science & Technology, all rights reserved. Your use of this website details or service is governed by terms of use. Authors are invited to check from time to time news or information.

---

Purchase this Article:   20 Purchase PDF Order Reprints for 15

---

Share this article :