Nutritive value of Sesbania aculeata grown on salty soil and its effect on reproductive parameters of Syrian Awassi ewes

Abstract

Nutritive value of Sesbania aculeata hay was determined by estimating the nutritive components, nitrogen forms, in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), and metabolisable energy (ME). A study was carried out to evaluate the effect of feeding 2 groups of Syrian Awassi ewes with 2 wheat straw-concentrate diets without (control) or with (experimental) added S. aculeata hay on some reproductive parameters of the ewes at different stages. Half of the wheat straw in the daily ration of the experimental group of ewes was replaced by S. aculeata hay (whole plant) grown on salty soil and irrigated by saline water. Daily metabolisable energy and crude protein consumed by the ewes in the 2 groups were the same during the different stages (2.5 months before mating, throughout pregnancy, and during lactation). Crude fibre and cell wall constituents’ values were lower, whereas the values of crude protein and crude ash were higher in leaves and pods than in stalks. The values of IVDOM in S. aculeata hay were 537, 380, and 626 g/kg DM, and of ME were 7.19, 5.43, and 8.58 MJ/kg DM for the whole plant, stalks, and leaves and pods, respectively. The values of buffer soluble nitrogen were 27% or 39% and of buffer soluble non-protein nitrogen were 21% or 35% of the total nitrogen in leaves and pods or stalks, respectively. Feeding with S. aculeata hay had no effects on the liveweight of the ewes during the periods before mating and throughout pregnancy, on mating rate, fertility rate, duration of pregnancy, birth weight, or weaning weight of lambs. Furthermore, feeding with sesbania hay had no effect on either the response of ewes to the oestrous synchronisation programme or on the blood serum concentration and pattern of progesterone during the period extending from the commencement of feeding the ewes sesbania hay (2.5 months before mating) until the time of their lambing.

An in vitro nutritive evaluation and rumen fermentation kinetics of Sesbania aculeate as affected by harvest time and cutting regimen

“…Hossain et al (2001) reported that the percentage values of BS-N in leaves of S. sesban amounted to 35-40% of the total nitrogen. Zarkawi et al (2005) indicated that the BS-N rates in S. aculeate were lower (27%) for the whole plant than for the leaves and pods (44%). The range in predicted daily intake of the experimental plant samples, as affected by harvest time and cutting regimen, was wide (55-125 g DM/kg M 0.75 ) and may be attributed to differences in their nutrient concentrations, particularly crude fiber, cell wall constituents and crude protein as were the negative correlations between feed intake and crude fiber, NDF and ADF (r=−0.99) and lignin concentrations (r= −0.65) and positive correlations between feed intake and crude protein concentrations (r=0.98).…”

“…Zarkawi et al (2005) reported that the in vitro digestible organic matter and metabilisable energy of leaves of S. aculeate were higher than that of stalks. Leaves have a low content of lignocellulosic materials and are usually more digestible (i.e.…”

“…Zarkawi et al (2003) reported that 50% of the Damascus does fed a diet containing S. aculeate hay (whole plant, harvested at the beginning of pod formation after 120 days of planting) failed to kid and did not exhibit oestrous after the initial joining. Whereas, feeding Syrian Awassi ewes on S. aculeate hay (harvested at 70 cm from ground level at the beginning of pod formation) had no effect on their reproductive parameters (Zarkawi et al 2005).…”

Nutritional and Anti-nutritional Components inSesbania aculeataandKochia indicaat Different Harvest Times

“…Results also indicated that the BS-N concentrations calculated as a percent of the total nitrogen in S. aculeata harvested at the early stage after 60 days of planting decreased in leaves from 57% to 35% and increased in stalks from 24% t o 47% compared t o late harvest stage. Results obtained by Zarkawi et al (2005) indicated lower percentages of BS-N in S. aculeata harvested at the beginning of pod formation (27% for the whole plant and 44% for leaves and pods).…”

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“…Its seeds are useful in ringworm and skin diseases. Earlier workers [3][4][5] have reported various constituents from this plant.…”