PSIX-8 Evaluation of Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaves as a modifier of rumen fermentation in West African dwarf bucks

Abstract

Recently, bioactive component of plant and plant parts have been used as rumen modifier to reduce methane gas production in ruminant livestock so as to reduce their contribution to the implicated greenhouse effect. This study therefore, evaluated the potential of Siam weed (Chromolaena odorata) leaves as a modifier of rumen fermentation in West African dwarf bucks. Fresh C. odorata leaves were harvested, air dried (3 weeks), milled using a 2mm sieve size and bagged for both proximate and phytochemical analysis. Concentrate diets were formulated with C. odorata leaf meal included in the diet at 0, 2, 4 and 6% of the whole diet. Rumen fluids were collected from West African dwarf (WAD) bucks (averaged 25kg) using suction tube and randomly allotted to the 4 experimental diets in a Completely Randomized Design. Incubation of inoculums was done for 96hrs with 12 replicates per treatment in a single run. Data obtained were analyzed using a One-way Analysis of Variance and means compared using Tukey’s Test. Results indicated that C. odorata had 969.0mg/kg dry matter, 175.1mg/kg crude protein, 204.3mg/kg crude fibre, 521.6mg/kg nitrogen free extract, 19.9 mg/kg saponin, 25.7 mg/kg tannin, 10.8mg/kg flavonoid and 12.6 mg/kg alkaloid. The addition of 2 and 4% C. odorata to the diets resulted in increased (P < 0.05) in vitro gas production while C. odorata at 2 % reduced (P < 0.05) the methane gas (%) estimate. In vitro organic and dry matter digestibilities, total digestible substrates and short chain fatty acids were increased (P < 0.05) with C. odorata addition to the diets. This study concluded that the use of C. odorata as an additive at 2 and 4% inclusion increased total gas output; however, 2% inclusion will be beneficial as it reduced the methane output while maintaining higher gas production and digestibility.

Quality Characteristics, in vitro Gas Production and Degradability of Megathyrsus maximus Ensiled with Different Parts of Albizia saman

“…According to Aderinboye et al 50 , higher gas production has been reported to produce short chain fatty acids that will increase the supply of carbohydrates. The results in this study corroborated reports of Oni et al 9 with increased gas production with inclusion of Chromolaena odorata at varying levels to ruminants' diet.…”

“…Presence of phytochemicals in the silages with inclusion of plant parts can ameliorate the occurrences of climate change. Oni et al 9 reported that ruminants' production of methane gas can be decreased by using rumen modifiers, which are nutraceutical plants derived from trees and browse species with high nutritional value for ruminants. This reduces the ruminants' contribution to the greenhouse effect.…”

“…McDonald et al 8 stated that legumes typically have low water soluble concentrations with high levels of protein and buffering capacity. Oni et al 9 reported that ruminants' production of methane gas can be decreased by using rumen modifiers, which are nutraceutical plants from trees and browse species with high nutritional value for ruminants, which will reduce the ruminants' contribution to the greenhouse effect. Yusuf et al 10 have reported the feeding and methane mitigation potential of browse plant leaves, other parts of the browse trees are yet to find a definite use and often go into waste yearly, constituting significant environmental pollution.…”