The Effect of Indigo (Indigofera tinctoria L.) Waste on Growth Performance, Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation, Hematology and Immune Response in Growing Beef Cattle

Abstract

This experiment was conducted to assess the effect of indigo waste on the feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, hematology, immune response and growth performance in growing beef cattle. Twenty crossbred beef cattle with an initial body weight (BW) of 145 ± 11 kg were fed four levels of indigo waste for 90 days in a trial. Additions of indigo waste at 0%, 10%, 20% and 30% in a concentrate diet using a completely randomized design (CRD). Cattle were fed concentrate at 1.8% BW, with rice straw fed ad libitum. The concentrate intake decreased linearly (p = 0.01) with the addition of indigo waste. The supplementation with indigo waste reduced dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility cubically (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively), while increasing neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility cubically (p = 0.02). The final BW of beef cattle decreased linearly (p = 0.03) with the addition of indigo waste. The inclusion of indigo waste decreased the average daily gain (ADG) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) linearly (p < 0.01) from 0 to 90 days. The nutrient digestibility, ADG and G:F of beef cattle fed 10% indigo waste in the diet was similar when compared with the control (0% indigo waste). The ruminal pH, ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations were similar among treatments (p > 0.05). The proportion of acetate increased linearly (p < 0.01) but propionate decreased linearly (p < 0.01), resulting in an increase in the acetate to propionate ratio (p < 0.01) when cattle were fed with indigo waste supplementation. Increasing indigo waste levels did not influence blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels, hematological parameters or immune responses (IgA, IgM and IgG) (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the inclusion of indigo waste at 10% in a concentrate diet did not have a negative effect on feed intake, nutrient digestibility, rumen fermentation, hematology, immune function or growth performance in growing beef cattle.

Optimization Indigofera zollingeriana and Gambier (Uncaria gambir) Supplementation on Feed Consumption, Digestibility, Methane Production and Lactation Performance of Etawa Crossbreed Goats

“…Ration with sufficient energy content causes a decrease in feed consumption when compared to rations with lower energy (Palupi et al 2018). The use of I. zoolingeriana in various previous studies can replace some or even all of the concentrate feed without reducing the digestibility or performance and productivity of goats (Gunun et al 2023;Evitayani et al 2021;Aidismen and Asturim 2018).…”

“…Therefore, increasing livestock production and optimizing the efficiency of utilization of feed nutrients can be achieved through highprotein feed supplementation (Mengistu and Hassen 2018). This feed supplementation strategy can reduce livestock production costs and increase the added value of poorquality feed (Gunun et al 2023).…”

Sustainable Feeds for Animal Nutrition in Tropical Areas

“…Processing by-products from another herbaceous plant, indigo ( Indigofera tinctoria L.) waste from the processing of natural indigo dye, has been found to be a low-cost protein source for ruminants. Indigo waste allowed similar performances as concentrate diets [ 4 ]. Indeed, feed intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation, or growth performance in growing beef cattle were maintained without affecting hematology or immune function.…”