Effect of Desmodium intortum and Arachis glabrata on The in vitro Digestibility of Panicum maximum Hay

Abstract

Study were carried out at the Teaching Application and Research Farm (FAR) and at the Animal Production and Nutrition Research Unit (LAPRONAN) of the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FASA) of the University of Dschang with the aim to evaluate effects of Desmodium intortum and Arachis glabratta on the in vitro digestibility of Panicum maximum hay. Panicum maximum, Desmodium intortum and Arachis glabrata leaves were collected from the Dschang University campus. Panicum Maximum hay was obtained within LAPRONAN. After harvesting, the leaves were dried and crushed. A 100 g sample of each of these fodder was taken and dried at 60°C in an oven till constant weight, then crushed and stored in plastic bags for bromatological analyzes and in vitro digestibility. The leaves of the legumes were mixed in the proportions of 30% and 50% with the Panicum maximum hay having the proportions of 50% and 70%. The results of this study showed that the increase in the level of incorporation of these legumes made it possible to significantly increase the CP contents (from 8.88% to 15.19% with the addition of D. intortum and 8.88% to 11.63% with addition of A. glabrata) and DM (from 92.51% to 94.33% with addition of D. intortum and from 92.51% to 93.85 with addition of A. glabrata). The in vitro digestibility of organic matter (IVDOM) and the in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM) of P. maximum hay, were significantly (p<0.05) higher when it was mixed at 30% and 50% A. glabrata than when mixed with D. intortum. This study shows that apart from the partitioning factor and volatile fatty acids (VFAs), all parameters of the in vitro digestibility of Panicum maximum hay were significantly (p<0.05) improved with the inclusion 30% and 50% of the leaves of A. glabrata and D. intortum.